Chatbot as a learning resource? Creating conversational bots as a supplement for teaching assistant training course

One of the technologies that educators can leverage is the use of chatbots or conversational agent to support teaching and learning. Moreover, with the recent advancement in AI, companies like Google, IBM, and Amazon provide platforms that are focused on building conversation rather than the technicalities of computer programing, in particular, natural language processing. In this case study, we will look into the application of a simple rule-based chatbot, based on Google DialogFlow, in a teaching assistant training course run by a Center for Education Innovation at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. We will unpack the details of how a chatbot can be integrated into both online and face-to-face content to augment some of the challenges that can be encountered in teaching.