---
title: Using your course assistant
description: What the course assistant is, how to open it, and what to expect when you ask a question.
sidebar:
  label: Getting started
  icon: book-open
---

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

1. **Type your question**

    Write it just like you'd text a classmate. Full sentences work best.

2. **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.

3. **Keep the conversation going**

    Ask follow-up questions. The assistant remembers what you were just talking
    about.

:::tip[Some assistants can hear you]
If your instructor enabled voice, you can tap the microphone and speak your question instead of typing. Your browser will ask permission to use your mic the first time.
:::

:::tip[You can quiz yourself]
Ask the assistant to quiz you on a topic or a reading and it will build an interactive practice quiz from your course materials. See [Quiz yourself](/students/quizzes).
:::

## 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.

## Learn more

**[Ask good questions](/students/asking-good-questions)**

Small changes to how you ask get you much better answers.

**[Understand the answers](/students/understanding-answers)**

How to read sources and double-check what you're told.

**[Quiz yourself](/students/quizzes)**

Turn a study session into an interactive practice quiz.