An AI explanation can sound plausible while missing an important detail. A source reference gives the learner somewhere to look next. To be useful, it needs to do more than decorate the answer with a link.
Point to the part that matters
A link to an hour-long recording puts the search back on the student. A relevant timestamp, document section or page gives them a starting point. Preserve access to the surrounding context so they can see what comes before and after.
Check that the passage supports the specific statement in the answer. A source about the same topic may still be insufficient evidence for the explanation given.
Separate teaching from interpretation
The mentor may explain your material in different words or apply it to a new example. Make that relationship understandable. Students should be able to distinguish the source’s words from the mentor’s interpretation.
For example, “The lesson defines an assumption as…” is a different claim from “One way to apply this idea to your decision is…”. The second invites reasoning about the application, rather than implying that your course already covers that exact situation.
Use references to reopen the learning
A reference can lead to a useful activity: compare the explanation with the original, identify a qualification or decide whether a rule applies in this context.
Ask learners what they notice. Did the mentor leave out an exception? Does the source use a narrower definition? Is the example transferable? Those questions make inspection part of the lesson.
Plan for missing or conflicting material
Your library may contain an older lesson, a revised approach and a discussion that explores alternatives. Decide which material is current and how conflicting explanations should be handled.
If the source does not establish an answer, the mentor should say so. Give it a route to invite clarification or refer the question to a teacher.
A simple review routine
- Open the reference. Does it resolve to material the student can actually access?
- Read the context. Does the answer preserve the source’s qualifications?
- Check the claim. Does the reference support the point being made?
- Check the boundary. Does the answer go beyond the material without making that clear?
- Try a follow-up. Can the student ask about the source or raise a disagreement?
Put the routine into your pilot
Choose sample questions from your own teaching. Include an easy question, a nuanced question and one the material cannot answer. Review the explanation and the reference together, then decide what needs changing.
Our trust principles explain how we think about sources, ownership and human judgement. The demo page includes an authored example with an inspectable reference.