Let's Build a Chatbot

Before beginning this learning activity, the teacher may choose to review chatbots. Chatbots are good for a number of purposes including customer care, inquiry, lead generation, appointment booking, database management, and more. The teacher may show a video on chatbots for review:

What are Chatbots?

5 Chatbot Benefits You Can't Afford to Ignore

Steps:

1. The teacher will explain that in today's activity students will build their own chatbot that simulates human conversation through text using the Appy Pie Chatbot Builder. 
2. The teacher should explain before students start making a chatbot that students must first set goals for their chatbot. Pass out the Chatbot Design worksheet. Students will use this worksheet to create a name for their bot, decide on their chatbot type, and draft sample conversations for their bot. (This will need to be done because Appy Pie is a rule-based chatbot.) Rule-based chatbots are used to communicate with users according to a strict algorithm. The solutions for problems are preset. Rule-based chatbots take user queries and based on keywords, redirect the users to help articles, landing pages, or live assistants.
3. Pass out internet-connected devices and directions for using the Appy Pie website. 
4. After students have finished building their chatbot, it is time to test it.
5. Pass out the Testing With Users worksheet and have students find student “testers” (partners) to test their chatbot. Testers should start a conversation with the chatbot and share their thoughts out loud so their student partner may take notes on the worksheet.
6. Changes to chatbots may be implemented based on feedback from “testers."