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Student guide

Use your Virtual TA as a learning partner

The Virtual TA can help you understand course ideas, plan your work, and ask better questions. It does not replace Canvas, your syllabus, your instructor, or official course communication.

Create Your Account First

Before using the Virtual TA, register with your approved course email. The app only allows approved students and course staff to create accounts. If registration does not work, your email may not be on the approved list yet. Please contact your instructor for access.

RegisterLog in

How To Get Started

1. Register first

Create an account with your approved course email. If your email is not on the approved list, contact your instructor for access.

2. Set your preferred name

During registration, enter the name you want the app to use in chat history and course support views.

3. Choose your course

If you have access to more than one course, select the course TA you want before starting a chat.

4. Review consent

You must consent before using the app because chat history is saved for course support and possible de-identified research use.

5. Ask course-focused questions

Use the TA for concepts, assignment interpretation, study planning, and feedback on your own thinking.

6. Verify important details

Check Canvas, the syllabus, announcements, and your instructor for final answers about grades, deadlines, and policies.

Start With Official Course Sources

For the most accurate information, check Canvas, the syllabus, assignment instructions, rubrics, announcements, and your instructor's guidance first. The Virtual TA can explain and organize course content, but official course materials remain the source of truth.

Good Ways To Use It

  • Clarify a concept you do not understand.
  • Interpret assignment instructions before you begin.
  • Break a large task into smaller steps.
  • Review your own thinking before submitting work.
  • Ask for study strategies or examples of how to approach a problem.
  • Get feedback on structure, clarity, or reasoning.

What To Avoid

  • Completing assignments for you.
  • Generating final answers for graded work.
  • Answering quiz or exam questions.
  • Replacing the syllabus, Canvas, or instructor announcements.
  • Confirming grades, deadlines, or policies without checking official sources.
  • Sharing private, sensitive, or identifying information.

How To Ask Better Questions

The TA works best when you give context. You do not need to write a perfect question, but a little detail helps the TA give more useful support.

Mention the course topic, assignment, or document you are asking about.

Explain what you already understand and where you are stuck.

Ask for feedback on your reasoning instead of asking for a final answer.

Ask for a checklist, outline, or study plan when you feel overwhelmed.

Use follow-up questions to clarify one point at a time.

Compare the response with Canvas and instructor guidance before acting on it.

Helpful Question Starters

Can you explain this concept in simpler language?

What should I pay attention to in this assignment prompt?

Can you help me make a checklist for this task?

Here is my idea. What might be unclear or missing?

Can you help me understand the difference between these two terms?

Examples Of Course-Support Questions

Concept help

I am confused about reliability and validity. Can you explain the difference with a simple example?

Assignment planning

Can you help me create a checklist for this assignment prompt without writing the assignment for me?

Rubric review

I drafted my project idea. Based on the rubric, what parts should I strengthen?

Study support

What should I review before class this week based on the topic of measurement?

Privacy And Academic Integrity

Chat history may be saved for course support and research purposes. Research use is intended to hide names and direct identifiers. Avoid entering student ID numbers, addresses, health information, or personal details that are not needed for course learning.

If you attach a file in chat, upload only course-related files you are comfortable using for learning support. Attached files may be kept temporarily so the TA can answer follow-up questions in the same chat, then they are automatically deleted. Do not upload private personal information or files you do not have permission to use.

Use the Virtual TA to understand, organize, revise, and reflect. Do not use it to bypass learning or complete graded work.