> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.praxis-ai.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Faculty Onboarding
> Learn how your new Praxis Digital Twin is used in your Learning Management System to deliver personalized, context-aware educational support.
## Getting Started
When your Canvas administrator places a generic digital twin in your course, the first launch shows a **"Let's get you connected"** screen with two paths:
1. **Select an existing instance** — reuse a Digital Twin already associated with your account. Each one appears as a clickable card showing its name and remaining credits.
2. **Or create a new instance** — start fresh with a course-specific Digital Twin.
If you don't have any existing instances yet, only the **"Get started by creating a new Digital Expert"** option appears.
## Creating a Digital Twin
### Initial Setup Process
When you first access your digital twin through your LMS, you'll be welcomed by the Digital Twin wizard that guides you through the creation process.
Navigate to your course in your Learning Management System (LMS) and click on the digital twin icon, typically located in the bottom-right corner of your course page.
Click the **Digital Twin** button (a tile labelled *"New personalized instance"*) to create a personalized instance of your AI assistant.
Digital Experts and Digital Twins use identical creation workflows but fulfill distinct roles. Digital Twins are personalized AI assistants that mirror your individual expertise, knowledge base, and teaching methodology, while Digital Experts offer specialized domain knowledge without personal customization. The key differentiator is the personalization prompt you provide during setup—this determines whether the AI reflects your unique perspective or maintains a more generalized expert persona.
In the New Digital Twin dialog, enter:
* **Name**: Choose a name for your twin (defaults to "Pria" if left blank — e.g. "Professor Smith's Assistant")
* **Picture URL**: Provide a publicly accessible image URL (no CORS restrictions). A live preview appears as you type.
You can leave the picture blank for now and set the avatar, backgrounds, and personalization later from the twin's Edit page.
Click **Let's GO!** to finish creating your new digital twin instance.
For a complete step-by-step creation guide with tips on naming, images, and personalization, see [Create Your Digital Twin](/mdx/user-guide/create-digital-twin). For advanced configuration, refer to the [Personalization Guide](/mdx/admin-guide/personalization).
Once you select an existing instance for a course, this association cannot be changed unless you first unlink the digital twin from that course.
## Unlinking a Digital Twin
### When to Unlink
You may need to unlink your digital twin from a course if you want to:
* Associate a different digital twin instance with the course
* Create a completely new digital twin for that course
* Remove the digital twin entirely
### Unlinking Process
Navigate to your digital twin interface and go to your **Profile** page.
Open the **Canvas / LTI** tab and find the **LTI Integration** section, which shows the **Course Connection** linking this twin to your current course.
Click the red **Unlink Course** button to disconnect the digital twin from the current course. This takes effect immediately — there's no separate confirmation prompt.
Pria confirms the course has been unlinked and asks you to **reload your browser window** to finish.
After unlinking, you'll need to go through the setup process again the next time you access the digital twin in that course.
## Uploading Course Materials
It's a good idea to supplement your digital twin's knowledge by uploading course materials. That way, if Canvas ever fails to connect, your students will always have access to pertinent information. Useful course files to upload include the syllabus, policies, and assignments.
From the **\[+]** action menu, choose **Add Photos & Files**.
Drag and drop, paste, or browse to pick the documents to upload.
Confirm the upload — each file is processed and indexed automatically.
Use Collections and clear file names to keep materials easy to find.
With LMS integration configured, your twin can reach course content directly:
* Course syllabi
* Assignment descriptions
* Discussion forums
* Gradebook information
* Course announcements
Contact your IT administrator to configure LMS integration for automatic course content access.
### Supported File Types
Your digital twin can work with various types of course materials:
* **Documents**: PDF, Word documents, text files
* **Presentations**: PowerPoint, Google Slides
* **Spreadsheets**: Excel, Google Sheets, CSV files
* **Images**: JPEG, PNG, GIF files
* **Audio/Video**: MP3, MP4, and other multimedia formats
### Best Practices for Course Materials
Group related materials together and use clear, descriptive file names.
Add descriptions explaining how each material fits into your course structure.
Keep materials current by uploading new content and removing outdated files.
Ensure uploaded materials are clear, well-formatted, and relevant to student needs.
## [Specialized Assistants](/mdx/user-guide/assistants-personalization/assistants)
Your digital twin platform includes access to various specialized AI assistants designed for specific educational tasks.
