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Description

Document Retrieval makes every mentorAI answer transparent and verifiable.
When a learner asks a question, the mentor:

  1. Cites the exact source inside the reply (e.g., “Lecture 11 — Slides 35–36”)
  2. Shows a dynamic Source Panel with the documents it used, ranked by relevance
  3. Lets users open any listed file with one click to read the full context

Administrators control which materials can be shown by toggling each file’s Visible switch in the Datasets table—no retraining required.


Target Audience

Student · Instructor · Administrator


Features

Inline Citations in Answers

Replies reference the exact lecture, slide, or page used (e.g., Lecture 11 — Slides 35–36).

Source Panel (Ranked by Relevance)

A live panel lists retrieved documents for that specific answer and updates as the conversation continues.

One-Click Source Opening

Learners can open any listed file to read supporting context immediately.

Admin Visibility Controls

Per-file Visible toggles determine which sources can be shown/cited in the panel—without removing them from training.

Works at Scale

Handles large training sets; sources are still ranked and cited for each response.

Guided-Prompt Friendly

Use guided prompts to kick off a conversation when learners aren’t sure where to start.


How to Use (step by step)

Ask a Question in Chat

  • Example:

    “What are key epidemiological study designs?”

  • mentorAI reads your query, searches trained resources, and composes an answer with inline citations
  • Example citation:

    “These study designs are discussed in Lecture 2.10 of Prof. Quinlan’s course.”

Review the Source Panel

  • The panel displays the documents used, ranked by relevance (often with a confidence/percentage indicator)
  • Click any source to open the original and read more

Ask Follow-Ups (Panel Updates Automatically)

  • Example:

    “Can you explain case-control studies in detail?”

  • The Source Panel refreshes to show the most relevant documents for the new question and cites them in the reply (e.g., “See Lecture 11, Slides 35–36”)

Open & Read Sources

  • Select a listed document (lecture, slide deck, PDF) to view full context and deepen understanding

(Admin) Control Visibility of Sources

  • Go to Settings → Datasets for the mentor
  • Use the eye icon in the Visible column to show or hide individual files:
    • Visible On → learners can see/click the source in the panel
    • Visible Off → the mentor can still use the file for answers, but it won’t appear in the panel
  • Changes apply instantly; no retraining is required

Pedagogical Use Cases

Transparent, Citable Answers

Teach students to verify claims and cite original materials—great for research and academic integrity.

Guided Reading & Deep Dives

Learners jump straight from an answer to the exact slide/page for fuller context.

Instructor QA & Content Gaps

Instructors can confirm the mentor cites the right sources and spot where additional materials are needed.

Assessment Support

Link explanations to specific readings so students revisit core texts before quizzes or exams.

Scaffolded Disclosure

Keep some documents hidden (Visible Off) for assessments or proprietary content, while still letting the mentor draw on them to answer.