For Students
Your First Chat Session

Your First Chat Session

This guide walks you through starting and making the most of your first conversation with the TutorQ AI tutor.

Starting a Chat

From Your Dashboard

  1. Click My Courses in the navigation
  2. Select the course you want help with
  3. Click the Chat button or Start Learning

The AI tutor now has context about your course and all uploaded materials.

From a Specific Topic

If your course has organized topics or modules:

  1. Navigate to the specific topic/module
  2. Click Ask Questions About This Topic
  3. The AI will focus on that specific area

Your First Question

What Should You Ask?

Good First Questions:

  • "Can you give me an overview of [topic]?"
  • "I'm confused about [concept]. Can you explain it?"
  • "What are the key ideas in Chapter 3?"
  • "How do I solve problems involving [concept]?"

Example First Chat:

You: Can you explain what mitochondria do in cells?

TutorQ: Great question! Mitochondria are often called the "powerhouses" of the cell. Let me break down their main functions:

  1. Energy Production: They convert nutrients into ATP (adenosine triphosphate), which is the energy currency cells use for their activities...

[continues with detailed explanation]

Understanding AI Responses

Response Components

TutorQ responses typically include:

  1. Direct Answer: Addresses your specific question
  2. Explanation: Breaks down the concept step-by-step
  3. Examples: Concrete instances to illustrate the idea
  4. Context: How it relates to other concepts you've learned

Response Quality

Every response is automatically evaluated for:

  • Accuracy: Facts match your course materials
  • Teaching Quality: Effective pedagogical approach
  • Relevance: Directly answers your question
  • Safety: No harmful or inappropriate content

Responses that don't meet our quality standards are automatically regenerated to ensure you get the best possible help.

Following Up

Ask for Clarification

Don't hesitate to dig deeper:

  • "Can you explain that differently?"
  • "I don't understand the second step. Can you elaborate?"
  • "What do you mean by [term]?"

Request Different Formats

  • "Can you show me a visual representation?"
  • "Can you give me another example?"
  • "Can you create a practice problem for me?"

Connect Concepts

  • "How does this relate to what we learned about [previous topic]?"
  • "Where would I use this in real life?"
  • "What's the difference between this and [similar concept]?"

Chat Features

Message History

Your chat history is automatically saved:

  • Access previous conversations from your dashboard
  • Review past explanations anytime
  • Continue where you left off in any session

Multi-format Support

TutorQ can understand and respond to:

  • Text questions: Regular typed questions
  • Images: Upload a problem or diagram for analysis
  • Equations: Type in LaTeX or plain text
  • Code snippets: For programming courses

Example with Image:

  1. Click the image upload icon
  2. Upload a photo of your homework problem
  3. Type: "Can you help me solve this?"

Course Material References

When the AI references course materials, you'll see:

  • Source citations (which document/page)
  • Clickable links to view the original material
  • Related concepts you might want to explore

Tips for Success

Be Specific

❌ Vague: "I don't get it" ✅ Specific: "I don't understand why we multiply by the conjugate in step 3"

Show Your Work

For problem-solving:

  • Share what you've tried
  • Explain where you got stuck
  • Ask for hints before full solutions

You: I'm trying to solve x² + 5x + 6 = 0. I know I need to factor it, but I'm not sure how to find the right numbers.

This is much better than just asking for the answer!

Use the Chat for Active Learning

Don't just ask for answers:

  • Ask for explanations
  • Request practice problems
  • Have the AI check your understanding

Great ways to use the chat:

  • "Can you quiz me on [topic]?"
  • "I'll explain [concept] to you. Tell me if I'm right."
  • "Give me a harder problem than the one we just did."

Common First-Time Issues

"The AI didn't understand my question"

Solution: Rephrase more specifically

  • Include the topic or chapter
  • Define any ambiguous terms
  • Break complex questions into parts

"The response was too advanced/simple"

Solution: Guide the AI to your level

  • "Can you explain this more simply?"
  • "I already understand [basics]. Can you go deeper?"

"The AI said it doesn't know"

Solution: Check your course enrollment

  • Make sure you're chatting within a course
  • Verify your instructor has uploaded materials
  • Try rephrasing with course-specific terminology

Session Length and Limits

  • Average session: 15-20 minutes
  • Daily limit: 50 AI interactions during beta (see dashboard for current usage)
  • Session tips: You can have multiple sessions per day

Your session automatically saves progress, so you can pick up where you left off anytime.

After Your First Chat

Review What You Learned

  • Check the chat transcript
  • Take notes on key explanations
  • Mark important messages with the bookmark feature

Track Your Progress

  • View your mastery levels for discussed concepts
  • See how much time you spent learning
  • Identify topics you might need to revisit

Keep Learning

  • Start a new chat on a different topic
  • Return to continue a previous conversation
  • Try teaching the concept back to the AI to test your understanding

Next Steps

Happy learning! Remember: there's no such thing as a bad question. The AI tutor is here to help you understand, not judge. 🎓

For EducatorsEnrolling in Courses