Click the **Assistant** button located at the bottom-right of your screen.
Review the list of specialized assistants available for your institution.
Click on the assistant that best matches your current educational need.
Follow the assistant's prompts to start your specialized educational task.
You can even create your own custom assistants!
### Integration with Course Materials
Specialized assistants can access and utilize your uploaded course materials to provide:
* **Contextual responses** based on your specific curriculum
* **Personalized feedback** aligned with your teaching objectives
* **Course-specific examples** drawn from your materials
* **Consistent messaging** that matches your pedagogical approach
## Using Praxis AI Custom Tools
Praxis AI Custom Tools enhance your Canvas courses with AI-powered assistance through two main features: creating custom AI assistant buttons and enabling contextual AI responses through content highlighting.
## Assistant Button Creator
### Creating AI Assistant Buttons
Navigate to any Canvas page and click **Edit** to enter the page editor
Find the **Praxis AI Button Creator** in your editor toolbar (appears after tools installation). It will appear as a magic wand
Set descriptive, action-oriented button text that clearly indicates the AI's purpose:
* **Examples**: "Get Biology Help", "Writing Assistant", "Math Problem Solver"
* **Styling**: Use `btn btn-primary` (default) to maintain consistency with your Canvas theme, or customize with alternative Bootstrap button classes
Choose which specific AI assistant will be activated when users click the button. Ensure the selected assistant aligns with the button's intended purpose and course content.
Compose a brief welcome message that the AI will display when the button is pressed. This message should:
* Greet the user appropriately
* Set expectations for the interaction
* Provide context for the assistance available
**Conversation ID**:
* Use your **course code** to launch conversations within the existing course thread
* Set to **-1** to create a new, separate conversation thread for each button press
**Conversation Name**:
Define how the conversation thread will be labeled and stored in the AI system for future reference and organization.
**Visible Launch**: Enable this option to show the assistant interface when activated
**Silent Launch**: Disable to have the assistant respond without displaying the full interface
Save your page - the button is now available to students
### Best Practices for Assistant Buttons
Place buttons where students naturally seek help - near complex concepts, assignments, or problem sets
Use descriptive text that indicates the button's purpose (e.g., "Math Problem Solver" vs. "Click Here")
**Effective Button Examples:**
* **"Ask the Course AI"** - General course assistance
* **"Assignment Help"** - Specific to assignment pages
* **"Concept Clarification"** - Near complex topics
* **"Study Guide Generator"** - On review materials
## Content Highlight AI Launcher
### How It Works
The highlight tool allows **both you and your students** to get instant AI assistance on any Canvas content.
Select any text content on Canvas pages (readings, assignments, discussions)
Right-click the highlighted text or use the highlight menu to access AI options
AI analyzes the highlighted content and provides relevant explanations or assistance
### Faculty Use Cases
* Highlight complex passages to generate simplified explanations
* Create supplementary content for difficult concepts
* Generate discussion questions from readings
* Demonstrate how to use the tool during class
* Encourage students to highlight confusing terms or concepts
* Model effective questioning techniques
## Implementation Tips
1. **Test First** - Try both tools in a practice course before rolling out
2. **Train Students** - Show students how to use the highlight feature in your first class
3. **Strategic Placement** - Add assistant buttons to high-traffic pages (syllabus, major assignments)
Remember to set clear expectations about AI tool usage in your course policies and academic integrity guidelines.
**Do:**
* Place buttons contextually near relevant content
* Use descriptive, action-oriented button text
* Encourage students to highlight unfamiliar terms
* Model appropriate AI interaction during class
**Don't:**
* Overload pages with too many buttons
* Use vague button labels like "Help" or "AI"
* Assume students know how to use the tools without instruction
## Quick Troubleshooting
* Verify tools are installed in your Canvas theme
* Check that you're in page edit mode
* Contact IT if tools aren't visible after installation
* Ensure you're highlighting actual text content
* Try right-clicking after highlighting
* Clear browser cache if issues persist
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Need help with installation or have questions about specific use cases? Contact your Canvas administrator or check the complete installation guide in your faculty resources.
### Overall Best Practices
Begin with one course and gradually expand your digital twin usage as you become comfortable.
Introduce your digital twin to students and explain how it can support their learning.
Regularly review how your digital twin is being used and adjust settings as needed.
Keep informed about new features and capabilities as the platform evolves.
***