Meet the Updated CIDDL Chat: Explore Evidence-Based Resources Through AI
Authors: Yerin Seung; info@ciddl.org
What if you could explore CIDDL's resources by simply asking a question? With the newly updated CIDDL Chat, educators, families, researchers, and other stakeholders can engage with CIDDL's resources through an AI-powered conversational interface. During a recent CIDDL Office Hour, Daniel Neugent, a PhD student in Computer Science at the University of Kansas and a Graduate Research Assistant for CIDDL, introduced the updated CIDDL Chat, demonstrated its features, and answered questions about how the tool works.
What Makes CIDDL Chat Different?
Unlike general-purpose AI chatbots such as ChatGPT or Gemini, CIDDL Chat uses retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to generate responses grounded in CIDDL's knowledge base. Rather than relying solely on an AI model's general training data, the chatbot retrieves information from CIDDL resources to inform its answers. This approach helps users access more relevant, trustworthy information related to education, accessibility, and technology. Importantly, CIDDL Chat also provides source citations, allowing users to explore the original resources and learn more about the topics that interest them. The knowledge base updates weekly as new CIDDL resources become available, helping the chatbot stay connected to the center's growing collection.
How Can You Use CIDDL Chat?
During the Office Hour, participants explored how the chatbot responds to questions about accessibility, individualized education programs (IEPs), and AI-supported instruction.
For example, users might ask:
- How can AI support students with disabilities?
- What should educators know about accessibility in education?
- How can technology support IEP implementation?
- What resources does CIDDL offer on AI in special education?
Instead of searching individual webpages, users can ask follow-up questions, explore related topics, and access relevant CIDDL resources through conversation.
Another feature is ease of use: CIDDL Chat doesn't require users to create an account or log in. This allows visitors to explore resources without linking their questions to a personal account.
Try CIDDL Chat and Share Your Feedback
CIDDL Chat is still in beta, and continued feedback will help guide its development. Whether you're an educator looking for instructional resources, a researcher exploring emerging technologies, or a family member seeking information, we invite you to try the tool.
Visit CIDDL Chat through the CIDDL website, explore the resources, and share your experiences and suggestions through the CIDDL community. Your feedback can help us make CIDDL's resources more accessible, useful, and responsive to our community's needs.
Join the conversation in our community!
CIDDL is committed to providing high-quality resources to support the growing knowledge, adoption, and use of educational technologies by educators, related services, and leadership preparation programs. For more resources, including videos and blogs, subscribe to our newsletter and follow us on YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn. The most important part of our CIDDL community is YOU. Join our community and share the innovative ways you are using technology, ask a question about technology integration, or participate in our bi-weekly live AI Community Chats. We look forward to seeing you in our community!