AI images for education — how to write good prompts
AI images are changing how teachers create lesson visuals — anatomical illustrations, diagrams, personas for case studies, all in seconds. But writing a good prompt is a skill, and not every educational use is a good match for AI imagery. Below you'll find the approach, prompt examples, legal context and pitfalls.
The anatomy of a good prompt
A strong educational prompt contains four elements: subject (what to depict), style (illustration, photorealistic, diagram, isometric), context (for which level, which setting) and technical instructions (background, colour palette, orientation). Below are four examples of good versus bad.
Anatomy
BAD
"a human heart"
BETTER
"Cross-section illustration of the human heart, anatomical accuracy, labeled chambers and valves, didactic style for MBO nursing education, clean white background"
Diagram/process
BAD
"constructive alignment diagram"
BETTER
"Flow diagram of constructive alignment: learning objectives → learning activities → assessment, with arrows, minimal pastel colors, Dutch labels"
Patient persona (case study)
BAD
"elderly patient"
BETTER
"Photorealistic portrait of an elderly woman, 75 years old, neutral expression, hospital setting, slight tiredness in face, professional clinical context, ethnically diverse"
Technical explanation
BAD
"fuse box"
BETTER
"Isometric illustration of a fuse box with labeled components: switches, indicators, circuit breakers, instructional style for MBO vocational education, clean white background"
When AI imagery works
Use AI imagery
- • Mood images for presentations
- • Personas for (fictional) case studies
- • Diagrams and process explanations
- • Generic illustrations (office, classroom, lab)
- • Mockups and placeholder content
Avoid AI imagery
- • Real people or patients
- • Clinical decisions based on AI anatomy
- • Culturally sensitive content without review
- • Strictly copyrighted material
- • Historically accurate reconstructions
Frequently asked questions
How does a good AI prompt differ from a bad one?+
A good prompt provides three things: subject (what to depict), style (illustration, photorealistic, diagram), and context (for MBO, clinical, neutral). A bad prompt only provides the "what" without the "how" — and then you get generic images. For lesson visuals, style and context are crucial: an anatomical illustration for MBO level 4 looks different from a Wikipedia photo.
May I use AI-generated images for teaching materials?+
For educational use in your own lessons: in almost all cases yes. For commercial use outside your teaching environment (a book you sell, a paid course): check the licence terms of the underlying AI model. LectaMe Image Studio uses models that cover educational use — for publications outside LectaMe, check the specific licence.
What is the copyright status of AI-generated imagery?+
Under current Dutch case law (as of 2026): AI-generated imagery without substantial human creative input has limited or no copyright. For teaching materials that's not a problem; for commercial sale it is. Add human editing (layers, labels, your own adjustments) to strengthen your copyright position.
Which images are better not made with AI?+
Three categories where AI falls short or poses risks: (1) Images of real people, celebrities or patients — ethically and legally problematic. (2) Anatomically precise images for clinical decision-making — use verified medical sources. (3) Culturally or sensorially sensitive content — AI has bias and can reinforce stereotypes.
How do I check whether an AI image is factually correct?+
For pure illustrations (diagrams, personas, mood images): the content check is less critical. For educational precision (anatomy, technical drawings, historical images): always compare against verified sources. AI hallucinates visually — a heart in an AI image may have four chambers but in visually incorrect proportions. For healthcare education: compare with an anatomical atlas before you publish.