Facilitator Guide

Minute-by-minute timing, file usage, and coaching notes for professional workshop delivery

Joey Lopez · Prompt Engineering Bootcamp · Internal use

session 1 setup session 1 flow session 2 setup session 2 flow success metrics
Session 1

Pre-Session 1 Setup (15 minutes before start)

Session 1 — Minute by Minute

Session 1: Industry Standards (60 minutes)

0–5 min Problem & Solution Overview

Materials

None — pure presentation. Energy check.

0:00 — Welcome, energy check, agenda overview 0:02 — "How many use AI tools daily?" (show of hands) 0:03 — Show problem slide: "Let's see if this sounds familiar..." 0:04 — Build energy: "Today you'll learn systematic approaches" 0:05 — Transition: "First, let me show you three valid approaches"

Goal: High energy, validate pain points. Don't solve the problem yet.

5–15 min Three Approaches Framework

Materials

Three Approaches diagram on screen.

5:00 — Show Three Approaches diagram 5:01 — Green path: "Most teams start here — ADRs + Config" 5:03 — Orange path: "Learning teams benefit from Structured" 5:05 — Yellow path: "Platform-committed teams use Tool-Assisted" 5:07 — Hands: "Who uses multiple AI tools?" → Point to green 5:09 — Hands: "Who wants to learn systematic prompting?" → Point to orange 5:11 — Hands: "Who's committed to one IDE like Cursor/Windsurf?" → Yellow 5:13 — Key insight: "All valid — choose based on team context" 5:15 — Transition: "Before we try this, let's see the foundational patterns"

Interaction: Point, trace paths, ask team context questions. Don't rush.

15–20 min Foundational Patterns

Materials

Foundational Patterns diagram. Preview priority-builder prompt (mention it uses all 4 patterns).

15:00 — Show Foundational Patterns diagram 15:01 — Trace flow: "Persona establishes expertise..." 15:02 — "Few-shot shows desired format..." 15:03 — "Template structures the output..." 15:04 — "Chain-of-Thought reveals reasoning..." 15:05 — Quick interaction: "Where have you seen these before?" 16:00 — "In 5 minutes, you'll see all 4 patterns in a 325-line system" 17:30 — Transition slide to hands-on
20–25 min Demo: Priority Builder

Critical File Sequence

  1. Open demo personas on screen — show "Option B: Tech Lead"
  2. Switch to AI tool with Priority Builder prompt pasted
  3. Point out pattern locations: "Lines 1–4 are Persona, lines 200–220 Few-shot..."
  4. Start 20 Questions — let AI ask 3–4 questions
  5. Answer as Tech Lead persona: "AI/ML specialist, banking automation..."
  6. Generate output — show CSV + formatted versions
20:00 — "I'll demo using a safe practice persona" 20:30 — OPEN persona descriptions on screen 21:00 — Point to Tech Lead: "5 years, AI/ML specialist, current projects..." 22:00 — "Now watch all 4 patterns in action" 22:15 — SWITCH to AI tool with prompt loaded 23:00 — Start 20 Questions, answer as Tech Lead 24:00 — Generate output: show CSV + formatted versions 24:30 — "Notice systematic vs ad-hoc difference" 25:00 — Transition: "Your turn — start with freestyle"
  • Participants see clear persona usage
  • AI generates realistic CSV output
  • All 4 patterns demonstrated and named
  • Systematic vs ad-hoc contrast is obvious
25–35 min Exercise: Freestyle First

Materials

Demo persona descriptions on screen for participant reference.

25:00 — "Choose a DIFFERENT persona from the demo" 25:30 — Show personas on screen again 26:00 — "Create 1 priority using your normal prompting approach" 26:30 — Circulate, observe struggles 27:00 — Coach lightly: "What metrics could you include?" 29:00 — Watch for pain points: vague results, generic language 30:00 — "2 more minutes" 32:00 — Quick debrief: "How many got output you'd submit to a manager?" 33:00 — "Most struggled with specificity — let's try systematic approach" 35:00 — Transition: "Now use Priority Builder methodology"

Coaching note

Don't help too much during freestyle. Let them feel the pain. Take mental notes of specific struggles for the debrief — the contrast will land harder.

