This is a new student facing AI tool within Blackboard. Staff can now create AI Conversations around a topic using Socratic Questioning or a scenario using Role Play. Both features have two elements, the topic/scenario and a reflective component.
For more details see, the AI Conversation Blackboard Help Guide.
Top Tips for using the AI Conversation Tool
Tip 1: Use Role-play mode
There are two modes: Socratic and Role-play. Even if you want a Socratic questioning exercise, we recommend selecting Role-play and framing the activity as a scenario; this typically yields a more focused, transparent discussion.
Tip 2: Set a clear, student-visible structure
Students can see your setup. Write it in plain, student-facing language.
Use this template:
- Scenario: One or two sentences that set the context and constraints.
- Student’s role: The stance they will take (e.g., “You are the policy analyst preparing a briefing.”).
- AI persona: Who the AI is. Use a named character (fictional or historical) rather than listing emotional traits.
- Objective: What the conversation should achieve (e.g., “Identify three viable methods and justify one choice.”).
Tip 3: Choosing a persona
Named personas (fictional or real) can make tasks vivid. Do not assume shared cultural knowledge. Provide a one-line bio and explain why this persona fits the task.
Tip 4: Let students pick a persona (with guidance)
You can allow students to choose their own persona by adding this instruction to the setup. If you do, prepare them to choose appropriately. Ask them to consider:
- What is your learning aim for this conversation?
- What kind of persona will best challenge/support that aim, and why?
- How will you judge whether the chat was useful?
Tip 5: Crafting the reflective question
The default reflection can be edited—do edit it so it aligns with your outcomes and asks for evidence.
Stronger prompts:
- What changed in your understanding? Cite one concrete insight from the dialogue and how you verified it.
- Which claim felt least reliable? How did you check it against a source or rubric?
- What will you do next (one action within 7 days), and how will you know it worked?