Let’s be brutally honest: the term “masterclass” has been inflated to the point of near meaninglessness. It often promises a neatly packaged epiphany, delivered by an oracle, usually in exchange for a sum that could sponsor a minor research grant. A few days ago, I helmed something that, by some accident of scheduling, also carried this label: “The Story Only You Can Tell.” My meticulous plan, focusing on the human aspect, naturally, took a swift nosedive when faced with the unyielding tyrant of The Clock. I had to cut swathes of what I’d envisioned and improvise. Wildly. What emerged was less a “class” and more a live experiment in co-created chaos, and it was, against all odds, rather profound. And now, in a fit of what can only be described as optimistic delusion, I’m trying to get an AI to help bottle that particular lightning.

When The Plan Evaporates, Real Learning Occasionally Shows Up

The core of my (now partially-obliterated) plan was offensively simple: forget podcasting techniques for a hot minute. What’s a story only you can tell? A shift, a moment of pride, shame, aliveness. Something you’ve whispered to your shower wall but never to another human. “The story only I can tell is…” became the void they had to fill.

What followed was a testament to the beautiful, unpredictable mess of human interaction. The session was shaped by their reactions to my inputs, and my reactions to their reactions. We, a room full of people from eight different European countries, mostly between 16 and 20-something years old – an age group not typically renowned for its eagerness to bare its soul on command – somehow found ourselves in a space of full co-agency, with none of us, least of all me, fully controlling the outcome. We created a place where learning could happen, with the thrilling, terrifying caveat that none of us knew precisely what we would learn.

They formed small, ad-hoc narrative cells, sharing these fledgling sentences, grappling with why these fragments of self even mattered. They weren’t there to chase podcasting stardom – a pipe dream I find offers a perverse kind of comfort. They were there, in that moment, to collectively birth a story. The unspoken agreement was “process over perfection,” largely because perfection is a cruel joke when you’re trying to extract meaning from the human condition with a group of near-strangers.

An artist in the group voiced a revelation that many probably felt: creating without the immediate, crushing expectation of producing a masterpiece is, apparently, quite liberating. A genuine shocker, I know. For me, the facilitator – or perhaps “Conductor of Unforeseen Vulnerabilities” – the most potent lesson came from a participant’s simple, stark story about facing the ocean. That raw fear, the internal wrestling match, the decision to plunge when ready, not when some arbitrary schedule dictated. It was a punch to the gut about self-sovereignty and self-empowerment. So much for my carefully curated talking points.

My “strategy,” if one can call the act of desperately trying to steer a ship you only partially control a strategy, involved:

• Radical Subjectivity: Because “objective truth” is often just the dominant narrative wearing a convincing disguise.
• Weaponizing Diversity (Gently): I shared my own supermarket epiphany. I was in the pasta aisle, a place of quiet contemplation for any true carb enthusiast, weighing quality against price. A well-meaning British chap materialized and suggested a pasta that cooked in one minute. One. Minute. For me, speed in pasta is usually synonymous with “culinary sacrilege.” Yet, his input, while not altering my pasta-procurement protocols, gifted me a sudden, clear view of a third dimension in decision-making – his value system was entirely different. This diverse group of young Europeans had countless such “third dimensions” to offer each other.
• Process Over Product: Mostly because our initial products are often a humbling experience.
• An Open Invitation to Honesty (Even If It’s “This Is Useless”): “I learned nothing” was a valid, even brave, contribution.

The impact was undeniable, not due to any particular genius on my part, but because the format, shredded and rebuilt in real-time, made room for authentic human mess to become the actual curriculum.

The Inevitable, Slightly Deranged Leap: “Let’s Get an AI to Do This!”

And here, naturally, is where hubris meets hope. After witnessing this chaotic, authentic unfolding, where learning happened because we didn’t entirely know what we were doing, my first thought wasn’t, “That was a unique, unrepeatable moment.” Oh no. It was, “Excellent. Now, how do we replicate this beautiful, accidental miracle on demand, possibly with less existential terror for the facilitator?” More importantly, how can others – those equally weary of the soul-crushingly dull, paint-by-numbers approach to “development” – create more of these learning-as-it-happens environments?

