Overview and Problem

Students at HM Hochschule München University of Applied Science have to research literature for a wide variety of assignments. For example, for Bachelor's and Master's theses, but also to prepare for exams and presentations. The problem is that there are many different databases, which makes the search not always easy. A chatbot could be the solution to this problem. It can search different sources and make the research process more user-friendly.

Procedure

The main title of the challenge was "Chatbot". A total of four student teams were commissioned to create chatbots, each for a subject area related to the university. Through a user analysis conducted by the students, it became clear that literature research is a central challenge during studies. For this reason, the fourth team was given the task of designing a chatbot to help with questions on these topics.

In three sprints, the students specified so-called "conversation flows" and developed a prototype of the chatbot "Litera" based on AWS Lex. At the end of the challenge, the prototype was tested and integrated into the university's learning platform (Moodle). The student teams were supported by Amazon Web Servics (AWS).

Innovation in action

The chatbot "LITERA" supports students in acquiring knowledge efficiently and effectively based on reliable sources. It also informs them where they can get answers quickly if they have an open question about a topic. The appealing layout and the simple, friendly way in which the chatbot offers its help not only simplifies the search for serious, scientific sources, but also motivates and inspires students in their work. If a topic and three suitable keywords are entered, LITERA outputs a short list of relevant books and articles with the corresponding link. The clear layout makes LITERA easy to access and practical to use. A bonus of the chatbot is the use of GIFs (Graphics Interchange Formats). These are used to create a modern interaction with students and to connect with them emotionally.

Next steps

The prototype needs to be technically refined in the future.