Welcome to the Blackboard Mailbag, where we feature a commonly asked question that has been hitting our mailbox recently: blackboard@fordham.edu. You’ll find an archive of all of the previous questions and answers on our fordham.edu/blackboard website.
Note: Features may change with future updates.
Following up on last week’s post about creating thoughtful and engaging online discussions, Blackboard’s AI Conversational Tool offers a dynamic way to spark meaningful conversations, encourage critical thinking, and provide real-time feedback. It’s easy to set up and can be tested before launching, ensuring that it aligns with your course goals and tone. Try it out to boost engagement and enrich learning!
How the AI Conversational Tool Works
The AI Conversational Tool in Blackboard assists in moderating and guiding discussions by:
- Providing Discussion Starters – AI-generated prompts help spark meaningful conversations and keep discussions moving.
- Encouraging Deeper Engagement – The AI can pose follow-up questions based on student responses, prompting critical thinking.
- Offering Real-Time Feedback – Students receive AI-driven feedback on their contributions, helping them refine their ideas and responses.
Using AI to Enrich Discussions
As an instructor, you can leverage the AI Conversational Tool to:
- Generate Discussion Prompts: AI can create thought-provoking discussion topics tailored to your course objectives.
- Moderate and Guide Discussions: AI-driven suggestions help keep conversations on track and aligned with learning goals.
- Analyze Student Participation: Gain insights into student engagement and response quality through AI-powered analytics.
Testing the AI Conversation Before You Launch
Whenever adding a new activity into your course, it should always be tested to ensure it aligns with your learning objectives. Testing the AI Conversation is simple and can be done before publishing the activity or finalizing settings!
When testing, consider the following:
- Is the AI behaving as expected? Try responding as a student to see how the AI guides the conversation.
- Does the AI’s response style match your course tone? If not, adjust the wording of the discussion question, change the complexity of the prompt, or modify the AI’s personality settings.
- Are the AI-generated follow-ups helpful? Ensure they encourage deeper thinking rather than simply restating information.
If everything looks good—great! If adjustments are needed, fine-tune the settings before making the discussion live for students.
Getting Started
To activate the AI Conversational Tool in Blackboard:
- Navigate to the Create Item menu.
- Choose either Socratic Questioning or Role-play.
- You will then need to set different options depending on which conversation type you chose
For more information and step by step guidance visit the Bb Instructor Guide on the AI Conversation Tool.
Best Practices for AI-Assisted Discussions
- Balance AI with Instructor Presence – While AI can guide discussions, your presence remains essential in providing nuanced feedback and personal engagement.
- Encourage Critical Thinking – Use AI prompts to challenge students to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate course content.
- Monitor AI Interactions – Regularly review AI-generated responses to ensure relevance and appropriateness.
By integrating Blackboard’s AI Conversational Tool into your discussions, you can create a more interactive and engaging learning environment. For examples of the tool in action take a look at the University of Derby’s Digital Learning blog. Try it out in your next discussion and see how AI can enhance student participation and learning!
For additional FAQs and resources about Blackboard, visit fordham.edu/blackboard, attend one of our workshops, sign up to meet with us on our EdTech Consultation Calendar via Zoom, or reach out to us with your availability and we will work with you to accommodate small groups and one-on-one sessions.
Have feedback or suggestions on features? Blackboard’s parent company Anthology hosts The Idea Exchange. This is a place specifically for Blackboard to track and manage enhancement requests. It allows for things like upvoting ideas and sharing development plans and statuses. You will need to create an account to access the Idea Exchange.