Table of contents
Introduction
The UMD Virtual Agent is an AI-powered chatbot designed to assist users with inquiries related to the University of Maryland's many departments, courses, and personnel. This manual provides guidelines on how to use the chatbot effectively.
Access the Chatbot
To access the UMD Virtual Agent, follow these steps:
- Find the URL to the bot you want to use. Some bots are integrated into UMD web pages, and others are only hosted on dedicated pages. If you are a chatbot admin, you can find the URL to your chatbot in the Bot Config section of the UMD Virtual Agent Admin Console. If you are not a chatbot admin, contact a chatbot admin to find your URL.
- The chatbot interface will appear with a welcome message and a name declaring the purpose of that bot.
Use the Chatbot
The chatbot interface is straightforward. At the bottom of the screen, there is a text input field where you can type your queries.
Settings
There are a few settings in the top right corner you can interact with:
- Expand/contract Chatbot: Click the four corners icon to switch between a large and small version of the chatbot.
General inquiries
- To start a conversation: Click on the text input field at the bottom of the screen and type your question or request.
- To send a message, Press the Enter key or click the Send button (paper airplane icon) to submit your query.
- To receive response: The chatbot will process your question and respond in the chat window.
- To Continue the conversation: Repeat the process above to send more messages to the bot.
- To refresh session: The chatbot will consider you to be in the same session until you close or refresh the chatbot interface. Closing and reopening chatbots on web pages refreshes the session.
Answer feedback and sources
There are several options to give feedback for each answer:
- Thumbs up: Select the
to give positive feedback on the corresponding answer.
- Thumbs down: Select the
to give negative feedback on the corresponding answer. Submit your detailed feedback to assist in improving the chatbot.
- Copy: Click
to copy the answer to your clipboard.
- Sources: Click on the hyperlinked numbers in the answer to reveal the sources used to generate the answer. Some sources are private and cannot be viewed. Other sources may link to Google Drive files or web pages.
Video Sources: Some sources may be Panopto or Zoom videos and the given source will link to the relevant time code in the video.
Quiz features (Beta)
Some of the UMD Virtual Agents also include interactive quiz features. These features are currently in beta, so please submit the issues to ese-sws@umd.edu. To use these features, follow these steps:
- Initiate a quiz: Type a command such as Start a quiz about marketing, or I want to take a quiz about civil engineering. A quiz topic that is relevant to the sources given to the bot is necessary for the bot to create a quiz.
- Answer questions: The chatbot will present a series of multiple choice questions. Click on the answer you want to submit.
- Receive feedback: The chatbot will provide feedback on your answers, indicating whether they are correct or incorrect.
- Complete the quiz: Continue answering the questions until the quiz is complete.
Tips for effective use
- Clear and specific queries: For best results, ensure your questions are clear and specific.
- Follow-up questions: If you need more information, you can ask follow-up questions based on the chatbot's responses.
- Explore features: Don't hesitate to explore different chatbot features by asking about various services, information, or interactive activities like quizzes.
Troubleshoot
If you encounter any issues while using the UMD Virtual Agent:
- Refresh the page: Refreshing the browser can sometimes resolve minor issues.
- Check your connection: Ensure you have a stable internet connection.
- Contact support: If problems persist, contact the University of Maryland for further assistance at ese-sws@umd.edu.