Why it matters

Module context sits at the heart of how Plato works. Plato is designed to ground answers in module-related teaching materials, which means the selected module and the available content directly affect how relevant an answer will be.

What staff should expect

With the right module context, Plato can answer within the scope of the course, point back to relevant teaching materials and provide more academically aligned support.

Content indexing

Plato integrates with virtual learning environments such as Canvas and Blackboard and automatically indexes module content. This can include published files, pages and other module materials students can already access in the VLE.

Indexing runs automatically, typically on a daily basis, and can also be configured more frequently on a module-by-module basis.

Because Plato only uses published content, it works from the same materials students can already see.

If staff would like to further tailor the content available to Plato, they can restrict specific files in the Plato admin settings for each module. This allows content to remain published on the VLE while being blocked in Plato.

Why this supports trust

This structure helps distinguish Plato from a general-purpose AI tool. The value is not just speed, but support that is visible, governed and tied to real course materials.