Instructions to Create Discussions Using AI Design Assistant
The Blackboard Ultra AI Design Assistant tool can help instructors with building content for their courses. One of the features of the AI design assistant tool is the ability for it to generate discussion prompts . These prompts require the use of cognitive processes such as analyze or create in their response. This instructs students to use the knowledge they have acquired and high-level explanations in their discussion responses.
Step 1
Select the plus icon purple line to begin the process of using the AI Design assignment generator/assignment prompt generator. This icon is located on the Course Content page.
Step 2
Select Create in the dialog pop up box.
Step 3
The Create Item dialog box will appear with a list of items. Look for the Participation and Engagement sub-section and select Discussion (noted by orange arrow in the image below).
Step 4
Select the Auto-generate button (noted by the orange arrow). This buttons stands out as a black button on the right hand side of the New Discussion title.
Step 5
Once you click the Auto-generate button, you will see the Auto-Generate Discussion page where you add both a Description box and select from a drop-down menu a list of Desired Cognitive Level. You can add a brief description of what you would like your assignment to be. The Desired Cognitive Level includes a couple higher-order thinking skills from Bloomberg's taxonomy. You may select the Inspire me! default button if you want to explore other possible assignment ideas. You may adjust the Complexity bar to determine the challenge level of discussion you wish to create, and you can click on the check box if you would like to generate a Discussion Title. Once you have included your prompts, select the be brought to the discussion generator panel. You can adjust some settings to customize the prompt that is generated for your discussion:
- Description: The prompts are based on the title of the course and the description box. You can enter a set of keywords or text such as text from a document that you would like the discussion to be based on in the description box.
- Desired Cognitive Level: Use the dropdown menu to select which cognitive skill from Bloom's Taxonomy the prompts will use: "Inspire me" (combination of all options) or apply, analyze, create, and evaluate.
- Complexity: At this time, the "Complexity" feature doesn't seem to render consistent results. It does appear that higher complexity settings may offer wording within the prompt that is more complex but this does not always hold true. This feature is expected to become more useful as Blackboard continue to develop the AI Design Assistant software.
- Generate journal title: By default a title for the Journal is created, you can uncheck this box if you want to name the journal or you can edit the name once you have selected the prompt you want to use.
Once you have selected the prompt you want to use, select the Generate button 
.
Results Example
Step 5 notes the prompt areas where you enter/manipulate your prompts on the left side of the page. The right side of the page generates discussion ideas for your perusal. You may wish to select an option that is generated, and then click the Add button (located on the lower right-side of the generated content).
Adding Settings
Once you have selected and/or modify your assignmentdiscussion prompt, you may want to make some changes to settings relating to the discussion. The Discussion Settings are located on the right-side of the Discussion Content page. Click on the cog wheel
to access setting features. Some key discussion settings features include:- setting the due date and the amount of submission attempts
- setting the form of grade system (points, percentage, complete/incomplete, SU letter)
- setting the maximum points
- deciding to automatically post grade
Remember to click the Save button to save all changes made.
To add another assignment content item you can click the auto-generated button 
.
Discussion Settings
Discussion Settings include Details and Information and Additional Tools. Details and Information pertain to discussion presentation preference and provides control over student behavior towards discussion posts. Additional Tools look at assigning group discussions. Please note that the Goals and Standards area under this section is currently not an available feature governed by Online Learning Services.
Selecting/checking the Grade Discussion under Details and Information provides the Grading and Participation section. From the image below you can:
- Indicate the submission date and time.
- Control discussion activities that take place after the due date.
- Select grade system used (points, percentage, complete/incomplete or SU letter)
- Determine total points.
Remember to click the Save button to save all changes made.
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All AI-generated information is opened to inaccuracy and bias. Your role as the expert and instructor of the course is to check and examine all content generated by the Design Assistant to ensure that information provided for learners is clear, accurate, and without bias. |