Getting Started with ChatGPT

Step 1: Sign Up

Go to chatgpt.com and click "Sign up." You can use an email address, Google account, or Microsoft account. The free tier gives you access to GPT-4o mini — powerful enough for most tasks. No credit card required.

Step 2: Your First Prompt

The text box at the bottom of the screen is where you type. ChatGPT works by responding to prompts — the instructions you give it. Your first prompt should be simple: "Explain what artificial intelligence is in two sentences." Notice that ChatGPT responds differently depending on how you ask. The more specific you are, the better the answer.

Step 3: The Art of the Prompt

Good prompts share three qualities:

• Specific. "Write a 300-word article about..." is better than "Write an article about..."
• Contextual. "I am a Grade 10 student studying biology. Explain photosynthesis."
• Iterative. Your first prompt rarely gets exactly what you want. Refine it: "That was too technical. Explain it like I am 12."

Step 4: What ChatGPT Is Good At

• Explaining concepts at different levels of difficulty
• Brainstorming ideas and generating outlines
• Summarising long articles or documents
• Improving writing (grammar, clarity, structure)
• Generating practice questions for studying

Step 5: What to Watch Out For

• ChatGPT can make up facts confidently. Always verify important information.
• It has a knowledge cutoff — it may not know about very recent events.
• Never share sensitive personal information in your prompts.
• It is a tool, not a source of truth. Use your judgment.

Next After This Video

Once you are comfortable with the basics, read our guide on Using AI Tools for Schoolwork for a deeper dive into responsible, effective use.