35–50 min Exercise: Priority Builder Template

Critical File Sequence

  1. Participants copy/paste Priority Builder prompt into their AI tool
  2. Switch to different persona than freestyle round
  3. Guide through 20 Questions process
35:00 — "Everyone load the Priority Builder prompt" 35:30 — Verify: "Can you see the full 325-line prompt?" 36:00 — "Pick DIFFERENT persona from freestyle round" 36:30 — Walk around: ensure prompt loaded correctly (common paste issues) 37:00 — "Let the AI ask you questions — answer as your persona" 37:30 — Coach: "Be specific about projects and metrics" 40:00 — Watch for systematic vs ad-hoc differences emerging 42:00 — "Generate your priority — pick Conservative, Balanced, or Aspirational" 44:00 — "Anyone getting CSV output? That's ready for submission" 46:00 — Celebrate: "Show of hands who got specific metrics" 48:00 — Quick sharing: "What's one metric you wouldn't have thought of?" 50:00 — Transition: "Let's compare the three approaches"

Heavy coaching required here. Ensure prompts load, guide specific persona-based answers, celebrate systematic outputs vs earlier freestyle struggles.

50–55 min Compare: Three Approaches
50:00 — "Same Spring migration, 3 different approaches" 50:30 — Show ADRs approach: simple prompt referencing standards doc 51:00 — Show Structured approach: multi-file systematic workflow 52:00 — Show Tool-Assisted: Windsurf 290-line cascade 53:00 — "Notice: same result, different maintenance overhead" 54:00 — Quick poll: "Which fits your team's style?" 55:00 — Transition to insights
55–60 min Insights & Session 2 Preview
55:00 — "What did you observe? Freestyle vs Priority Builder?" 55:30 — Capture insights: "Systematic = specific, ad-hoc = generic" 56:00 — "For Session 2: same patterns for interview prep" 56:30 — Preview job descriptions: "4 realistic senior roles available" 57:00 — "Bring: chosen job + same persona for continuity" 58:00 — Session 2 preview: "ReAct + Tree of Thoughts in action" 59:00 — "Questions before 5-minute break?" 60:00 — End Session 1
Session 2

Pre-Session 2 Setup

Session 2 — Minute by Minute

Session 2: Advanced Patterns (60 minutes)

0–5 min Recap + Advanced Patterns Overview
0:00 — "Session 1 quick wins — who got CSV output?" 0:30 — "Today: same patterns for complex reasoning" 1:00 — Energy check: "Ready to level up?" 2:00 — "Advanced patterns: ReAct + Tree of Thoughts + live Java demo" 3:00 — "Goal: systematic methodology across ALL domains" 5:00 — Ready for advanced patterns
5–15 min Spec-Kit + ReAct + Tree of Thoughts
5:00 — Show Spec-Kit diagram 5:30 — Point to knowledge-base: "Reusable domain expertise" 6:00 — Point to specification: "This task's specific requirements" 7:00 — Point to implementation-plan: "Where ReAct + Tree of Thoughts live" 8:00 — "Key advantage: separation of concerns" 10:00 — Show ReAct + Tree diagram 10:30 — Trace ReAct flow: "Think → Act → Observe" 11:00 — Show Tree of Thoughts: "Generate → Evaluate → Choose" 12:30 — Interactive: "How would you analyze job requirements?" 15:00 — Transition: hands-on time
15–25 min Demo: Interview Prep Workflow

Critical File Sequence

  1. Open job descriptions — show "Senior Manager AI Strategy" role
  2. Use same Tech Lead persona from Session 1
  3. Load interview prep 4-file workflow live
15:00 — "Interview prep using same Tech Lead persona from priorities" 15:30 — OPEN job descriptions, show Senior Manager AI Strategy role 16:00 — "Notice: 8+ years experience, $5M budget, C-level presentations" 16:30 — "Our Tech Lead: 5 years, AI specialist, no big budget experience" 17:00 — "Watch systematic gap analysis" 18:00 — Live spec creation: role details + background analysis 19:00 — Execute ReAct: "Think: Gap in budget management experience" 19:30 — "Act: Position as technical depth with business impact" 20:00 — "Observe: Need evidence of strategic thinking" 20:30 — Tree of Thoughts: 3 strategies: Technical Expert, Strategic Leader, Bridge 21:30 — Choose strategy: "Bridge Role — technical depth + business growth" 22:00 — Generate materials: positioning statement + STAR examples 23:00 — "Notice: systematic vs random interview prep" 25:00 — Transition to exercise
  • Clear job analysis demonstrated
  • ReAct pattern execution visible and named
  • Tree of Thoughts evaluation shown with explicit tradeoffs
  • Systematic positioning strategy emerges visibly
25–40 min Exercise: Build Interview Strategy

