Add a tailored AI Assistant to MyCourses

Would your students benefit from an AI helper that supports a specific theme, assignment or learning activity? MyCourses AI Assistant lets you add AI-based chat activities directly to your MyCourses workspace and shape them around your own teaching goals.

An illustrated folded map with several colourful paths crossing through learning-related icons, such as a checklist, compass, charts, network symbols and light bulbs, suggesting different guided routes through learning materials.
Set the direction, choose the materials, and let students navigate the topic with support from a tailored MyCourses AI Assistant.

Unlike a general chatbot, each assistant is defined by you: what it should help with, which materials it should use, and how it should guide students.

A good way to begin is to start small:

  1. Define the purpose
    Decide what kind of support your students need. The assistant could explain key concepts, help students work with an article, support an assignment, or guide them through selected course materials.
  2. Upload relevant background materials
    Add the PDF files the assistant should rely on, such as course readings, a research article, assignment instructions or other course content. This helps keep the answers connected to your course.
  3. Write the system prompt
    Give the assistant its role and basic instructions. For example, should it give concise explanations, ask guiding questions, or support students step by step? You can keep the first version simple and improve it after testing.
  4. Test before opening it to students
    Try the assistant with realistic student questions. If the answers are too broad, too brief or not quite in the right style, adjust the prompt or the background materials.
  5. Add short student instructions
    Tell students what the assistant is for and how you expect them to use it. If the activity is connected to an assignment, remind students to save or write down any insights they need later.

MyCourses AI Assistant works best when it has a clear pedagogical purpose. Use it where it genuinely supports learning — not just because AI is available, but because it helps students understand, practise or move forward in their work. As highlighted in Aalto’s AI guidance, AI should be used thoughtfully and intentionally, not “just for the sake of it”.

Tip: Try one assistant for one course theme, reading or assignment first. A small, well-designed use case is often the best way to discover what works.

Set MyCourses AI Assistant in your course space in MyCourses (mycourses.aalto.fi) >>

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