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Sending up the Bat-Signal for Learning Nerds: AI-Powered Knowledge Checks on HeatSpring

Brian Hayden Brian Hayden

We just added a new feature to make HeatSpring courses more dynamic: knowledge checks.

You’ve seen knowledge checks; they are also known as ‘formative assessments’. After you watch a video, a knowledge check is a super casual mini-quiz. Unlike graded quizzes or tests, knowledge checks help learners become aware of how well they know the training materials and offer insights into where they may have knowledge gaps.

Knowledge checks are really good for learning, but until recently they have been really labor intensive to create, so most instructors don’t add them to their courses. That just changed.

‘Knowledge checks’ is our first AI-powered feature and its awesome. Now you can generate an editable, learning three-question knowledge check for any video assignment in your course. With three clicks you can publish a knowledge check.

Here’s how HeatSpring instructors can create knowledge checks

Here’s how knowledge checks work for learners 

Here are some guidelines to help instructors thoughtfully add knowledge checks to a course:

  1. Add knowledge checks to 3-4 videos per hour of content. Don’t add them for every video…that’s too many.
  2. Pick the most important videos in the course. This is another way to drive home the most important concepts.
  3. 2-3 questions per knowledge check is perfect. The AI tool will generate three questions. Either delete the worst one of the bunch or keep them all if they are good. Make small or big edits as needed and then publish it. 

That’s it.

We’re going to be watching engagement, learning outcomes, and student ratings. We’re going to keep making it better with your feedback.

How we think about AI (so far)

“AI won’t replace humans, but humans using AI will replace humans not using AI.”

These AI tools are amazing, but sometimes they look smart when they really aren’t. AI will always have an answer for whatever you ask, but sometimes that answer isn’t very helpful. We believe the short-term opportunity is using AI to supercharge what smart humans can do. 

“AI won’t replace humans. Humans using AI will replace humans not using AI.”

Our knowledge check tool is like a free grad student working as your teaching assistant. Inexpensive labor to take some of the burden off your shoulders so you can focus on more interesting things.

Today we’re asking all HeatSpring instructors to become humans using AI. If you have questions about this or anything else reach out to somebody on the team. We’re here to help.

Brian Hayden
Written by

Brian Hayden

HeatSpring co-founder. You can reach me directly at bhayden @ heatspring.com or 800-393-2044 x1.

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