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AI Powered Tutor and Teacher Tools added to CK-12's Free Digital Resources

by Debbie Jensen, OTAN Subject Matter Expert

In 2019 OTAN published an article, CK-12: Online Digital Textbooks with Built-In Assessments and Much More. In that article we covered the amazing FREE digital resources available through CK-12. If you don’t know how CK-12 can augment your curriculum please see that article. This article will address the new AI enhanced features at CK-12.

Teachers face the challenge of addressing each student’s learning modalities, misunderstandings, gaps in learning etc. Online materials have greatly helped in the differentiation necessary. Even with all that is available, when learners have questions outside the classroom or office hours, they still need an answer. Enter the online tutor. CK-12’s Flexi was introduced to be that tutor—and answer questions 24/7. Then AI entered the world stage. Immediately CK-12 worked to add AI to Flexi. And what resulted is more than an online tutor.

Flexi the AI Tutor for Learners

Here is a list of some of what Flexi offers:

• It is free, accessible and available 24/7.
• Flexi adds to AI’s instant answers with other sources, providing learners with expert CK-12 content (we will look at this later).
• It offers structured answers. Some online tutors ask the learner questions trying to guide the learner to the correct answer. This can be frustrating. Flexi offers an answer first.
• Flexi offers step-by-step explanations.
• The learner can ask for follow-up challenge questions to test their understanding.
• It can link questions/answers to the learner’s career goals piquing interest and application of the topic to their chosen career.
• Recently CK-12 added Flexi AI Tutor Chrome Extension. Now you can surf the web, have questions and Flexi is there to answer them.

Flexi in Action

Let’s explore how Flexi works. I asked the question, “What is photosynthesis?” (#1) on Image 1 below.

Image 1: Screenshot of Flex’s answer to What is photosynthesis, various features highlighted

The source of the immediate answer is AI-Generated (Image 1 #2). You can have the answer read to you, and you can get a link to the answer. To change the source of the answer, select Other sources. This is one of my favorite mind-blowing features. We warn our learners that they must check answers generated by AI because the answers might be incorrect (hallucinations). By selecting a second source, CK-12, the learner is given vetted sources right inside the answer! The learner can compare the answers to check facts, but also the learner gains a wider understanding. When I selected Other sources, here is what opened:

Image 2: Other Sources: CK-12 video library or CK-12 written library

CK-12 will offer their answer. If CK-12 has other media available, it will show it. Here is a video titled The Process of Photosynthesis. If I select the second CK-12 link it opens the CK-12 written answer. Now the learner can check the answer given by AI quickly and with assurance of accuracy.

Returning to Image 1#3, if Rephrase is selected, the answer is rephrased and appears to the right of the original so the learner can reread the original answer if desired. (See Image 3). The learner is offered more ways to gain Clarification including Analogy, Translate, Rephase, having the answer read aloud or Regenerate (drop down offers the choices of simpler or more detailed).

Image 3: Clarification Choices

At (Image 1#4) there is More options which include challenge Me , Analogy/Example, and Translate. For our second language learners, Translate can help them understand difficult concepts.

If you select Challenge me at (Image 1# 5) interactive questions open up. Flexi is still there on the left, just in case the learner needs a hint.

Image 4: Challenge Me questions

The answer can be checked and more information given. One impressive feature of CK-12 is Adaptive Practice (Image 5)

Image 5: Flexi suggests Start Adaptive Practice

The learner will be given ten questions, the questions change depending on the learner’s answers, simpler if they get them incorrect, harder if they get them correct. Flexi offers hints and guidance throughout as well as a scratchpad tool. Another feature available, the learner can download and print a worksheet.

Image 6: What is photosynthesis? main screen with Shortcuts at the right

If the learner selects Shortcuts, (on the right side of the screen), Flexi offers even more ways to help the learner. Select See all (arrow). The Shortcuts choices include:

• Homework Help: where a student can upload a photo, type a question or speak to Flexi
• Learn a concept–this offers the learner deeper understanding
• Step-by-Step solutions
• View Assignments: as Flexi gets to know the student, he can help prepare for assignments
• Test Prep: Flexi can assist in test preparation
• Under the section on Leaning, Flexi offers Analogies, Concepts, Subjects and more
• In the section Review Flexi can assist with Misconceptions explained and Study Guides
• Flexi can Quiz the student, helping them practice with potential test questions
• Flexi offers Tools to Simplify, Translate the problem, or set Reminders to help the student with future deadlines
• College aspirations include Career Connections, does the question asked connect with career or college major choices?

Testimonials

Listening to Flexi users, some of the ways they successfully use Flexi include studying with Flexi by their side so as topics/questions arise in the class materials, Flexi can offer immediate assistance. Another user pointed out that she liked Flexi more than ChatGPT as a study help. Her reason was revealing. She was concerned about the accuracy of AI answers. With CK-12 content right there, she is assured she has an answer she can trust.

Teacher Assistance Using AI

Flexi is a powerful aid to our learners. CK-12 wanted to use AI to help the teachers too. They added incredible Learning Analytics to assist teachers in knowing what each learner is struggling with and making suggestions to assist them. Using AI CK-12 has added Teacher Tools.

