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How do I use Buzz's activity types?

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When authoring content in Buzz, you are given various activity type options. Each activity type is designed with specific ends in mind and can be used to support various personalized learning models. Review the following activity types to see which best suits your needs, and how to use them.

Note: Administrators are able to hide specific activity types within the domain, so you may not see all of the types listed here in your course Editor.

Activity Type Description
Assessment Assessments are gradable, question-based activities that use questions you create and/or link from question banks. Each question can be aligned with specific objectives in the course, and student performance on objectives can be used to make formative or remediation assessments. Students are required to complete assessments according to conditions set by the course author and submit all answers at once. Assessments are automatically graded and can be password protected.

Supports BusyBee study tools if enabled.
Assignment Assignments are gradable activities that you create using a rich text editor. Students complete assignment activities in their own time and are expected to indicate completion according to conditions set by the course author (e.g., attach a file to a dropbox, enter findings in a text box). Assignments can also be set up to accompany non-digital submissions.

Supports BusyBee study tools if enabled.
Blog Blogs are assigned writing exercises that can be seen by the authoring student, the teacher, and all members of the course (unless it is organized by groups, in which case each student can access only the blogs in their group). Visitors can comment on blogs to encourage discussion and collaboration.
BusyBee Chat activities BusyBee Chats are AI-powered activities that guide students through conversations designed for learning like interviewing historical figures, debating topics, solving problems, practicing languages, and more. Each chat is tailored to the students level and learning goals, helping them think deeply, stay engaged, and build AI literacy. These items are not gradable.
Custom Activity Custom Activities allow you to embed SCORM activities, display external web sites, or create gradable activities using styles and scripts that aren't available with Buzz authoring tools. Because it provides greater customization options, these are best suited for advanced users.

Supports BusyBee study tools if enabled.
Discussion Discussions allow you to create a learning activity in which students can respond to a prompt and interact with other students as part of focused conversation threads. All course members can add to and access the thread unless it is organized by groups, in which case each student can access only their group's threads.
Embed Code Embed Code to create an activity using HTML; most often, these are HTML snippets provided by other sites. By default, this item is not gradable; you can make it gradable using the activity editor.

Supports BusyBee study tools if enabled.
File Attachment Quickly upload a document for students. By default, this item is not gradable; you can make it gradable using the activity editor.

Supports BusyBee study tools if enabled.
Flashcards Flashcards are non-gradable activities designed to allow learners to review content and help them commit it to memory.

Authors can add text or an image to each side of each card. Learners see the front of the card, and try to remember, imagine, guess, etc, what's on the other side. Flashcard activities are marked complete when a learner has flipped all of the cards in the activity.
Google Drive Document Use a Google Drive Document as an activity. Your Google Drive must be configured for use. By default, this item is not gradable; you can make it gradable using the activity editor.

Supports BusyBee study tools if enabled.
IMS Package IMS content packages contain simple learning content and metadata created in accordance with international standards. Buzz allows you to import IMS packages (including common cartridges and QTI questions) or SCORM packages into your courses.
Journal Journals are assigned writing exercises that only the authoring student, the teacher, and the student's parent or other observer can access.
Peer Assessment Peer Assessments allow students to evaluate their peers' performance using a rubric you provide.
Practice Questions Practice Questions are gradable, question-based activities that use questions you create and/or link question banks. This activity is similar to assessments, but, unlike assessments, students can submit, review, and retake each question at a time. For instant feedback, this activity should only contain automatically graded questions.
Project Projects allow you to quickly and easily create robust and organized project activities. You can automatically include a Discussion, Blog, Wiki, and/or Journal, as well as add additional components.
Rich-Text Activity This activity type is best suited for delivering information. It allows course authors to create activities using a rich text editor. By default, this item is not gradable; you can make it gradable using the activity editor.

Supports BusyBee study tools if enabled.
Survey Link to surveys built using external tools, like SurveyMonkey.
Website Link Link to websites for students. By default, this item is not gradable; you can make it gradable using the activity editor.

Supports BusyBee study tools if enabled.
Wiki Wikis allow you to create collaborative writing exercises which can be edited by the teacher and all students in a course. All members can also see a history of revisions and who made them.
YouTube Video Embed a YouTube video for students. By default, this item is not gradable; you can make it gradable using the activity editor.

Supports BusyBee study tools if enabled.

BusyBee Chat types

BusyBee Chats give students a fun, personalized way to explore ideas, practice skills, and improve their work through AI-powered conversations that are a curated part of their learning journey.

How do I author BusyBee Chat activities?

BusyBee Chats are a Buzz Add-on

If you are interested in trying BusyBee Chats, reach out to your account manager or school administrator.

The following BusyBee Chat types are built into Buzz:

  • Custom Chat lets teachers design unique chat activities by providing their own instructions to the AI.
    • BusyBee is prompted to follow teacher-written instructions while staying within general educational guidelines. It adapts its tone, content, and behavior to suit the learning goal defined in BusyBee instructions.
  • Debate Chat helps students practice respectful argumentation, defend their ideas, and strengthen reasoning skills.
    • BusyBee is prompted to take a clear, opposing position unless told otherwise and debate the topic respectfully using logic, examples, and rebuttals. It encourages the student to strengthen their reasoning and follows topic boundaries and source constraints.
  • Interview Chat helps students explore a career, life experience, or personal perspective by interviewing an AI character. 
    • BusyBee is prompted to respond as a knowledgeable interviewee. It stays in character and shares insights, stories, and advice using clear language that matches the student’s curiosity and level.
  • Language Chat provides language practice through conversation, vocabulary support, and grammar correction in the target language.
    • BusyBee is prompted to act as a language tutor, speaking mainly in the target language and adapting to the student’s level. It encourages full-sentence responses, gently corrects mistakes, and stays in character when used in themed scenarios.
  • Problem-Solving Chat supports students as they work through multi-step challenges in subjects like math, science, health, or life skills.
    • BusyBee is prompted to act as a patient coach, guiding students one step at a time using scaffolded, open-ended questions. It avoids giving answers, skips no steps, and only offers short reminders when necessary to help students reason independently.
  • Quiz me Chat allows students to review and reinforce knowledge by answering questions tailored to a specific topic and difficulty level.
    • BusyBee is prompted to ask one question at a time using the selected question types, provide brief feedback after answers, and adjust content based on difficulty, grade level, and source material.
  • Writing: Pre-writing Chat helps students choose a topic and organize ideas before drafting a writing piece.
    • BusyBee is prompted to guide brainstorming and planning by asking scaffolded questions about topic, thesis, and structure. It tailors support to writing type and grade level but should not generate sentences or paragraphs.
  • Writing: Drafting Chat supports students as they develop their draft, offering guidance on structure, development, and transitions.
    • BusyBee is prompted to begin by asking what the student has already written and then offer feedback one section at a time. It identifies what’s missing, encourages development, and helps connect ideas without generating content.
  • Writing: Revising Chat guides students in improving the clarity, organization, and content of their full draft.
    • BusyBee is prompted to review the full draft and offer big-picture feedback--highlighting what to add, move, or cut. It provides one or two targeted suggestions at a time to support meaningful revision without generating content.
  • Writing: Editing Chat helps students identify and correct grammar, punctuation, and sentence-level issues in their writing.
    • BusyBee is prompted to point out one type of error at a time, explain the issue, and show an example correction. It then prompts the student to locate and fix similar issues, helping them practice independent editing without generating content.

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