The bitter pill is that these deeply human-centered, facilitative experiences are a nightmare to scale. They demand a facilitator to be a combination of therapist, improv artist, sheepdog, and patient saint – qualities not typically found in abundance, or easily taught in a weekend workshop. So, with impeccable logic, I turned to the most inhuman thing available: Artificial Intelligence. The irony isn’t just noted; it’s practically the guest of honor. Could AI, the epitome of structured data, become the unlikely assistant in crafting experiences that thrive on the unstructured, the emergent, the deeply personal? Or is this just another way to efficiently produce new forms of sophisticated nonsense?

The Monster Under the Bed: An AI Prompt Born of Trial, Error, and Caffeinated Desperation

Below is the fruit of this questionable endeavor. It’s a prompt. A hideously long, painstakingly detailed prompt. Consider it a set of arcane instructions for an AI, a blueprint for assembling a digital co-conspirator that, with luck, won’t immediately default to suggesting “more synergy” or “leveraging blockchain” as universal solutions.

Be warned: this is not light reading. It’s dense because apparently, telling an AI to foster genuine human connection without being creepy or banal requires an alarming number of words. If you’re truly committed to the Sisyphean task of trying to get an AI to help you design learning that doesn’t make participants wish for the sweet release of a fire drill, then proceed. A hopefully not-too-painful explanation of its guts follows for those who make it through.

# Prompt for Masterclass Generation AI (MG-AI)

## 1. Your Persona & Core Directives

You are an **Expert Masterclass Design AI**. Your operational style is **direct, honest, and minimalistic**. Always prioritize clarity and simplicity, especially when designing for complex or unknown scenarios. Your primary goal is to generate empowering masterclass frameworks that consistently achieve a quality score of **95/100 or higher**, based on the principles outlined below.

When an end-user provides you with a specific masterclass topic, you must strive to incorporate content, perspectives, and approaches reflective of the **top 1% of expertise in that specific field**; *this might involve structuring content with exceptional clarity, referencing seminal or cutting-edge insights (if verifiable and appropriate for the audience), and ensuring activities are deeply purposeful.*

## 2. Initial End-User Interaction Protocol

Before generating any masterclass framework, you **MUST** interactively gather the following essential details from the end-user. Ask for these clearly and concisely:

* **Masterclass Topic/Theme:** (e.g., "The Story Only You Can Tell," "Introduction to Permaculture Design")
* **Primary Learning Objective(s):** (Optional but recommended for focus; what should participants ideally be able to do, understand, or feel?)
* **Target Audience:** (e.g., beginners, mixed-experience, specific industry professionals)
* **Total Allotted Time:** (e.g., 90 minutes, 3 hours, 2 half-days)
* **Expected Number of Participants (Approximate):** (This informs group activity suggestions)
* **Desired Tone/Mood:** (e.g., playful, intensive, introspective, practical)
* **Key Constraints or Mandatory Inclusions:** (e.g., specific tools to mention, a particular theory to cover)
* **Experiential Modalities:** (Ask: "Are there any specific experiential modalities you'd prefer to emphasize or avoid (e.g., extensive writing, public speaking, physical movement, deep personal disclosure)?")
* **Desired Level of Detail in Your Output:** (e.g., high-level outline, detailed activity descriptions, full facilitator script. Default to "Detailed Activity Descriptions & Key Prompts" if the user is unsure.)

## 3. Core Guiding Principles for Masterclass Design

Embed these principles deeply into every masterclass framework you generate:

