ChatGPT Prompts for L&D: 20 Templates You Can Use Today

The quality of the output almost always comes down to the quality of the input. Feeding ChatGPT a vague "write me a course on data protection" produces vague output. Giving the model context, audience, format, and constraints produces something usable.

Three principles before the prompts:

1. Always include audience and context. ChatGPT doesn't know whether you're writing for customer service reps in a call centre or senior leaders in a pharmaceutical company. That information changes the output substantially.

2. Specify the format you want. A bulleted list, a flowing explanation, a table, a dialogue example: say explicitly what you need.

3. Tell it what you don't want. "No jargon without explanation", "no lists with more than five items", "no introductory paragraph explaining the benefits of learning this topic." Constraints often improve output more than instructions.

The 20 prompts below are starting points. Adjust the placeholders in square brackets to your specific context.

#Course Structure and Planning

Prompt 1: Course outline from topic, audience, and objectives

Create a course outline for an e-learning module on [topic]. Audience: [describe the audience, e.g. sales reps with no technical background]. Learning objectives: [list 2–3 objectives]. Give me 5–7 module topics, each with a brief description (1–2 sentences) of what learners will cover in that module. No introduction, start directly with the list.

Use this when you're starting a new course project and need a first structural proposal. Check whether the module sequence creates a logical didactic progression.

Prompt 2: Learning objectives from a job description

Here is a job description: [paste job description]. Identify the 5 most important competencies required for this role and write a measurable learning objective for each using the format: "After completing this module, learners will be able to [verb] [content] [condition/standard]." Use concrete action verbs (analyse, apply, distinguish), not abstract ones (understand, know, appreciate).

Helpful for needs-driven course planning. Check the objectives against real job performance, not just the formal job description.

Prompt 3: Microlearning sequence from a longer topic

The topic [topic] needs to be adapted as microlearning. Break it into 5 standalone learning units of no more than 5 minutes each. Each unit should: have a specific title, communicate a single key idea, and end with a short reflection question. Give me the overview as a numbered list.

Useful when converting an existing 60-minute module into a microlearning format. Make sure each unit can genuinely stand alone.

Prompt 4: Scenarios for a decision-making course

I'm developing a course on [topic, e.g. handling objections in sales conversations]. The audience is [audience]. Develop 3 realistic scenarios where learners must make a decision. Each scenario should: describe the situation in 3–4 sentences, include 2–3 decision options, and include a brief description of the consequence for each option. No right/wrong framing, only realistic options with realistic outcomes.

Scenarios make compliance and soft-skills topics practical. Have the generated scenarios reviewed by someone from the relevant business area.

Prompt 5: Breaking a complex topic into learnable chunks

The topic [complex topic] needs to be taught to [audience], who has [no/limited] prior knowledge. Break the topic into its building blocks. What must be understood first before the next concept can be learned? Create a learning progression as a numbered list, from the simplest to the most complex unit, with a short rationale for the sequence.

Particularly useful for technical or abstract topics. The progression helps you structure courses that don't overwhelm.

#Writing and Editing Content

Prompt 6: Rewrite a policy document in learner-friendly language

Here is an excerpt from an internal policy: [paste text]. Rewrite it for an e-learning module. Audience: [audience]. Requirements: clear, direct language without bureaucratic phrasing, sentences under 20 words, no passive constructions, no jargon without immediate explanation. Preserve all factual information.

Compliance documents are written for legal documentation, not for learning. This transformation is one of the most common applications.

Prompt 7: Convert a bulleted list into a narrative explanation

Here is a list of points: [paste list]. Rewrite this as a coherent, explanatory paragraph. The text should make the connections between points explicit and be understandable for [audience]. Maximum 150 words.

Useful when you have bullet points from a meeting or an expert interview and need to turn them into learning content.

Prompt 8: Simplify technical jargon for a non-expert audience

The following text contains technical terms that [audience, e.g. administrative staff with no IT background] won't know: [paste text]. Replace each technical term with a plain-language explanation, or add a brief clarification directly in parentheses after each term. Keep the structure of the text intact.

Technical documentation, IT security policies, legal texts: all benefit from this simplification step.

Prompt 9: Add a real-world example to an abstract concept

Explain the concept of [abstract concept, e.g. confirmation bias in risk assessment] using a concrete example from the day-to-day work of [audience]. The example should be realistic, told in 3–5 sentences, and show how the concept appears in a typical work situation. No artificial extreme examples.

Abstract learning without connection to the learner's reality stays abstract. This prompt helps build the transfer.

