What are Blackboard AI Conversations?
Blackboard AI Conversations are part of a suite of tools available in the Blackboard AI Design Assistant. AI Conversations are specifically designed for students to actively participate in interaction with a Blackboard AI chat. Your Module Convenor can create an AI Conversation, outlining a topic and an AI persona, and will be able to select the type of conversation for you to engage in. Within the AI Conversation functionality, instructors can choose between two options: Socratic Questioning, in which the AI persona encourages students to think critically through continuous questioning, or Role Play, which allows students to play out a scenario with the AI persona. This tool is provided for you to reflect on topics, practice applying concepts and enhance your learning.
Role play
The Role Play feature lets your Module Convenor set up simulated conversations by defining specific roles for both the AI persona and students. This interactive option allows you to practice communication skills in generated scenarios, providing active learning opportunities. The tool allows your course instructor to customise the AI persona by assigning it a name and image. They also define the AI persona’s personality traits and select the complexity of its responses. The personality traits assigned to the AI persona in this Role Play option shape its responses and interactions.
Socratic questions
This is a guided questioning activity or Socratic exercise. The AI persona will not confirm or reject any response but will move you through a series of questions. At the end of the conversation, you can provide a reflection on the activity, highlighting weaknesses or strengths in your learning, or if the AI bot showed bias, hallucinations, or inaccuracies. On submission, your Module Convenor or lecturer will receive a transcript of the conversation and reflection, giving full transparency of the interactions. This is a great way to practice dialogue related to the course topics. .
Tips
Be aware the AI Conversation has no definite end point, and it may be unclear what the starting input should be; the tool usually begins the conversation with the prompt: “Please share your initial thoughts.” If you have not been provided with an initial starting statement, then here is an example you can use:
“I am practicing my knowledge of [insert your topic title] and I want to explore [insert key question or objective]”
It may be tempting to try to use the prompt functionality in AI Conversation to request output beyond the intended functionality. We strongly discourage students from using AI Conversation for any purpose beyond the scope of its intended functionalities, as outlined in your activity instructions or by your Module Convenor. Doing so may result in the generation of outputs that are not suitable for or compatible with the Blackboard environment and the measures put in place to minimise inaccurate output.
In particular, the points below should be followed when prompting:
- Only use prompts that are intended to pursue the conversation regarding the assigned topic for AI Conversation. For example, respond to the questions and prompts of the AI bot or ask the AI bot questions regarding the assigned topic.
- Do not use prompts to solicit output beyond the intended functionality. For instance, you should not use the prompt to request sources or references for the output. In our testing, we determined that there are accuracy issues with such output.
- Be mindful that prompts requesting output in the style of a specific person or requesting output that looks similar to copyrighted or trademarked items could result in output that carries the risk of intellectual property right infringement.
- Suggested output for sensitive topics may be limited. The AI Design Assistant is powered by Microsoft Azure OpenAI technology which has been trained and implemented in a manner to minimise illegal and harmful content. This includes a content filtering functionality. This could result in limited output or error messages when AI Conversation is used for learning activities related to sensitive topics (for example, self-harm, violence, hate, or sex).
How are AI Conversations reviewed?
Upon completion of an AI Conversation you have the option to respond to a Reflection Question beneath the chat. You can view your submission, and a record of your AI Conversation, by clicking again on the activity title in your Course Content. Your Module Convenor can view your submission (including a record of your exchange with the AI bot) via the Course Gradebook. The academic staff view is displayed in the screenshot below, showing full details of when the tool was used, how long for and what was exchanged. Your Module Convenor may give feedback via Blackboard or the activity may be reviewed verbally as part of a scheduled study session.
Guide last updated on July 7, 2025