# Instructional Prompt Engineering

> Prompt Engineering for Instructional Designers. Use this skill when an L&D professional, instructional designer, or course developer wants to write better AI prompts for learning content — including learning objectives, storyboards, scripts, assessments, scenarios, or any course content. Trigger when someone wants to get better output from AI for any instructional design task, when their AI outpu…

- **Type:** Skill
- **Install:** `agentstack add skill-scibly-dev-skills-instructional-prompt-engineering`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [scibly-dev](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/scibly-dev)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Agent Skills](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/agent-skills)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [scibly-dev](https://github.com/scibly-dev)
- **Source:** https://github.com/scibly-dev/skills/tree/main/skills/instructional-prompt-engineering

## Install

```sh
agentstack add skill-scibly-dev-skills-instructional-prompt-engineering
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# Instructional Prompt Engineering

Generic prompts produce generic output. With the right 4-ingredient structure, you get content that's pedagogically sound, audience-appropriate, and ready to use — not just text that sounds like a course.

## Step 1 — What are you trying to create?

Ask the user:

1. **What content type do you need?** (learning objectives, scene script, assessment questions, scenario, storyboard outline, facilitator guide, job aid, email announcement, ...)
2. **What's the topic?** Be specific — "compliance training" is vague; "how to handle a data subject access request under GDPR" is actionable.
3. **Who is the learner?** (role, experience level, any context that matters)
4. **What Bloom's level?** If they're unsure, ask: "Do you want learners to *remember facts*, *apply a process*, *analyze a situation*, or *evaluate a decision*?"
5. **Any constraints?** (word count, tone, format, things to avoid, must-include elements)

## Step 2 — Build the prompt using the 4-ingredient formula

Construct their prompt using this formula:

```
THE 4-INGREDIENT INSTRUCTIONAL PROMPT

[ROLE] You are [expert role — e.g., "an experienced instructional designer specializing in [domain]"].

[AUDIENCE] The learner is [role, experience level, context — e.g., "a mid-level operations manager who is comfortable with Excel but has never used a CRM"].

[BLOOM'S LEVEL] This content should target the [level] level — meaning the learner should be able to [action verb + what they do with this knowledge].

[CONSTRAINTS] [word count / format / tone / what to avoid / must-include elements]

[TASK] Create [specific deliverable].
```

Show the user the assembled prompt with their inputs filled in. Briefly explain why each ingredient matters.

## Step 3 — Show the difference

Demonstrate the value of the formula by showing a contrast:

**Generic prompt:**
> "Write a learning objective about data privacy."

**Instructional prompt (built from their inputs):**
> [show the assembled 4-ingredient version]

Run both if helpful, so the user can see the output quality difference firsthand.

## Step 4 — Bloom's quick reference

Include this whenever the user is unsure about cognitive level:

| Level | The learner can... | Action verbs for prompts |
|-------|-------------------|--------------------------|
| Remember | Recall facts | list, define, name, identify |
| Understand | Explain in own words | explain, describe, summarize, classify |
| Apply | Use in a new situation | apply, use, demonstrate, calculate |
| Analyze | Break down and examine | analyze, differentiate, compare, examine |
| Evaluate | Make a judgment | evaluate, justify, critique, recommend |
| Create | Produce something new | design, create, develop, construct |

## Step 5 — The formula card to take away

```
THE 4-INGREDIENT INSTRUCTIONAL PROMPT FORMULA

[ROLE] You are [expert role in relevant domain].
[AUDIENCE] The learner is [role + experience level + key context].
[BLOOM'S] This content targets [level] — the learner should be able to [verb + object].
[CONSTRAINTS] [Format / length / tone / avoid / must-include].
[TASK] Create [specific deliverable].

EXAMPLE:
You are an experienced instructional designer specializing in leadership development.
The learner is a first-time manager (recently promoted from individual contributor) with strong technical skills but no formal management training.
This content targets the Apply level — the learner should be able to run a structured 1:1 meeting using a consistent framework.
Format: a 5-scene microlearning script. Tone: direct and practical, no corporate jargon. Max 80 words per scene.
Create a microlearning scene script covering how to prepare for and run a weekly 1:1.
```

Offer to build a custom version of this card with their most common content types pre-filled.

## Source & license

This open-source skill is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [scibly-dev](https://github.com/scibly-dev)
- **Source:** [scibly-dev/skills](https://github.com/scibly-dev/skills)
- **License:** MIT

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/skill-scibly-dev-skills-instructional-prompt-engineering
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/scibly-dev
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

---
Listed on AgentStack — the marketplace for AI agent skills and MCP servers. Every listing is security-reviewed. Creators keep 70%.