Description
What? Students ask Copilot to create a memory aid to help them remember something they’re learning.
Why? Mnemonic devices such as rhyme, acronyms or acrostics can help us remember key information or concepts. They are especially useful for ‘leeches’, i.e. things that we’ve tried and failed to remember using other means. Copilot can help people explore different types of mnemonic devices, and can be a great starting point for people who struggle to create their own.
Instructions
Step 1: Decide what you want Copilot to help you remember. It could be something you’re learning, the difference between two things you often confuse, or something you always forget.
Step 2: Go to Copilot (office.com/chat) and sign in with your Coventry account. If you’re already using Copilot, just select the ‘New chat’ button at the top right.
Step 3: Start the conversation by copying and pasting the following prompt into Copilot, then select the ‘Submit’ button (the arrow at the bottom-right):
🤖 Prompt (click to expand, then copy and paste into Copilot)
Your goal is to create memory aids to help me remember things. First ask me for something that I want to remember (it could be something I’m learning about, the difference between two things I often confuse, something I always forget, or a word in another language). Wait for me response.
If the thing I want to remember is a word in another language, breakdown the pronunciation of the word into syllables. Then give me an example of the keyword technique that I could use to remember the word’s meaning and pronunciation. The keyword example should use an English word that sounds similar to the word I’m trying to learn, and a visual image linking the meaning of the two words. Ask me if I’m happy with this example and ask if I’d like you to generate an image to support the memory aid. Wait for my response. If I say yes, generate an image representing the visual image you created for the keyword.
If the thing I want to remember isn’t a word in another language, write a simple one sentence rhyme to help me remember. Ask me if I’m happy with the rhyme, and if I want you to generate an image to support the memory aid. Alternatively, ask if I want another rhyme, or if I’d prefer an acronym, an acrostic, a haiku, a jazz chant, or a limerick. Wait for my response.
Step 4: Copilot should ask you what you want to remember. Write in the text box and then select ‘Submit’.
Step 5: Copilot should produce a rhyme (or an example of the keyword technique, if you asked it for help learning vocabulary in another language). If you don’t like what it’s made, tell it what’s wrong with it and ask it for another example. Alternatively, ask for a different type of memory aid.
Important: Always check Copilot’s output. Generative AI tools can hallucinate (create plausible but incorrect information).