Prompt-a-thon: Advancing AI Literacy Through Collaborative Challenges and Engagement

The growing use of generative AI in higher education brings both opportunities and challenges, requiring institutions to balance innovation with ethical practice and digital literacy development. This workshop introduces Prompt‑a‑thon, a one‑day, team‑based event developed at the University of Southampton. Combining elements of a hackathon and professional development, Prompt‑a‑thon uses themed challenges and gamification to encourage active learning, collaboration, and critical reflection on GenAI tools and their educational impact.The workshop addresses three interrelated objectives:1. Developing AI Literacy: Participants acquire practical skills in prompt engineering and learn to critically evaluate GenAI outputs using the PREP‑EDIT framework (Fitzpatrick et al., 2023), a structured approach that promotes iterative refinement and reflective judgement.2. Embedding Ethical and Pedagogical Dialogue: Through facilitated discussion, the event creates a safe space for examining academic integrity, ethical AI use, and discipline‑specific strategies for GenAI integration.3. Exploring Scalable Design Models: By sharing insights from the pilot implementation, the session highlights design considerations for adapting Prompt‑a‑thon to diverse institutional contexts.The workshop will share findings from the initial Prompt‑a‑thon deployment, covering participant feedback, engagement patterns, and insights into GenAI’s potential in education. Key topics include gamification’s impact on motivation, collaborative challenges for digital literacy, and the balance between innovation and institutional policy. Attendees will take part in a hands‑on micro‑activity modelled after Prompt‑a‑thon, demonstrating its core principles and adaptability.The session offers practical advice on organising Prompt‑a‑thon events, aligning GenAI activities with educational goals, and fostering inclusive, integrity-driven practice. Aimed at educators and professionals working with GenAI, the 90‑minute workshop supports 20–35 participants, requiring team-based seating (e.g., round tables), a projector or screen, whiteboard or flipchart, reliable Wi‑Fi, and participants’ laptops or tablets.