README.md

---
title: Conversational Assessment Tool (CAT)
emoji: 🐱
colorFrom: blue
colorTo: purple
sdk: gradio
pinned: false
license: mit
sdk_version: 5.49.1
---

# Conversational Assessment Tool (CAT)

**Course:** BUS 220 – Managerial Decision-Making  
**Institution:** Borough of Manhattan Community College (BMCC), CUNY  
**Instructor:** Brett Whysel  
**Platform:** Hugging Face Spaces (Gradio)  
**Version:** 1.0

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## 🎯 Purpose

The **Conversational Assessment Tool (CAT)** replaces traditional quizzes with interactive, scenario-based conversations.  
It helps students apply decision-making frameworks in realistic business and career situations while strengthening critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and communication skills.

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## 🧩 How It Works

1. **Start the Conversation**  
   Click the ▶️ **“Open in Spaces”** button above to begin.  
   The tool will introduce a scenario aligned with your current module (e.g., decision trees, behavioral economics, ethics).

2. **Engage Authentically**  
   Respond as yourself — the tool won’t grade on right or wrong answers but on reasoning, clarity, and reflection.

3. **Receive Feedback**  
   CAT provides rubric-based feedback:

   - **Excellent** – clear reasoning and ethical awareness
   - **Satisfactory** – basic understanding with room for depth
   - **Unsatisfactory** – incomplete or unclear reasoning

4. **Reflect & Submit**  
   Copy your final transcript and short reflection into your Brightspace assignment.

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## 💻 Tech Details

- **Frontend:** Gradio (Python)
- **Backend:** OpenAI GPT-4-turbo via API
- **Hosting:** Hugging Face Spaces
- **Dependencies:** `gradio`, `openai`, `python-dotenv`
- **Data Policy:** No personal data is stored or transmitted.

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## 🧠 Pedagogical Alignment

- Supports BMCC’s mission for accessible, equity-centered education
- Develops NACE competencies: Critical Thinking, Communication, Technology
- Reinforces Uniquely Human Capacities: mindfulness, metacognition, ethical judgment

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## 🧰 Developer Notes

- Update logic in `app.py` following the [CAT Technical Specification v3](#)
- Rebuild automatically triggers upon commit
- Add or update dependencies in `requirements.txt`

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## 🪴 Acknowledgments

Based on _Instructors as Innovators_ (Mollick & Mollick, 2024) and  
designed collaboratively with **BMCC Business Management Department** and **DecisionFish / Fifth Avenue Committee**.

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© 2025 Brett Whysel. Licensed under MIT.