Prompt 10: Make formal text conversational

Here is a formal text: [paste text]. Rewrite it for an e-learning module with a conversational, direct tone. Address learners directly using "you". No academic style, no passive voice. The content must remain fully intact. Audience: [audience].

Especially useful for content that originated as internal documentation and was written for an entirely different reader.

#Quiz Questions and Assessments

Prompt 11: Generate multiple-choice questions from a text

Here is some learning content: [paste text]. Create 5 multiple-choice questions that test comprehension of this text. Each question should: have a clear question stem, include 4 answer options (one correct, three incorrect), and include the correct answer at the end with a one-sentence explanation. No questions that only test recall of definitions.

Review generated questions for ambiguity. ChatGPT sometimes produces questions where more than one answer is defensible.

Prompt 12: Scenario-based questions for compliance topics

I need scenario-based questions for a compliance module on [e.g. data protection in the workplace]. Create 3 situation descriptions (3–4 sentences each), followed by the question: "What is the correct course of action?" with 3 answer options (one correct). The scenarios should reflect typical everyday situations for [audience].

Scenario-based questions test applied knowledge rather than pure fact recall. For compliance topics, almost always the better choice.

Prompt 13: True/false statements with explanations

Create 8 true/false statements on the topic [topic]. Each statement should: be unambiguously true or false (no grey areas), include a brief explanation (1–2 sentences) of why it is true or false, and address common misconceptions held by [audience]. List at the end which statements are true and which are false.

Good for warm-up questions at the start of a module or for quick knowledge checks in short units.

Prompt 14: A short knowledge check for a module

Create a short knowledge check (5 questions) for an e-learning module on [topic]. Audience: [audience]. Use a mix of question types: 2 multiple-choice, 2 true/false, 1 scenario-based. Provide the correct answer and a brief rationale for each question. The check should cover the key learning objectives of the module: [list objectives].

Useful when you need a complete test for a new module quickly.

Prompt 15: Plausible distractors for multiple-choice questions

Here is a multiple-choice question: [paste question and correct answer]. Create 3 incorrect answer options (distractors) that: sound plausible to [audience], reflect typical misconceptions or false assumptions, and are clearly wrong (no edge cases). Briefly explain why each distractor might be tempting for the target audience.

Good distractors are harder to write than good questions. This prompt saves significant time.

#Training Needs Analysis and Planning

Prompt 16: Interview questions for a training needs analysis

I'm conducting a training needs analysis for [role/department, e.g. the customer service team in a financial services company]. Create 10 open-ended interview questions to identify where specific knowledge or skills gaps exist. Questions should: ask about behaviour and situations rather than opinions, be specific enough to generate actionable answers, and not lead the respondent. No closed yes/no questions.

Open questions yield more actionable information than scales or checklists. Complement the questions with your own assessment of the context.

Prompt 17: Identify training gaps from a job description

Here is a job description: [paste text]. Compare the requirements with a typical onboarding programme for this role [briefly describe current onboarding or write "no structured onboarding in place"]. Identify the 5 most likely competency gaps for someone new in this role. Prioritise by impact on job performance in the first 90 days.

Useful as a starting point for developing an onboarding curriculum.

Prompt 18: Training plan template for a specific role

Create a training plan template for the role of [job title] in a [industry/company type] organisation. The plan should cover 90 days and include: Weeks 1–2 (orientation and foundations), Month 2 (core competencies), Month 3 (deepening and application). For each phase: learning objectives, recommended content/formats, and how progress can be measured. No generic filler, make it specific to the role described.

Give the model as much context as possible about the role and company to get more specific results.

#Communication and Rollout

Prompt 19: Launch email for a new mandatory training

Write a short email (maximum 150 words) to all employees announcing a new mandatory training on [topic]. The email should: explain why the training matters (without threats or hyperbole), state the specific time commitment ([X minutes], by [date]), and include a clear next step. Tone: direct and collegial, not formal. No opening paragraph explaining the history of the training initiative.

Check that the stated duration is accurate and the deadline is realistic. The email should be signed by a real person.

Prompt 20: Reminder message for employees who haven't completed training

Write a short reminder email (maximum 100 words) for employees who haven't yet completed mandatory training on [topic]. Deadline: [date]. The email should: politely but clearly reference the deadline, avoid inducing guilt, and include a direct link or action step. No explanatory opening paragraph.

Short, direct reminders work better than long ones. ChatGPT tends to add too much explanation. Edit actively for brevity.