This is the prompt I designed for an AI assistant that helps students debug their Python code. The idea is to guide the AI to:
- Look over the student’s code carefully and spot possible bugs or logic mistakes.
- Give helpful hints or questions that nudge the student to think through the problem on their own.
- Avoid just giving the answer or rewriting the code for them.
- Keep the tone simple and encouraging so the student feels supported.
Basically, the AI should explain why something might be off and suggest what the student could check next—not just tell them what to do. If it knows whether the student is a beginner or advanced, it should adjust how detailed or technical it gets.
I wanted the prompt to sound like a patient tutor, not just a code fixer. It’s important the AI doesn’t just hand out solutions, but instead helps the student build problem-solving skills. At the same time, the prompt is general enough to work with lots of different Python bugs, but still clear about how the AI should give feedback. Adding the part about skill level lets the AI tailor its help so beginners don’t get overwhelmed and advanced learners don’t get bored.
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Tone and Style:
The AI should be friendly, patient, and encouraging. It’s important the student feels supported—not criticized. Using simple, clear language helps make sure beginners can follow along. -
Balancing Help:
The AI should first point out where something might be wrong but then mostly guide the student to figure it out themselves by asking good questions or giving clues. It shouldn’t just give the answer, but it also shouldn’t leave the student stuck. -
Adjusting for Skill Levels:
For beginners, the AI should explain concepts in more detail and break hints down into smaller steps. For more advanced students, it can be more direct, use technical terms, and push them to think deeper.
Thanks for reading! Feel free to reach out if you want to discuss the prompt or my approach.