FAQs – Student
Getting Started
How Does the Chatbot Work?
The chatbot is a specialised tool that focuses only on your module’s content. Unlike public chatbots like ChatGPT, it:
- Only looks at your module materials in Blackboard
- Always tells you where it found the information
- Sticks to answering questions about your module
- Directs you to the Student Centre or your tutors for questions it can’t answer
Think of it as a smart search tool for your module – it reads through your module’s materials and helps you find and understand the information you need. If it can’t find an answer in your module materials, it won’t make one up – instead, it will point you to someone who can help.
How do I get started with the chatbot?
The chatbot is accessible within the content area in your Blackboard module site. When you first open it, you’ll see a welcome message and some suggested questions to try. Start with simple questions about the module content or try these useful prompts:
- “What are the main topics for this week?”
- “Can you create a quick quiz about [topic]?”
- “Where can I find information about [topic]?”
The chatbot works best when questions are clear and specific.
Is the chatbot multi-lingual?
Module AI Assistant supports a number of languages to differing degrees. This document “What Languages does LearnWise support” provides an outline on the languages and the level of support you can expect
Reliability and support
How accurate and reliable is the chatbot’s information?
All information used comes solely from the course. The assistant only answers information about the course content and course information using a combination of large language models to compile answers. So, if the course content is accurate then the chatbot responses should be too. Hallucinations are minimised by forcing the chatbot to only generate answers from the course content.
Can the chatbot understand and address complex or nuanced questions?
Chatbots are good at handling straightforward queries based on the course content. However, they may struggle with more complex or nuanced questions that require deep human insight. It’s important that students use the chatbot as a supplementary tool and not a replacement for human educators. Having help desks embedded into the assistant so that students are able to escalate problems to a human if necessary is also an important feature.
What should I do if the chatbot doesn’t understand my question?
Try these steps:
- Rephrase your question using simpler terms
- Break down complex questions into smaller parts
- Check your spelling and be specific If the chatbot still can’t help after a couple of attempts, it will direct you to appropriate support services. For technical issues, contact blackboard-support@westminster.ac.uk For module content questions, reach out to your module leader.
Are there any limits to how much I can use the chatbot?
While there’s no strict limit on usage:
- The chatbot typically responds within a few seconds
- During peak times (like periods running up to exams), response times might be slower
- If many students are using it simultaneously, you might experience brief delays
- The system may limit rapid-fire questioning to ensure fair access for all The chatbot is available 24/7, but remember it’s a supplement to, not a replacement for, other learning resources.
STUDY AND REVISION
Can the chatbot be used to help students engage with module content?
Yes, it can. Some example questions students could ask are:
Multiple choice quiz:
Please give me some multiple-choice questions for this week’s topic. Ask the questions one at a time.
Exam study:
Please help me prepare for the final exam. I want 10 flash cards based on the relevant course pages.
Practice exercises:
Generate 5 exercises based on this week’s main topic. Give me the exercises one at a time
What should I study this week?
Create a study plan for this module please
Can I use chatbot responses in my assignments?
While you can use the chatbot to help understand module materials, you should:
- Always go back to the original module materials that the chatbot cites
- Reference the original materials, not the chatbot’s responses
- Never ask the chatbot to write assignments for you
- Use it as a study aid rather than a source of quotable material Remember, the chatbot is designed to help you learn, not to do the work for you.
What are the best ways to use the chatbot for revision?
The chatbot offers several revision tools:
- Generate practice quiz questions about specific topics
- Create flashcards from the module content
- Build personalised study plans
- Check understanding of key concepts
- Find specific information in course materials Ask the chatbot to “help me revise [topic]” or “create a study plan for [topic]” to get started.
PRIVACY AND FEEDBACK
Will my conversations with the chatbot be private?
Your conversations with the chatbot are private and only used to improve the service.
However:
- Chatbot interactions are logged for technical support and service improvement.
- Anonymous usage data may be collected as part of the pilot evaluation
- Your module leader cannot see your individual conversations
- The university’s standard data protection policies apply to all chatbot data. A specific data protection impact assessment has been conducted for use of the chatbot – please see this document.
How can I give feedback about the chatbot?
We welcome your feedback during this pilot! You can:
- Use the feedback button after each chatbot interaction
- Participate in our regular student surveys about the chatbot
- Report technical issues through the ‘Report a Problem’ button
- Share suggestions during scheduled focus groups. Your input will help improve the chatbot for future users.