Troubleshooting
Fix common issues and unexpected outputs in Impact Learning
Troubleshooting
When results don't match your expectations, these troubleshooting strategies can help you get back on track.
Common Issues and Solutions
Output is too generic
Symptom: Content feels templated, not specific to your needs.
Cause: Prompt lacks specific context about your organization, audience, or goals.
Solution: Add specificity:
Before: "Create safety training"
After: "Create forklift safety training for our Amazon warehouse
in Phoenix. The audience is seasonal workers (18-25) who may not
speak English as a first language. Focus on the most common
accident types we've seen: tip-overs and pedestrian collisions."Content is too long
Symptom: Output is overwhelming, takes too long to complete.
Cause: No constraints on length or time.
Solution: Add explicit limits:
Keep this training to:
- 10 minutes maximum completion time
- 3 key concepts (no more)
- 5 quiz questions
- 1 scenario (not multiple)Content is too short
Symptom: Output feels incomplete or superficial.
Cause: Prompt didn't indicate depth needed.
Solution: Request more detail:
Expand on this by:
- Adding more explanation for each concept
- Including 2-3 examples per section
- Adding "deep dive" optional content
- Including a comprehensive quiz (15+ questions)Wrong tone or style
Symptom: Content sounds too formal, too casual, or doesn't match brand.
Cause: Style expectations not communicated.
Solution: Define tone explicitly:
Adjust the writing style:
- Use "you" and "we" instead of "the learner" and "the company"
- Write at an 8th-grade reading level
- Be encouraging, not instructive
- Add subtle humor where appropriate
- Avoid corporate jargon entirelyTechnical errors in preview
Symptom: Preview shows errors, missing content, or broken layouts.
Cause: Usually a generation issue that can be fixed.
Solution: Report what you see:
The preview shows some issues:
- Image on slide 3 isn't loading
- Text overlaps the button on mobile view
- Quiz submit button isn't working
Please fix these technical issues.AI misunderstood the request
Symptom: Output is well-made but completely different from what you wanted.
Cause: Ambiguous language or unclear context.
Solution: Clarify and try again:
I think there was a misunderstanding. When I said "cards," I meant
flashcard-style learning cards that flip to show answers, not
the card-based navigation you created.
Please recreate using flashcards instead.Debugging Prompts
When something breaks
Use this pattern to get help:
I'm seeing an issue:
WHAT I EXPECTED: [Describe what should happen]
WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS: [Describe what you see]
WHEN IT OCCURS: [Steps to reproduce]
Please help me fix this.When you're stuck
If you're not sure how to proceed:
I want to create [goal] but I'm not sure how to approach it.
My constraints are:
- [Constraint 1]
- [Constraint 2]
Can you suggest an approach and outline before we build it?When results vary
If you're getting inconsistent results:
I've tried this prompt twice and got very different results.
What I need is consistent:
- [Requirement 1]
- [Requirement 2]
Can you ensure these elements are always included?Prevention Strategies
Use Checklists
Before complex prompts, ensure you've included:
- Clear goal statement
- Target audience description
- Specific requirements (numbered)
- Constraints (time, length, format)
- Style/tone guidance
- Success criteria
Start with an Outline
For complex projects:
Before building the full content, give me an outline showing:
- Module/section structure
- Key content points for each
- Estimated duration
- Interactive elements planned
Once I approve, we'll build each section.Define Non-Goals
Sometimes saying what you don't want is as helpful as what you do:
Important: This training should NOT include:
- Historical background (focus on current procedures)
- Technical specifications (keep it practical)
- Legal disclaimers (we'll add those separately)
- Optional advanced content (this is basics only)Getting Help
If content won't generate
I'm trying to create [X] but it's not working.
I've tried: [What you attempted]
Error/issue: [What happens]
What should I try instead?If you need a different approach
The approach we've been taking isn't working for my needs.
The problem is: [Describe the issue]
What I actually need is: [Describe the goal]
Can we try a completely different approach?If you're not sure what's possible
Is it possible to create [X] with Impact Learning?
I'm trying to achieve: [Goal]
Constraints I have: [Limitations]
If yes, what's the best approach?
If no, what's the closest alternative?Recovery Strategies
When you've gone down the wrong path
Let's pause here. The direction we've taken isn't working.
I'd like to go back to basics and start with just:
- [Simple element 1]
- [Simple element 2]
Once those work, we can add complexity.When content is partially good
Some of this works well:
- KEEP: [What to preserve]
But other parts need to change:
- CHANGE: [What to modify]
- REMOVE: [What to delete]
Please update accordingly.When you need to reset
Let's start fresh. Clear our previous attempts and create
a new [content type] with these requirements:
[New, clearer requirements]