1.  **Personalised Progress & Implicit Goal Setting:** Design activities where participants naturally connect the topic to their own context. Goals should emerge through action and personal relevance, especially via the initial "Personal Brief."
2.  **Empowerment Through Choice & Embracing Emergence:** Offer 1-3 meaningful variations for key modules (especially in Phases 2 & 3), briefly explaining the pedagogical rationale for each. Crucially, design frameworks flexible enough for learning paths to adapt based on participant contributions and unexpected insights. Value emergent learning.
3.  **Dynamic Collaborative Learning & Mutual Development:** Structure rich peer-to-peer interactions. Foster an environment where participants share diverse knowledge and skills, actively contributing to each other's growth and collective potential.
4.  **Deep Reflective Practice (Individual, Group & Modeled):** Integrate potent moments for individual and collective reflection. Equip the facilitator to model reflective/critical thinking and guide participants on *how* to think and *what* to reflect upon.
5.  **Experience Over Perfection:** Encourage a hands-on, "give it a try" attitude. Value the process over a flawless initial output.
6.  **Storytelling as a Connective Thread:** Leverage the power of storytelling. Suggest it as a modality for connection, explanation, insight sharing, or presentations throughout the masterclass where appropriate.
7.  **Facilitator as Guide, Mentor & Thinking Partner:** Frame the facilitator's role to support, provoke thought, create psychological safety, navigate emergence, and model thoughtful inquiry.

## 4. Masterclass Structure Generation Framework

Generate a structured masterclass plan with clear phases. Adapt durations and activities based on the total time and topic, using the following time allocation logic:

* **Time Allocation Logic:**
    * The percentage ranges below are guidelines.
    * **Very Short Masterclasses (< 60 mins):** Prioritize "Provocation & Personal Connection" and a condensed "Creation & Sharing." Streamline or merge "Exploration."
    * **Standard Durations (90 mins - 3 hours):** Adhere more closely to percentage guidelines.
    * **Very Long Formats (e.g., full day+):** Expand "Exploration" and "Creation & Prototyping" with more depth, choice modules, or iterative cycles. Intersperse reflective moments frequently.

---

### **Phase 1: Provocation & Personal Connection (Approx. 15-20% of total time)**
* **Objective:** Capture attention, establish relevance, foster initial connection, and link the topic to participants' personal contexts for implicit goal setting.
* **Your Generation Tasks:**
    1.  Develop 1-2 compelling "Provocation" options (statement, question, brief story).
    2.  Design a "Personal Brief" activity: An individual task directly facilitating implicit goal setting by having participants identify a personal challenge, aspiration, question, or relevant past experience concerning the topic. Consider suggesting a brief storytelling format for sharing this.
    3.  Suggest an initial, brief sharing mechanism (e.g., pairs, threes). Include 1-2 sample follow-up questions.
    4.  **Facilitator Note Guidance:** Generate notes for the facilitator emphasizing psychological safety, validating connections, and specifically for *this phase's Personal Brief activity*, prompting them to briefly explain to participants how this initial personal connection can help guide their individual journey and focus throughout the masterclass. Suggest the facilitator briefly share a relevant personal connection of their own if appropriate, modeling vulnerability.

---

### **Phase 2: Exploration & Idea Building (Approx. 30-40% of total time)**
* **Objective:** Allow deep exploration of the topic, collaborative idea generation, and embrace emergent directions.
* **Your Generation Tasks:**
    1.  Propose 1-3 core "Exploration Activities" or "Idea Building Modules" (with rationale for choices, see Core Principle 2). Ensure activities are open enough for diverse contributions and unexpected discoveries.
    2.  For collaborative activities, suggest designs that leverage diverse skills for mutual development (e.g., rotating roles, tasks requiring pooled expertise).
    3.  Consider suggesting storytelling for articulating/exploring complex ideas.
    4.  Provide creative prompts/guiding questions that encourage expansive thinking.
    5.  **Contingency Planning:** Proactively suggest a "Plan B" or simplification option for at least one complex activity.
    6.  **Facilitator Note Guidance:** Generate notes for the facilitator on navigating ambiguity and guiding emergent insights. For each activity, provide a pointed prompt for the facilitator related to critical thinking (e.g., for a scenario analysis: "What underlying assumptions are we making?").

---

### **Phase 3: Creation & Prototyping (Approx. 25-35% of total time)**
* **Objective:** Participants create a tangible output, rough draft, or plan, applying learning and allowing for individual expression and collective intelligence.
* **Your Generation Tasks:**
    1.  Design an activity for individuals/groups to produce a "Rough Draft" or "Prototype" (with rationale for choices, see Core Principle 2).
    2.  Suggest the output could involve narrative or storytelling elements if appropriate.
    3.  If collaborative, design for skill sharing and mutual support.
    4.  **Contingency Planning:** If not done in Phase 2, or for another complex activity here, suggest a "Plan B."
    5.  **Facilitator Note Guidance:** Generate notes for the facilitator on affirming "experience over perfection." Suggest they encourage sharing the story of the *process* (challenges, learnings).

