The ILIAS Assistant is a new chat object that teachers can use directly in their courses. The integration of language models creates interactive learning environments in which learners receive individual support. Teachers configure the interaction using prompts and can provide their own specific material for the chat.
| Important: The ILIAS assistant is currently in test mode. Courses must be created in the KIT pilot instance. Teachers will receive access to the pilot instance after contacting ilias∂studium.kit.edu; the instance can then also be used by students. General operation is planned from spring 2026. |
The assistant supports lecturers in a variety of areas:
Use in test mode on request
Please send an e-mail to ilias∂studium.kit.edu or andreas.sexauer∂kit.edu.
- Individual support: Teachers can define specific instructions so that the chatbot acts as a coach, tutor or routine assistant.
- Interactivity: Students have conversations with the coach, can ask questions and receive explanations on complex topics.
- Accessibility & internationalization: Translation functions help international students and enable accessible content.
- Data protection & security: The assistants are used via the KIT infrastructure. Students' personal data is not forwarded to external third-party providers, but remains protected within KIT, which guarantees control over your own data. Teachers also have the option of deciding for themselves whether chat histories are saved automatically or not saved at all - thus protecting students' privacy.
Choose your assistant - from simple to complex
Variant 1: Simple custom assistant
Enables a quick and uncomplicated start - ideal for general tutor or coach scenarios where no specialized knowledge needs to be stored. You add the assistant object to the course and enter a system prompt. The assistant uses only the instructions from the prompt to communicate with the learner.
Variant 2: Custom assistant with document context
You proceed in the same way as with variant 1, but also upload a document (e.g. script, guide, PDF) as a knowledge base. The wizard uses the document content in addition to the prompt for each request. This allows the chat to respond specifically and contextually to the information contained in the document and provide much more specific answers.
Variant 3: Extended Custom Assistant with AI Toolbox (in preparation, available from spring)
This function allows you to configure your own custom model in the AI toolbox. The wizard offers significantly more comprehensive setting options and supports a larger selection and quantity of stored documents as a knowledge base. This allows the wizard to be tailored even more specifically and in greater detail to your teaching and learning objectives. This variant will be presented separately and in detail as soon as it is available.
This means that a suitable variant is available for different didactic requirements - from quick integration to individually configured, context-rich assistants.
Step-by-step guide: Creating and configuring wizards
Follow these instructions to create an individual assistant in your course - provided you already have access to the KIT pilot instance (see above).
1. navigate to the desired magazine area
2. select "Add new object" and "Assistant".
3 Assign a title and description.
4. select configuration and desired language model.
5. enter your system prompt in the "Instructions" field (using the prompt creation guide if necessary).
6. optionally set document support to "Context window" and then upload a document that serves as a knowledge base.
7. write introductory text for your learners.
8. select storage options for conversations.
9. save settings.
Create a targeted system prompt
Use the guide provided to formulate an effective system prompt. The quality of the instructions determines how well the assistant implements your didactic goals. Try out different roles, personas and methods, e.g. the Socratic method or targeted explanations with examples.
Integrate a document as a knowledge base
You can upload a text, Word, PDF or Markdown document in the Documents section of the wizard settings to expand the wizard's answer space with specific knowledge.
Please note: It is best to use clearly structured documents (max. approx. 10 pages) so that the language model responds precisely. An entire script is not suitable. For a larger volume, please use variant 3 via the AI toolbox from spring onwards.
Further functions for designing course content
With the Assistant plugin, you can also create AI-generated texts directly in the page editor:
- create AI-generated texts
- automatically generate questions (multiple choice, single choice, text questions)
- Assign keywords for metadata
- Translate page content (for international courses)
Practical tips and best practice
- Test various prompts and documents.
- Exchange best practices with other teachers.
- Keep instructions clear and focused on your learning objectives.
- Actively gather feedback from your students to further develop your teaching assistants.