AI Mentor at Tompkins Cortland: 10-Minute Implementation

Professor David Flaten at Tompkins Cortland Community College has introduced an ibl.ai AI Mentor in the Department of History and Political Science. This innovative tool offers a student-centered and faculty-led approach to AI-assisted learning.

Developed in collaboration with ibl.ai, this AI Mentor is transforming how students engage with course material and develop critical thinking skills.

According to Professor Flaten:

For those of us in the humanities and social sciences, ai has been seen as a 'cheating' mechanism. I value the ibl.ai as a supporting platform that takes my chosen narrative text and primary source documents—and from them builds a custom-made tutor to support my student learning outcomes. This provides seamless support for my students.

Key Achievements and Success Stories

Enhanced Alignment with Course Materials

• Instructor-Controlled AI Persona: The AI Mentor aligns seamlessly with Professor Flaten's teaching style and course objectives.
• Integration of Course Resources: By incorporating narrative texts and primary source documents, students engage with curated, relevant material.
• Reinforcement of Key Concepts: The AI Mentor reinforces concepts from live lectures, providing consistent support for students.

Reduction in Unreliable Web Searches and Plagiarism

• Discouraging Random Web Searches: Students are less tempted to search the web for information of uneven quality.
• Promoting Academic Integrity: The AI Mentor reduces the likelihood of plagiarism by providing reliable, instructor-approved resources.

Improved Student Learning Outcomes

• Deeper Understanding of Material: Students demonstrate enhanced comprehension of course content.
• Mastery of Key Concepts: A significant number of students show proficiency in learning outcomes, surpassing initial expectations.

Increased Accessibility and Support

• 24/7 Availability: The AI Mentor is accessible anytime, providing reliable support when students need it most.
• High Student Satisfaction: Of the students who reported using the AI Mentor, we recorded 100% student satisfaction across the board, highlighting its effectiveness and accessibility.

Faculty Adoption and Trust in AI Technology

• Positive Shift in Perception: Faculty members recognize the AI Mentor as a supportive tool rather than a "cheating" mechanism.
• Ease of Access for Students: The AI Mentor offers seamless support, encouraging faculty to integrate it into their teaching.

Professor Flaten emphasizes:

ibl.ai directly benefits the US history survey student, who in seeking more comprehension and details--- can now easily access the customized mentor platform and be better assured the information correlates with their unique narrative text and professor curated primary sources.

Enhanced Student Engagement

• Regular Usage: Students consistently engage with the AI Mentor, integrating it into their study routines.
• Alignment with Student Learning Outcomes (SLOs): The AI Mentor effectively reinforces all SLOs, ensuring a cohesive educational experience.

Operational Efficiency

• Reduced Support Requests: There's a noticeable decrease in student inquiries for clarification, indicating the AI Mentor's effectiveness.
• Instructor Time Savings: Faculty save valuable time, allowing for more personalized instruction and focus on course development.

Student Confidence and Independence

• Increased Confidence Levels: Students report feeling more confident in their understanding of course material.
• Encouraged Independent Learning: The AI Mentor fosters self-initiated study sessions, promoting independence and critical thinking.

Original Ideas: Beyond Mainstream AI Applications

While many educational institutions are adopting AI, Tompkins Cortland's approach is unique in its seamless integration of instructor-specific content and focus on reducing academic dishonesty. By customizing the AI Mentor to align with Professor Flaten's texts and primary sources, students are less tempted to seek unreliable information online.

Professor Flaten notes:

ibl.ai is a core component for my U.S. history survey students—who need a guiding hand to review and digest both narrative and primary source texts. As an instructor, I deliver that, but there's always a need to support review of those materials, and the ibl.ai mentor can be that delivery mechanism, far superior to fishing the web.

How It Works

Tompkins Cortland Community College's implementation partner, ibl.ai, provides an application-layer generative AI solution:

• Language Model-Agnostic: Works with OpenAI, Gemini, LLaMA, Anthropic, and any other LLM.
• Oriented for Student Success and Faculty Support: Offers deep analytics and safety layers.
• Highly Customizable: Adaptable to fit specific course needs.

Affordable and Flexible Pricing

In terms of pricing, while ChatGPT charges $20 per student per month and Microsoft Copilot charges $80 per student per year for entire student populations, ibl.ai offers flexible, pay-as-you-go pricing models and bulk rates that are up to 80% cheaper. This affordability allows institutions to leverage advanced AI technology without straining their budgets, ensuring that high-quality educational tools are accessible to all.

Below is an introduction from ibl.ai Chief Technology Officer Miguel Amigot:

Our goal at ibl.ai is to empower educators by providing tools that enhance learning without replacing the essential human element. We believe in customizable solutions that align with each institution's unique needs, ensuring both affordability and effectiveness.

For more information about ibl.ai AI Mentors and to start for free on web, iOS, and Android, please visit https://ibl.ai/product/ai-mentor-higher-ed or message our team.