Objective: Learn how to use Lexi, StrongMind Intelligence Student Assist.
Notes: StrongMind Intelligence (SMI) was formerly "Lexi AI" - a chatbot meant to support StrongMind teaching and learning. While Lexi was designed as a conversational, human-like chatbot, emerging research has highlighted important considerations around the role of AI in education. Specifically, highly anthropomorphic and overly empathetic AI interactions can unintentionally introduce risks—such as reducing opportunities for productive struggle, limiting the development of perseverance, and blurring the boundary between human and machine support.
StrongMind Intelligence reflects a more intentional approach: one that prioritizes clarity, transparency, and student agency. By shifting away from personified AI, SMI is designed to better support critical thinking and authentic learning processes, while maintaining appropriate distinctions between human educators and AI tools. This shift ensures our AI tools align with StrongMind’s commitment to rigorous learning, student growth, and responsible use of technology.
SMI is presently available within StrongMind Central for students and within Spark courses throughout, It is also available in direct instruction and many legacy courses. See below to view information on the location of SMI based on course type. StrongMind Player must be installed in order to view SMI, and StrongMind Central must be enabled for your organization to view SMI there.
Lexi is visible within direct instruction for teachers, but this tool currently serves students.
See FAQ's to better understand SMI availability and functionality.
Related Article: Comparing Spark courses to classic StrongMind courses, SMC Notifications
Understanding SMI
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SMI has two types of chats:
- Why It Matters: SMI is automatically embedded in the direct instruction activities for StrongMind Spark courses, as well as many legacy course versions. In Why it Matters interactions, SMI provides students with real-world relevance and context surrounding the importance of the content being taught. Students can ask follow up questions or relate content to their interests and preference.
- Additionally, SMI can translate content into different languages, simplify complex problems, and give students authentic, interest-based examples and create a stronger foundation for learning.
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- Improve My Score: Lexi automatically populates within Learnosity assessments for students who have submitted a graded assessment.
- SMI will highlight what was done well and walk students through the steps needed to solve a problem or prove additional scaffolding to help students master the missing concepts.
Where to Access SMI
- NOTE: Students initiate all interactions with Lexi. Lexi never solicits a conversation, but is initiated by selecting the SMI icon.
- StrongMind Central: Students can see Lexi in the right sidebar within SMC. This version of Lexi is not tied to course content and serves as a tutor for all topics.
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Assessments:
- Spark Courses: SMI is available in all assessments within Spark courses.
- Legacy Courses: (latest versions) SMI can be found in standalone assessments, like Checkpoints.
- Note: Not all versions of our legacy courses are SMI enabled. Please speak to your Customer Success Manager to determine if your courses are Lexi Enabled.
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Direct Instruction:
- Spark Courses: SMI is available in all direct instruction within Spark courses.
- Legacy Courses (latest versions) SMI can be found in direct instruction for our newest course versions that do NOT have discussion questions provided.
Teacher Access to SMI Chat Logs
- All student interactions with SMI are tracked.
- All transcripts contain student information including timestamp, student login, chat type, course, LMS, assignment and message count.
- Chat Logs can be accessed within StrongMind Central two ways:
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- Bell Icon Notifications
- Student Profiles.
To view transcripts via the bell icon:
- Log into SMC
- Select the Bell Icon
- Select the message you wish to view.
To view transcripts via an individual:
- Log into SMC
- Select a student profile from the dashboard.
- Select the Activity Tab.
- Select the chat log you would like to view.
Frequently Asked Questions for Alternative Assessments
Q: Does SMI provide answers?
A: SMI is instructed to guide students to the answer rather than directly providing answers. On occasion, SMI may provide an answer, but usually after providing step by step instructions to help the student solve the problem on their own.
Q: Does SMI make mistakes?
A: SMI is surprisingly accurate and well informed but it is possible for SMI to make mistakes. However, since the course material for both the course page and the assessments are analyzed by SMI before responding, the likelihood of mistakes is minimized. In fact, during testing, SMI highlighted mistakes in the material that allowed correction.
Q: Does SMI get off track?
A: SMI is instructed to guide the student back to the course subject in cases where the student appears to be going off topic. It is possible to distract SMI, although this usually takes a concerted effort. More often, SMI will incorporate student comments into the instruction, for example using popular music to illustrate mathematical concepts or switching from English to Spanish to accommodate the speaker.
Q: How does SMI respond to unacceptable comments?
A: SMI has guardrails that recognize potentially harmful or dangerous comments and will provide recommendations for help. SMI is provides the option to contact the teacher to get further help. Because conversations are recorded as transcripts, teachers and counselors are able to provide interventions.
Q: What are some good prompts for students using SMI?
A: Strong prompting helps get the most out of Ai tools. Some good prompts are "can you reexplain this in a more simple way?" "I am interested in _______ Can you relate this lesson to that?" "Can you give me the 3 most important things to understand about this?"
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