How to Make Your Own GPT: A Step-by-Step Guide

As I listened to the keynote by Sam Altman of OpenAI, they unveiled some amazing things three days a go, one of which is the ability to make your own GPT. So I did. Did what? I made DIVAA, the Digital Interactive Virtual AP Assistant to help my AP Computer Science Principles with Python and AP Content. Their assignment this week is to test it (“break it” I told them) and to get back with me before going on break next week! In this post, I’ll share a little about how it works. And before I share the link with you, my students need the chance to test it first.

Additionally, I have a “refer a friend” feature and will give my students a free trial of it so we can see what we think.

What Is Changing in ChatGPT? Watch the keynote.

In addition to announcing GPT4 Turbo and an easier way to interact with plugins, as well as updating data to April 2023, Sam Altman also announced that any of us can make our own GPT in his keynote from three days a go.

First, add some other GPT’s like “Tech Support Advisor.”

Can I point out that the first thing you should do is explore and add the “Tech Support” Advisor for your teachers? Also, note that there is a math tutor. Many of these tools are just so helpful! Just click Explore at the top left of the screen.

Teachers might really like to make something cool into a coloring book page.

How to Make Your Own GPT

First, you have to be a Plus subscriber. But honestly, with all ChatGPT does, the $20 a month is really some of the best subscription money I spend each month.

I don’t think that my students who do not subscribe to chat GPT will be able to access the custom GPT I have made, that is why I’m testing it. We will see what happens with it when we test it this week, and I’ll update this post. Even if they don’t have it, I’ll fire up my account on my Chromebook and pass it around so my students can test it. Then, I’ll treat it like a teaching assistant. (I also have seen a pretty cool Creative Writing Coach GPT that might be helpful for students in some cases.) I’m going to use the travel GPT today in class and let it coach kids as they plan their trips and load information into spreadsheets. It is like a Teaching Assistant for me.

Step 1. Click “Explore” and “Create a GPT”

Step 2. As you Get Started, It Will Prompt You About the Steps

This is designed to work with natural language. Just talk to the creation tool like you would chat GPT. You’ll notice two sides. The left, you’re improving the GPT that you’re making, designing the logo, explaining how you want it to interact, and on the right, you can test what it’s doing. You can even upload content when you’re done (I uploaded the AP College Board standards for AP Computer Science Principles.)

Step 3. Answer the Prompts.

At this point, I explained who I was and what I wanted this GPT to do. Then, it prompted me so it could design the avatar for the GPT. Then, it asked me a truly great question, “how do you want it to interact with your students?”

OK, now I want you to remember that I’m at a Christian school, so I want a biblical worldview, which ChatGPT can do pretty well. It also is an advantage because it will keep the GPT on track with how it answers, in my experience and make it acceptable for use in my school.

I love how it clarified about what to do when a student asks for a direct answer! I wanted to prevent this. I programmed it how to handle that. (Note: I’ve told my students to test it and try to “break it” and see if it will answer their questions. We will see what it does.)

Step 4. Look at the Questions.

On the right side of the screen you can see that it has the basic setup that looks similar to ChatGPT. I also added questions about studying and reviewing for the exam. (We have to test how that will work as well.)

Step 5. Upload Data

So, after you are done, you can click on “configure” and upload specific knowledge you want it to access as it works. For me, it is the standards, some vocabulary I’ve created, some content I’m using, and such. I want it to have access to these tools as it interacts with the students.

Step 6. Test

So, then, on the right, sit there and test it for a while. See how it works. Make sure you feel good about it.

Step 7. Release for Alpha Testing.

Alpha testing is within an organization. Beta testing is outside. I teach this to students, and I always have them be my Alpha testers for anything before I share it. So, my AP Computer Science Principles class is alpha testing this tool with their content for next week.

I created a link that would only be for people with the link. I have also added it to my sidebar. You can expect that I’ll be creating this for my teachers on campus, for sure. This is so exciting!