Using your course assistant
What the course assistant is, how to open it, and what to expect when you ask a question.
Your instructor has set up an AI assistant that has read your course materials — the readings, slides, and notes for your class. You can ask it questions any time and get answers based on those materials.
Think of it as a study buddy who has done all the reading and can point you to exactly where something is explained.
How to open it
Depending on your course, you’ll reach the assistant one of two ways:
A link
Your instructor shares a web link. Click it and start chatting — no login needed.
A chat button
On your course website, look for a chat button in the corner of the page. Click it to open the assistant.
Asking a question
Type your question
Write it just like you’d text a classmate. Full sentences work best.
Read the answer
The assistant answers using your course materials. If your instructor enabled it, you’ll also see which materials the answer came from.
Keep the conversation going
Ask follow-up questions. The assistant remembers what you were just talking about.
What to expect
It sticks to your course
It answers from your class materials, not the whole internet, so answers stay relevant to what you’re studying.
It shows its sources
When sources are turned on, you can see and double-check the original material.
It won't always know
If something isn’t in the course materials, it will say so rather than guess.
It's a study aid
It’s here to help you learn — not to do graded work for you. Check your course’s rules on using AI.