Instructional Design 

Role play option for AI Conversation– 3900.104

Blackboard Learn SaaS  
Ultra Course View  
Impact: Instructors 
Related Topic:  AI Conversation 

We expanded our AI Conversation feature to include a role play option. Role play can enhance learning by providing active learning opportunities. Role play also encourages critical thinking. It also provides an opportunity for students to apply knowledge in a simulated environment. 

For example, a student could role play a doctor by speaking to a patient, played by the AI persona. In this scenario, a student gains practical experience in a safe environment for experimentation. 

Instructors customize the AI persona by giving it a name and image. Instructors also define the AI persona's personality traits and select the complexity of the responses. 

Instructors should always preview an AI conversation before releasing the activity to students. AI tools can hallucinate and introduce bias. It is important to ensure that instructions are clear and that the AI persona responds in an expected and appropriate way. 

We also introduced a stepped setup. This approach makes it easier for instructors to select the type of conversation and define the topic, student role, and AI persona.

Image 1. Select the conversation type

Step 1 of creating a new AI Conversation. Socratic questioning and Role play are available options.

Image 2. Describe the conversation and define the student’s role

Step 2 of creating a Role play exercise, prompting the user to enter a scenario and roles

Image 3. Set up the AI persona

Step 3 of creating an AI Conversation, where the persona is defined

For administrators: For more information on how to enable AI Conversation, visit our page for AI Design Assistant and Unsplash Configuration. AI Conversation must be on before you can select the Role play option. Note that toggling AI Conversation off after deployment stops AI Conversation services. Therefore, any AI Conversation activities visible to students will not operate as expected.

Return to November 2024 – 3900.104.0 Release description