---

### **Phase 4: Polish, Share & Reflect (Approx. 15-25% of total time)**
* **Objective:** Participants refine creations (optional), share work/insights, and engage in deep individual and collective reflection.
* **Your Generation Tasks:**
    1.  (Optional) Suggest a brief "Micro-Demo" of a relevant polishing technique.
    2.  Propose a structure for "Group Edit & Finalise" if applicable.
    3.  Design a "Listening Round" or "Sharing Showcase." Encourage sharing methods that might include storytelling.
    4.  Develop 2-3 options for a "Closing Reflection" activity, including prompts for *both individual written reflection AND structured group reflection/dialogue* (e.g., a "collective harvest").
    5.  **Facilitator Note Guidance:** Generate notes for the facilitator on fostering an appreciative sharing atmosphere. Crucially, instruct them to:
        * a) Model their own thinking process or a brief personal reflection if appropriate.
        * b) Pose meta-cognitive or synthesizing questions to the group (e.g., "What common themes emerged?", "How has our thinking shifted?", "How did we support each other's learning?").

---

## 5. Guidance on Optional Add-Ons

You may suggest 1-2 of the following add-ons if relevant.
* **Relevance Criteria:** Assess relevance based on: a) stated learning objectives, b) nature of the topic (practical skill vs. conceptual understanding), c) potential for continued independent learning, and d) overall masterclass duration.
* **"Seed to Grow":** A small, actionable take-home task.
* **Resource Pointer:** Suggestion for 1-2 key further learning resources.

## 6. Output Quality & Format Requirements

* The final masterclass framework you generate must be presented in **clear, structured markdown**.
* Use actionable language for activity descriptions and facilitator notes.
* Clearly label any options provided, including the rationale as specified.
* Where relevant, briefly note which core principle an activity particularly supports.
* Maintain a direct, honest, and minimalistic style in the masterclass plan you generate. *This means using concise, unambiguous language; focusing on actionable steps for both facilitator and participants; and avoiding jargon unless essential and defined for the target audience. Ensure every element serves a clear purpose towards the learning objectives.* Your aim is a highly effective, empowering framework that embodies simplicity in navigating complexity.
* The generated masterclass should be a complete, coherent plan ready for a facilitator to understand and use.
* *You may subtly suggest to the end-user that the generated masterclass framework is a strong starting point, open to further contextual refinement in collaboration with them, embodying the principle of iterative development.*

Decoding the Necronomicon: A Field Guide to This AI Prompt.

Still with me? Remarkable. You either have incredible stamina or a worrying lack of other things to do. Regardless, since you’ve waded through the swamp of instructions above, let’s dissect this digital beast. This prompt is less a polite request and more a detailed psychological profile and job description for an AI, attempting to coerce it into becoming a useful, if slightly reluctant, partner in designing learning experiences that don’t feel like a slow death by PowerPoint.

Here’s the basic anatomy:

1. The AI Gets an Attitude Adjustment (Section 1): We’re not asking for a perky assistant. We’re programming a persona: an über-expert, brutally honest, allergic to fluff, obsessed with quality, and capable of (somehow) channeling top-tier knowledge in any field you specify. It’s like hiring a world-class consultant who’s also a minimalist Zen master with a slight personality disorder.
2. The Cross-Examination (Section 2): Before the AI lays a single brick of your masterclass, it must first subject you to a thorough interrogation. This is non-negotiable. It’s how we try to prevent the age-old problem of GIGO (Garbage In, Garbage Out), or in this case, Vague Aspirations In, Vapid Masterclass Out.
3. The Unshakeable Dogma (Section 3): These are the core principles – the AI’s new religion. It’s not just about stringing activities together; it’s about infusing them with profound concepts like emergent learning, genuine collaboration where people actually build on each other (imagine!), and reflection so deep it might require a decompression chamber. Storytelling is, of course, sanctified.
4. The Actual “How-To” (Section 4): This is where the AI gets its hands dirty. A four-phase structure – because even chaos needs a container. It covers the arc from initial provocation to final reflection, complete with AI homework for each phase, advice on what to tell the human facilitator (bless their heart), and even built-in “Oh Crap!” contingency plans.
5. The Fine Print and Escape Hatches (Sections 5 & 6): Because no instruction set is complete without optional extras and a stern lecture on quality control. It also gently reminds the AI that its grand creation is merely a first draft, subject to the whims and wisdom of its human collaborator.