Image 7: Teacher version webpage: AI Teacher Tools and Learning Analytics

Once you select Teacher Version at the top of the CK-12 home screen you will be sent to this screen (Image 7): Notice the two choices at the top of the screen, AI Teacher Tools and Learning Analytics. CK-12 wants to help the teacher and states simply, Save Hours. Teach More. Scrolling across the screen are a variety of Teacher Tools. I asked CK-12’s Head of Content how many tools are available, he just smiled. He said they are adding new tools all the time, If you don’t see something you want, suggest it!

In the middle of the page there is a link to the tools: “Let AI handle the prep”. The Tools are organized by categories. Let’s see what is available.

Category: Assessments and Assignments

Image 8: Teacher Tools Assessments and Assignments

I circled tools I thought were exciting: In my first attempt I circled too many so I limited myself to three:

• Writing Feedback Generator. Grading papers is hard, let AI help. Take a look at the suggestions, add your personal changes and move to the next learner’s assignment! Studies have found that AI grading is more consistent and timely.
• Quiz Creator: as you use these tools you will save time, time you can devote to assisting individual learners. Example: Photosynthesis Quiz
• AI-Resistant Assignment-have AI help you recognize proper uses of AI and assignments that can make cheating more difficult. Some of their recommendations included:
  • Personal Reflection Prompt
  • Peer Interview Component
  • Drafting Process with Checkpoints
  • Visual Aid Requirement
  • Reflection on Writing Process

Category: Specialized Learning

Image 9: Teacher Tools Specialized Learning

• As an ABE instructor reading materials were often too high for my students. Reading Level Adjustor takes care of that.
• Read-World Content Finder. We know that our adults are more engaged if our materials reflect the real world. Example: How does the water cycle affect weather patterns? Real-world phenomenon: the impact of drought on local agriculture.
• Student Support Planner. We talk of accommodating each learner’s needs, this tool makes it easier.

Category: Planning for Learning

Image 10: Teacher Tools Planning for Learning

• Lesson Planner. One word: amazing. Example. Here was my first ask for a lesson plan on Summary Writing. After looking over the lesson plan, you could go back and regenerate the document with your own class requirements.
• Choice Boards are an excellent way to improve learner engagement and offer multiple means of expression, but they take a lot of time to create. When I asked for help, they listed (see example)
  • Create a slide presentation
  • watch a video and take notes
  • write a blog post
  • participate in a group discussion
  • create an infographic
  • using Kahoot or Quizizz create an interactive quiz….and the list goes one.
• I love Jeopardy games as an assessment, so do my learners, but they take a lot of time to create, so let Jeopardy Review do the work!

Categories: Communication, Professional Development, Social Emotional Learning and Fun

Image 11: Communication, Professional Development, Social Emotional Learning, and Fun

Here are several different categories: Communication, Professional Development, Social Emotional Learning and Fun (my favorite)

• At the end of each quarter students come back to teachers and ask for recommendations. This tool can give you a beginning to speed the process.
• Student reflection is a metacognitive tool to assist learners recognize their learning. This tool can quickly give you a formative assessment or end of day reflection.
• I couldn’t help it. All the tools under Fun are engaging and can improve class dynamics between teacher and learners and learners and peers. These include:
  • The Jokenator
  • Song Writer (see example The Water Cycle tune of Let It Go by Idina Menzel)
  • Terrific Tongue Twisters
  • Gift Suggester: I can see a writing assignment where learners use the tool to prepare a gift for a family member and then write a descriptive paragraph about that person.

I used the Jokenator (Teacher Joke Generator) for a pre-algebra class and the topic of equations. The jokes included: Why did the equation go to therapy? “It had too many unresolved variables!” What did one equation say to the other at the party? “Let’s solve this together!” Bringing a little smile to class can help even learners who struggle with math!

AI Transparency in Education

I couldn’t end this article without including CK-12’s Key Pillars of AI Transparency in Education. This is from CK-12:

Clear Policies and Ethical Guidelines: Educators and learners deserve to know how AI tools work, where content comes from and how responses are generated.

Data Privacy: Protecting user data is essential. AI-powered tools follow strict privacy policies, including the Student Privacy Pledge, assuring that student data collected by AI tutors is used solely for educational purposes.

Fact-Checked Explanations: AI Generated content should be reliable. Human experts must verify educational materials to ensure accuracy, credibility, and alignment with learning goals.

Pedagogical Integrity: AI should support, not replace, strong teaching practices. Tools align with educational standards, adapt to student needs and foster meaningful learning.

Conclusion

Flexi is a marvel. Try it. Introduce it to your learners, ask a question and have learner pairs explore the different shortcuts and then share with the class. Have them try Flexi at home, with their families and report back on ways they used it.

Today there are many AI websites for teachers, many have a free level and a premium level. Ck-12 has no premium level. It is free and always will be. Their goal is to help learners, and help teachers help learners. With their help we can truly reach all our learners, on all platforms, 24/7.

I end my article on CK-12 with questions of my own: What if we could use AI while preparing for our class, making it so we can devote more time to teach? What if we can truly prepare our learners for this new AI world, so they can use it in their lives now and their careers in the future? That day has arrived. Give CK-12 a try.

Resources

Student: https://www.ck12.org/student/
Teacher: https://www.ck12.org/teacher/
Help: https://help.ck12.org/hc/en-us
Overview of CK-12 Resources