Custom Chatbot, "CurioUS," for CAS 110: Creative Thinking

School of Journalism, College of Communication Arts and Sciences

Primary contact: Jeana-Dee Allen
 

ddMeet CurioUS, a prototype chatbot created by Professor Allen. It can help you quickly find answers to your CAS 110 questions.

CurioUS only pulls from materials written by Professor Allen: the syllabus, lectures, frequently asked questions, and assignment instructions. It doesn't search the internet or use outside sources.

The hope is to help students do their work more efficiently. It's not meant to replace teaching or grading. Think of CurioUS as a quick-reference guide that organizes course materials into an easy-to-use question-and-answer format. Every response includes a reminder that it’s a supportive tool, not a substitute for D2L instructions or direct communication with the professor.

The name is a play on "curious." Curiosity drives creativity. "Curio" suggests a collection of interesting, thought-provoking ideas. It also includes “us” to reflect the collaborative spirit of the course.

CurioUS helps students navigate the course more efficiently. In CAS 110, students juggle the syllabus, lectures, assignments, and support materials. The issue isn't access; it's finding the right information and knowing how to use it.

This tool turns course content into a quick question-and-answer format. Students can ask specific questions and get clear, course-aligned answers right away. That reduces confusion, repeated emails, and missed expectations.

This matters most at scale. CAS 110 enrolls up to 550 students. With this many people, it's hard to respond to every question in real time. CurioUS gives all students consistent support, anytime. It also helps students build independence and confidence in their work.

It's not a replacement for teaching. It's a support tool that reinforces course materials and points students back to the right resources. It helps course educators spend less time on logistics or FAQs and more time on teaching, supporting students, and planning.

Students 

ChatGPT was used to create CurioUS. If you want to replicate a similar use case, we recommend using MSU ChatGPT Edu or other enterprise AI tools to make sure your data is protected.

Success is measured in a few practical ways.

• Student feedback: Questions are included in the mid-semester and end-of-semester surveys about the chatbot. It’s also mentioned during office hours to hear how students are using the tool.
• Volume and patterns: CurioUS shows how many inquiries the bot receives. Additionally, the instructor and lead Undergraduate Learning Assistant unofficially track the types of emails they receive. They both receive fewer repetitive questions and more specific, higher-level ones. There are limitations because they cannot see exactly what students ask or how they use it, but they can see shifts in behavior.
• Workflow: The instructor and the ULA pay attention to how their time is utilized. They also ask important questions such as, “Are students getting unstuck faster?” and “Are we spending less time answering the same FAQs?” The answer is "yes," but they are not currently tracking specific use.

• Privacy: Students are reminded not to upload assignments or personal information. The chatbot only uses materials the instructor created, which helps address intellectual property and accuracy.
• Access: The tool is free, and use is optional.
• Ethics: The instructor applied for the Ethics Institute Research Fellows Grant to explore intellectual property, privacy, FERPA, and broader questions of automation, equity, and access in higher ed. The proposal wasn't accepted, but it shaped how CurioUS was designed and positioned. 

There is an access link that changes every semester and is only available through D2L.