Moonbooks AI Tutor: Nabi AI!

This summer, I embarked on a unique challenge—creating an AI tutor for my MoonBooks English SmartStart Program students. Designed specifically for ESL learners, the tutor, named NABI, was developed to address a problem I’d been facing: asynchronous communication. With students from around the world, answering questions outside of class proved difficult. I needed a solution that could support their learning even when I wasn’t available.

Initially, I tried allocating time during classes for individual questions, but it slowed overall progress. That’s when I decided to take matters into my own hands and create an AI tutor tailored to their needs. The idea was simple: a virtual teaching assistant that could provide instant, relevant answers specifically tied to my curriculum. The execution, however, was anything but simple.

I had no formal coding experience, making the process a steep learning curve. Over 30 hours, I pieced everything together, guided by AI tools and tutorials when I hit roadblocks. From setting up a virtual environment and installing Python to troubleshooting endless errors, the journey tested my patience and problem-solving skills.

Finally, NABI came to life. While it’s not perfect—responses currently take 3-4 minutes—it’s a start. Seeing my students engage with the tutor and receive feedback tailored to our workbooks makes the effort worthwhile.

Creating NABI taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of innovation in education. I’m excited to continue improving the tutor, ensuring it becomes an even more effective tool for empowering my students. For now, I’m proud of this first step and can’t wait to see where it leads.