Reading time: 10-15 minutes
In this tutorial, you’ll create a feedback bot that evaluates learner responses to the question “Explain the water cycle in your own words.” By the end, you’ll have a working bot that provides personalized, criteria-based feedback—integrated into Storyline or Rise 360.
What You’ll Need
- An AIReady API key (contact us at aiforlnd.com/contact-us if you haven’t purchased one yet)
- Articulate Storyline or Rise 360
- Your assessment question and a model answer
Creating Your Feedback Bot
Head to the CodeReady homepage (aiforlnd.com/CodeReady) and select FeedbackReady.
Enter Your API Key
Paste your AIReady API key into the field.
Enter Your Question
This is the question learners will answer. It appears in the chatbot interface, so write it exactly as you want learners to see it.
For our example: Explain the water cycle in your own words.
Be specific about what you’re asking. Instead of “Explain photosynthesis,” try “In 2-3 sentences, explain how plants convert sunlight into energy through photosynthesis.”
Provide the Model Answer
Enter what a good response looks like. The AI compares learner answers against this to evaluate quality.
For our water cycle example:
Water is always moving in a big loop. The sun heats up water in oceans, lakes, and rivers, turning it into vapor that rises into the air—that’s evaporation. As the vapor goes higher where it’s cooler, it turns back into tiny water droplets that form clouds. This is condensation. When the clouds collect enough droplets, the water falls back down as rain, snow, or hail—that’s precipitation. The water then collects in oceans, lakes, rivers, and underground, and the whole cycle starts over again.
Your model answer doesn’t have to be the only correct answer—it represents what a strong response looks like. The AI uses it as a reference point, not a rigid template.
Configure Feedback Settings
Choose how your bot delivers feedback:
Setting | Our Choice | Why |
Purpose | Corrective Assessment | We want to identify gaps and guide improvement |
Tone | Encouraging and Supportive | Keeps learners motivated while addressing weaknesses |
Response Length | Medium | Enough detail to be helpful without overwhelming |
Other tone options include “Direct and Constructive” for more straightforward feedback, or “Detailed and Analytical” for comprehensive breakdowns.
Add a Rubric (Optional but Recommended)
A rubric helps the AI provide specific, criteria-based feedback instead of general comments. Here’s an example rubric for our water cycle question:
Rubric: Explain the water cycle in your own words
Score | Level | Criteria |
4 | Excellent | Accurately describes all major stages (evaporation, condensation, precipitation, collection). Shows clear connections between stages. Uses own language demonstrating genuine understanding. |
3 | Proficient | Describes most stages correctly. Shows reasonable connections between stages. Minor gaps or imprecise language, but solid overall understanding. |
2 | Developing | Identifies some stages but missing key components. Connections between stages unclear or absent. May rely on memorized phrases without deeper understanding. |
1 | Beginning | Shows minimal understanding of the water cycle. Missing most stages. Contains significant misconceptions. |
Without a rubric, the AI provides general feedback. With a rubric, it can say things like “You scored a 3 (Proficient) because you correctly identified evaporation and precipitation, but didn’t explain condensation clearly.”
Add Example Student Answers (Optional)
You can provide sample responses at different quality levels to help the bot calibrate its feedback. This step is optional, but examples help the bot be more accurate.
For instance, you might include:
A strong response that earns a 4
A weak response that earns a 1 or 2
The feedback you’d give for each
This teaches the bot what different quality levels look like in practice.
Review the Prompt
FeedbackReady generates a prompt automatically. You can edit it to fine-tune how the AI provides feedback—for example, adding instructions like “Always suggest one specific improvement” or “Reference the rubric criteria in your feedback.”
Choose Your Output Format
Select the format that matches where you’ll use your feedback bot:
Format | Best For |
Storyline JavaScript | Articulate Storyline projects where you want full control over the interface |
Generate Code for Rise | Rise 360 courses—includes a ready-made chat interface |
Web Link | Quick testing, sharing with stakeholders, or embedding anywhere |
If you choose Storyline:
Note the variable names shown (default: TextEntry for input, GPT_Response for output). You’ll need these exact names when setting up Storyline.
If you choose Rise:
You can customize the header and button colors to match your brand.
Generate Your Code
Click generate. Your code appears—copy it and you’re ready for integration.
Adding Your Feedback Bot to Your Course
Choose your platform below.
For Articulate Storyline
Step 1: Create your variables
Open the Variables panel and create two text variables:
TextEntry (for learner input)
GPT_Response (for the AI’s feedback)
These names must match exactly what you set in FeedbackReady.
Step 2: Build the interface
On your slide, add:
A text entry field bound to the TextEntry variable (this is where learners type their answer)
A text box that displays %GPT_Response% (this shows the AI’s feedback)
A button labeled “Submit” or “Get Feedback”
Step 3: Add the trigger
Select your button and create a new trigger:
Action: Execute JavaScript
When: User clicks
Paste your generated code into the script editor.
Step 4: Test it
Preview your slide. Type an answer, click the button, and watch your feedback bot evaluate the response.
Note: If the preview doesn’t work, try publishing to Review 360 for full functionality.
For Articulate Rise 360
Step 1: Add a Code Block
In your Rise lesson, click to add a new block and select Code.
Step 2: Paste your code
Copy your generated HTML from FeedbackReady and paste it into the Code Block. The chatbot will display your question automatically, prompting learners to submit their answer.
Step 3: Lock the Continue button (optional)
Want to ensure learners actually submit an answer before moving on? You’ll need to configure two things:
On the Code Block: Click the block, open settings, and enable Set Completion Requirements
Add a Continue button: Add a Continue block below your feedback bot, then configure it to “Complete block directly above”
⚠️ Both settings are required. If you only do one, the Continue button won’t lock.
For Web Link (Quick Access)
Select the Web Link option in FeedbackReady, and you’ll receive:
A direct URL to your hosted feedback bot
An embed code for adding to other platforms
This is perfect for sharing with SMEs for review, testing before full integration, or embedding in platforms that support iframes.
Troubleshooting
The feedback bot doesn’t respond in Storyline
Check that your variable names match exactly (they’re case-sensitive)
Check that your domain is whitelisted in your AIReady account settings
The Continue button doesn’t lock in Rise
Verify “Set Completion Requirements” is enabled on the Code Block
Make sure the Continue button is configured to complete the block above
Both settings must be active
Feedback is too generic
Add a detailed rubric with specific criteria
Include example student answers at different quality levels
Make your model answer more comprehensive
Feedback doesn’t match expected quality levels
Review your rubric—are the criteria clear and distinct?
Add more example answers to help calibrate the bot
Edit the prompt to emphasize specific evaluation criteria
Ready to build?
Visit the CodeReady homepage at aiforlnd.com/CodeReady to create your feedback bot.
Want AI coaching chatbots instead?
Check out our CoachReady tutorial to create bots that answer questions and guide learners.