AI Conversations - Staff Guide

First, navigate to where you wish to add the AI Conversation to your module. Select the + icon, and Create Content. A panel will open. Go to the bottom of the panel and select AI Conversation (in the Participation and Engagement section).

The AI Conversation set up screen will load. There are 4 sections to review:

• Student instructions (the AI persona will also see these)
• AI persona
• Reflective question
• Assessment settings

If you are stuck for ideas, use the auto-generate feature. If you already have an idea, skip this section and begin adding student instructions.

To auto-generate a conversation, click on the auto-generate option which appears above the settings (top right of the screen):

Content will generate automatically based on the module title, but you can add information in the Description field or use 'Select module items' to give the tool inspiration for creating a Conversation activity (however, it is not possible to select items for the AI to use during the AI Conversation activity). You can use the Advanced Options to use another language.

If the system generates an idea you like, select it via the radio button and then click Add.

The AI Conversation will be added to your module for you to review the student instructions/AI Persona/reflection question and settings.

Now enter the instructions for the student. We recommend you:

• Describe the student's role
• Describe the AI persona's role
• Outline the situation or scenario ​
• Describe what they are trying to achieve

If you wish, you can set a student message limit in the 'Conversation constraints' section to guide the length of the activity. This means students can only enter a defined number of messages (they will see the number of messages they have remaining as they complete the activity).

Select Next when you have completed this section.

Next define the AI persona. There are 4 elements to review: the image, name, personality trait and complexity or responses.

• Image: Students will see the image of the AI persona. Change this to something appropriate by clicking Edit Image. Under Image Source there is a drop down menu, unless you have an image you wish to use, select Stock Images from Unsplash. You can search by keyword to find a suitable image. Click on the image, then Next, adjust the size as relevant and then Save to add.
• Name: Add a name to make the AI persona more relatable.
• Personality trait: Now define the AI persona's personality traits. For example, you could describe the persona as supportive or critical. Also, indicate the AI persona's mood or tone e.g. enthusiastic, calm. You can also provide any relevant background information which you think will help the AI, but you do not want to use in the Student Instructions.
• Complexity of responses: Set the complexity of responses by the AI Persona. Consider the AI persona role and which setting is most appropriate. The default is defined as undergraduate (lower). If you move the slider to the left, the language used should become simpler, if you move it to the right, it should become more complex. There are ten points in the scale which map as:

1. 1. Early primary school​
   2. Late primary school​
   3. Early middle school​
   4. Late middle school​
   5. Early high school​
   6. Late high school​
   7. Undergraduate lower  (default)​
   8. Undergraduate upper ​
   9. Graduate level​
   10. Advanced PhD level

Select Next when you have completed this section.

A question is added by default but can be edited. You may wish to use the reflection question for students to reflect on their performance in the activity or/and comment on the interactions with the AI Persona. If you wish to change it, select the three dots menu and then Edit.

Remember to click Save when finished.

This activity should be used for formative assessment or a self-study activity only.

Click the settings cog to access settings.

Enter a due date as required (or select 'No due date')

The following settings are recommended:

• Leave the formative labels checked​​
• Change 'Grade using' to Complete/Incomplete​​
• Set as unlimited attempts

Other settings can be left as the default.

Use the description text box to advise students if you will review the activity/return feedback. Where unlimited attempts are allowed, you may wish to specify you will only review the most recent one. We also recommend including a link to the student guide.

Remember to Save your changes.

There is an inherent risk when using AI tools that outputs could be inappropriate, inaccurate or biased. Students are warned of this when they begin the activity but it is important that you preview the activity so you can understand the student experience, see how the AI persona reacts and refine the information you provided if necessary.

The 'Preview chat' function is available in the interface once you have set up the AI persona.

Previewing the activity allows you to interact with the AI persona but it does not show you the full experience. If you wish to see this, you can use the Student Preview functionality, however, you should only do this if your module is unavailable to students (this is because you will have to make the AI Conversation available to students on the module to use the Student Preview).

When using the Student Preview, save your activity when you exit so you can see how this is accessible via the Gradebook. If your module is currently being used by students, contact the IT Service Desk asking for a sandpit module in Minerva which you can use to test the functionality.

To understand the student experience, you can also watch this short video which shows the student experience and how to access student interactions via the Gradebook (4 mins 3 secs):

When you are happy with the activity, the final step is to make it available to students. Do this by selecting the Hidden from students option (above the settings) and changing to Visible to students.