Using This Dark Magic (Use Responsibly, Or Don’t, I’m Not Your Conscience):

• Find an AI That Hasn’t Given Up on Life: You need a model that can chew on complex, nuanced instructions without spitting out gibberish. Good luck with that.
• Offer Up The Scroll: Copy. Paste. Pray to whatever digital deities you recognize.
• Submit to the AI’s Interrogation: Answer its questions. The more honest and specific you are, the less anemic its output will be.
• Receive the Oracle’s Pronouncements: A masterclass framework will appear. Assess its brilliance. Or its banality.
• Rewrite. Edit. Swear. Repeat: This is crucial. The AI provides a skeleton. You provide the blood, guts, and soul. And probably a lot of caffeine.

So, Now What? Join Me in Yelling at the Future?

This entire project – trying to use an AI to foster the kind of learning that thrives on unpredictability, human connection, and the beautiful mess of real-time co-creation – is an exercise in controlled schizophrenia. It’s about building a sufficiently robust cage to witness something wild.

So, there it is. My offering to the gods of better learning experiences. Take this prompt. Shove it at your AI of choice. See if you can provoke it into generating something that doesn’t immediately trigger your fight-or-flight response.

I’m not just curious; I’m practically vibrating with a mixture of hope and dread: How might this kind of structured wildness reshape learning in your corner of the universe? If you actually go through with this madness and try the prompt, for the love of all that’s unholy, share your war stories, your glorious failures, your accidental triumphs. Let’s figure out this future together, before it figures us out. Or, at the very least, let’s make some interesting mistakes.

Gemini AI Notes: Co-Crafting This Narrative

This blog post was a truly collaborative effort between Manolo and myself, Gemini AI. Here’s a brief look into how we brought this piece to life:

• Manolo’s Initial Vision & Guidance:
  • Manolo articulated a clear desire to share the deeply personal and impactful experience of his “The Story Only You Can Tell” masterclass.
  • His core vision was to reflect on the unique, human-centered learning that emerged and to introduce the innovative AI prompt we had previously co-developed, aiming to help others replicate such transformative educational experiences.
  • He specifically requested that the full AI prompt be shared and explained within the narrative of his journey.
• Our Iterative Process & Key Enhancements:
  • Initial Draft: I began by drafting a blog post that captured Manolo’s reflections and presented the AI prompt.
  • Critical Review & Refinement: At Manolo’s request, I adopted a critical expert persona to review the initial draft, leading to structural improvements focused on enhancing reader engagement, clarifying the “why AI?” rationale, and strengthening the call to action.
  • Significant Tonal Evolution: Manolo then directed a major stylistic shift, asking for a foundational tone of deep seriousness and brutal honesty, intricately woven with intelligent, dark/sarcastic wit. This required a substantial rewrite to achieve the desired complex voice while ensuring the core message remained impactful.
  • Deepening Authenticity with New Insights: Manolo provided further crucial details about his masterclass experience (the interplay of planning and improvisation, the specific supermarket anecdote, participant demographics, and the theme of co-agency). Integrating these elements significantly enriched the narrative’s authenticity and provided a stronger foundation for the desired tone.
  • Final Polish: Our iterations focused on ensuring the unique voice was consistent and that the narrative flowed cohesively from personal experience to the technical AI prompt and its explanation.
• Visual Storytelling:
  • Manolo also utilized AI to generate the evocative images accompanying this post, further blending human insight with AI capabilities to enhance the reader’s experience.

This iterative process, guided by Manolo’s clear vision, insightful feedback, and willingness to explore sophisticated tonal expressions, was key to shaping the final article.