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AI Student Hints

Learn more about how students can use Artificial Intelligence to get help with their CodeHS assignments

Written by Daniel Lim

AI Student Hints is a feature within the Code Editor that enables students to receive guidance from Karel AI while working on assignments. This tool can help support students who are unsure how to approach a problem by offering direction and hints, without revealing the solution.

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Turn On/Off AI Student Hints

You will need to enable this feature in the Configure App before students can use AI Student Hints. To toggle this feature:

  1. In the Configure App navigate to AI Student Hints Settings

  2. Select a Section from the Section drop-down menu in the top left

  3. Toggle the setting to Enable/Disable For All Students or Select Students in your section

Gif showing how teachers activate AI Student Hints for students

How Students Access AI Student Hints

To access AI Student Hints, click on the Chat Icon on the left-hand side of the Code Editor.

Image showing the AI Student Hints Button

Students are provided with four predefined prompts to assist them while coding:

  • I’m not sure where to start

    • Students can choose this option when they would like guidance on the first step of an assignment or need more clarification on the directions.

  • Give me a hint

    • Students can choose this option when they would like guidance on the next step of the assignment or need assistance in building off their current code.

  • Why is my code crashing?

    • Students can choose this option when their program is not working properly, and the AI can assist in identifying sources of errors.

  • Why is the autograder failing?

    • Students can choose this option when they would like AI to look at certain test cases and identify how the student’s program is not producing the expected result of the autograder.

Students can choose among these prompts to direct the AI on what part of the assignment they need assistance with.

💡Karel AI responses are intended to provide hints and guidance, not direct answers. There is no chat function with the AI. Students are only allowed to choose one of the prompts above to interact with the AI.

Gif showing example of using AI Student HInts

Monitoring AI Student Hints

To view AI Student Hints for your entire section:

  1. Go to the Code Review App

  2. Select the AI Student Hints Tab

  3. Use the dropdown to view a certain Section, Student, and/or Module

  4. View the hints a student used on an assignment and view the AI Response by clicking the number of hints used.

    Gif demoing how to view AI Student Hints from the Code Review App

To view AI Student Hints in your Students' Editor:

  1. Navigate to the student's assignment that you would like to see the AI Chat History for and view the student's Code Editor.

  2. Click on the Chat Icon on the left hand navigation.

Gif showing how to access AI Student Hints when in a student's code editor

To view AI Student Hints in Fast Grade or AI Grading:

  1. Click on the messages icon in the righthand shortcuts menu.

  2. View each AI Hint prompted by the selected student in the pop-up modal.

image displaying the messages icon in the righthand fast grade/ai grading shortcut menu

AI Student Hints Limitations

  • Students have a five-message daily limit.

  • AI Student Hints are not available for Karel Programs or Block Programs.

Video Demo

AI Student Hints is available as part of CodeHS Pro. To get CodeHS Pro for your school, contact our team at sales@codehs.com.

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