File Coordination

Participants pick a different job than the demo. Use the same persona from Session 1 priorities.

25:00 — "Everyone open job descriptions" 25:30 — "Pick DIFFERENT job than AI Strategy demo" 26:00 — "Options: Banking Consultant, Retail Director" 26:30 — "Use SAME persona from Session 1 for continuity" 27:00 — "Phase 1: Create specification.md" 27:30 — Coach: "Document job requirements vs your persona background" 28:00 — "What's the biggest gap?" 30:00 — "Phase 2: ReAct analysis" 30:30 — Guide: "THINK about positioning options" 31:00 — "ACT: Map specific experience to requirements" 31:30 — "OBSERVE: What positioning emerges?" 32:00 — "Tree of Thoughts: generate 3 positioning strategies" 33:00 — Coach: "What are pros/cons of each?" 34:00 — "Which has lowest risk?" 35:00 — "Generate positioning statement + 2 STAR examples" 38:00 — Celebrate: "Who has clear positioning strategy?" 40:00 — Transition: "Same patterns in technical work"

Intensive coaching required

  • Guide explicit ReAct structure — many participants skip steps
  • Force specific evidence for positioning claims, not assertions
  • Help evaluate tradeoffs between strategies explicitly
  • Ensure STAR examples are specific, not generic
40–55 min Live Java Demo: Spring Migration

Materials

Screen share Spring migration repository. Cross-Domain Patterns diagram.

40:00 — "Same systematic patterns for technical work" 40:30 — Show Cross-Domain diagram: "Universal patterns across domains" 41:00 — SCREEN SHARE Spring migration files 41:30 — "Three approaches to same migration challenge" 42:00 — Show ADRs approach: .github/copilot-instructions.md 42:30 — "Simple prompt: 'Follow migration standards, update UserController'" 43:00 — Show Structured approach: spec/ folder workflow 44:30 — Execute live: Load files in AI tool, generate migrated code 46:00 — Point out ReAct: "Think dependencies → Act on imports → Observe compile" 47:00 — Show Tool-Assisted: Windsurf 290-line cascade 48:00 — "Built-in systematic validation at each step" 49:30 — "Same patterns: priorities → interviews → code" 51:00 — "ReAct works everywhere: Think → Act → Observe" 53:00 — Interactive: "Where else could you apply these patterns?" 55:00 — Transition to wrap-up
  • Clear pattern recognition across domains visible
  • Live code generation working in real time
  • "Aha moment" — universal patterns click for participants
55–60 min Integration + Next Steps
55:00 — "What patterns did you recognize across domains?" 55:30 — Capture: "Same ReAct, different applications" 56:00 — "This week: apply ReAct to one work decision" 56:30 — "Use Tree of Thoughts for next strategic choice" 57:30 — Show quick reference cards: "Take this for ongoing use" 58:00 — "Goal achieved: systematic vs ad-hoc methodology" 58:30 — "Questions? Discussion? Applications?" 60:00 — End workshop
Evaluation

Workshop Success Metrics

Session 1

  • 80%+ generate CSV-ready priorities
  • Clear systematic vs ad-hoc recognition
  • Proper persona usage throughout
  • Understanding of Three Approaches decision framework

Session 2

  • ReAct analysis executed properly (steps named)
  • Tree of Thoughts with explicit tradeoff rationale
  • Pattern recognition across business + technical domains
  • Confidence applying methodology to their own work

Overall

  • Real deliverables created (priorities + interview materials)
  • Systematic methodology internalized
  • Cross-domain pattern recognition achieved
  • Concrete action plans for ongoing application
Joey Lopez · 2026 · jrlopez.dev
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