How to build a Subject Revision bot, with personality 🥊

Matthew Wemyss 🇷🇴

Assistant School Director, Cambridge School of Bucharest

As educators, we're always looking for innovative ways to support our students' learning experiences, especially when it comes to revising complex subjects. The Cambridge School of Bucharest has taken a creative and effective approach by utilising AI-powered chatbots from Mindjoy to assist students in their studies. Matthew Wemyss, the assistant school director, shares his insights on building a tutor bot named Rocky Bit-Boa. Here's a guide to how he did it, so you can create your own educational assistant:

Step 1: Define the Tutor's Role and Character

Firstly, determine the purpose of your chatbot. For Rocky Bit Boa, the goal was to help students revise areas from a mock exam where they may have struggled. Adding a little character, like the plucky underdog persona from the Rocky series, can make interactions more engaging. However, this step is optional and can be tailored to your preferences.

Step 2: Instruction Settings

Go into the settings and specify your bot's instructions clearly. You can include:

• Roles and Personas: Define what the bot is (e.g., Rocky Bit Boa) and what it is not allowed to be. Setting boundaries is crucial for maintaining focused assistance.
• Knowledge Reference: If you're working with knowledge bases in Mindjoy, instruct the bot to reference them or any attached files to guide it toward those resources.
• Interaction Style: Direct your bot to start by asking questions the student needs support with and to reteach if the student can't answer.
• Language Use: Encourage the use of academic language, which is essential as exams approach.
• Subject Matter: Make sure your bot is equipped to handle questions beyond the primary focus, such as including programming information if the chatbot is used for a computer science course.
• Cultural Considerations: Since Rocky Bit Boa is used in a British school overseas, it was set to output in British English.
• Response Psychology: Instruct the bot to take its time and think deeply before responding to foster a more thoughtful learning process.

Step 3: Activate Knowledge Bases and Modes

In Mindjoy, you have the option to activate certain features that enhance your chatbot's capabilities:

• Knowledge Bases: Include course materials, past papers, and mark schemes to give the bot context and content to draw from.
• Socratic Mode: Encourage your bot to ask probing questions, preventing students from outsourcing their thinking.
• Maths Mode: If your course includes mathematical elements, this mode can help the bot better support students in those areas.

Step 4: Begin a New Chat and Test

Start a new chat with your bot to see how it performs. Pose questions or scenarios that students are likely to need help with. Watch how the bot uses the character and instructions you've given it to interact with and assist the student.

Step 5: Continuous Improvement

Monitor the interactions and make adjustments as necessary. If the bot's personality overshadows its educational purpose, you can always modify its character traits. The key is to create a bot that is helpful, engaging, and focused on the learning objectives.

Step 6: Using it in the Classroom

After assigning the Tutor bot to your classroom you'll find a whole host of fun interactions that will start happening with your students, but here are a few use cases that we think you'll get the most out of!With Rocky Bit Boa fully programmed and ready to go, it's time to see it in action in the classroom environment. The integration of your tutor bot can transform the way students learn and interact with the course material. Here are some of the most impactful use cases that can enhance the educational experience:

• Individualized Attention: One of the greatest advantages of deploying Rocky Bit Boa in your classroom is the ability to offer one-on-one attention to each student. While the teacher manages the class, the bot can provide personalized guidance, answering specific questions without the limitations of human resources. This ensures that every student's needs are addressed promptly and effectively.
• Homework Support: Rocky Bit Boa can be a lifeline for students working on homework or projects outside of school hours. It can clarify concepts, provide examples, and walk students through problems step-by-step. This not only reinforces what was learned in class but also helps students develop independent learning skills.
• Interactive Study Groups: Encourage students to interact with Rocky Bit Boa in group study sessions. The bot can mediate discussions, pose challenging questions, and offer insights that guide the group towards a deeper understanding of the subject. This collective interaction can lead to a more dynamic and collaborative learning environment.
• Gamified Learning: Inject some fun into learning by using Rocky Bit Boa to create a gamified experience. Set up quizzes and interactive challenges that students can engage with, turning revision time into a competitive and enjoyable activity. This can be particularly effective in maintaining student engagement and motivation.

By integrating your tutor bot into the classroom, you're not just providing another resource for study; you're creating a dynamic learning assistant that will evolve with your students. Each interaction with Rocky Bit Boa is an opportunity for growth, making education a living, breathing dialogue between student and machine. Embrace these use cases and watch as your classroom becomes a hub of innovation and deep learning.

Conclusion

With Mindjoy's chatbots, educators like Matthew Weymss are finding unique and effective ways to support students' learning journeys. By following the steps outlined above, you can create a tutor bot tailored to your classroom's needs, complete with a touch of character and a strong educational foundation. Rocky Bit Boa serves as a great example of how technology can be harnessed to provide personalized and interactive study assistance. Whether you're teaching computer science or any other subject, an AI-powered tutor bot might just be the innovative teaching assistant you've been looking for.