One strategy that I have found helpful when prompting LLMs is refinement. Oftentimes, LLMs do not quite hit the mark on the first try. Refinement helps make the outputs more centered on what you are actually looking for. During the activity on Tuesday, I had Claude create a week-long workout plan for a college swimmer at the D-III level, which focused on the 200 Fly and the 200 IM, the two events I swim. I found that the main sets were far more physically demanding than a typical practice. I then brought these concerns to Claude, who asked questions about how the schedule should be restructured. The revised schedule (picture below) that Claude gave was better, but still had sets that looked correct on the surface, but would be exhausting and unlikely to lead to improvements if actually implemented. More refinement could help Claude develop a workout plan I could actually use, a strategy recommended by UT in Tuesday’s reading, saying that refinement turns prompt sessions into a lengthy “dialogue” with your chatbot.

Prompt 1: Give me a swim workout

Prompt 2: I am a college-level swimmer at the Division III level. Create another workout centered on training for the 200 IM.

Prompt 3: Create a training block for a week. My main events are 200 Fly, 400 IM, and 200 IM

Prompt 4: I have concerns that doing that many 200 flys and 400 IMs in a row will be highly taxing on my body

Claude then asked me this (in a pop-out menu with responses I could click):
Q: How would you like to address the load on Saturday?
A: Keep Saturday but reduce volume/intensity
Q: Which event feels most taxing on your body right now?
A: 400 IM