Module AI Assistant

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What is the Module AI Assistant?

Unlike a general-purpose generative AI service, the Module AI Assistant is designed to work within the context of an individual Blackboard module. It searches the module materials available to it rather than the wider internet and uses those materials to generate its answers.

When the AI Assistant provides an answer, it identifies the module sources from which the information has been drawn. This allows students to return to the original learning materials and check the information for themselves.

What can students use the Module AI Assistant for?

Students can use the Module AI Assistant to:

• Find information within their Blackboard module.
• Ask for explanations of topics covered in module materials.
• Check their understanding of key concepts.
• Generate practice questions or quizzes.
• Create flashcards for revision.
• Generate practice exercises based on module topics.
• Create a study or revision plan.
• Identify which module materials are relevant to a particular topic.

Example prompts for students

How reliable are its answers?

The Module AI Assistant is designed to reduce the risk of inaccurate answers by grounding its responses in the materials contained within the Blackboard module. However, it is still a generative AI system and can make mistakes.

Students should therefore check important information against the sources referenced by the AI Assistant and use the original module materials as the authoritative source.

Using the Module AI Assistant appropriately for assessment

The AI Assistant can help students understand and revise module content, but students should not treat its responses as material to copy directly into assessed work.

Students should:

• Return to and use the original module materials referenced by the AI Assistant.
• Reference original academic sources rather than the AI Assistant's response.
• Use the AI Assistant to support understanding rather than to produce assessed work for them.
• Follow the University's requirements for the appropriate and transparent use of generative AI.

What happens if the AI Assistant cannot answer a question?

The Module AI Assistant is deliberately limited in scope. If a question cannot be answered from the module materials, or falls outside the purpose of the AI Assistant, it may direct the student to another source of support, such as their tutor, Module Leader or the Student Centre.

If the AI Assistant misunderstands a question, students should first try making the question simpler, more specific or breaking a complex question into smaller parts.

Information for Module Leaders

Module Leaders can access usage information through the Module AI Assistant dashboard. This can provide information such as the number of conversations and the number of unique users. Where sufficient conversations have taken place, reporting can also identify broad themes in how students are using the AI Assistant.

Individual students' conversations are not visible to Module Leaders through the standard interface.

Good practice for colleagues

• Make students aware that the Module AI Assistant is available and explain its purpose.
• Encourage students to use the AI Assistant to explore and revise module content rather than simply obtain answers.
• Remind students to check the original sources cited by the AI Assistant.
• Ensure Blackboard module materials are accurate and up to date, as these materials underpin the AI Assistant's responses.
• Continue to provide routes to human support for questions requiring academic judgement or more nuanced discussion.

Further information