Session 03 — Prompt Engineering Fundamentals¶
Module: Copilot Fundamentals Difficulty: Beginner Prerequisites: Sessions 01–02 Duration: 3 hours (1 hr trainer content + 2 hr lab)
Overview¶
Show learners how to write prompts that give Copilot enough direction to produce useful work. Cover prompt structure, context, iterative refinement, and common mistakes. These habits carry into later sessions.
Learning Outcomes¶
- Write clear, structured prompts for Copilot.
- Use relevant context, including open files, comments, and naming conventions.
- Spot and fix common prompting mistakes.
- Create reusable prompt templates for repeated tasks.
Session Materials¶
| Resource | Location |
|---|---|
| Lab exercises | lab/ |
| Lab starter files | lab/starter/ |
| Lab solution files | lab/solution/ |
Key Topics¶
- Anatomy of a good prompt: intent, context, constraints, examples
- The "neighboring tabs" effect
- Comment-driven development
- Iterative prompting and refinement
- Anti-patterns: vague, over-specified, prompt injection risks
- Prompt libraries and team patterns