Instructor Lab Agent

AI-powered course material generator for educators.

Created by Ashley Reddick | Ranken Technical College, Information Technology Department

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What It Does

Instructor Lab Agent is a VS Code-based tool that uses Claude AI to generate complete, interactive course materials from your existing textbook content and test banks. It produces ready-to-use HTML deliverables that students open in any web browser: no LMS plugins, no hosting, no special software.

You provide your source material. The agent builds everything else.

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What You Need

Requirement	Details
VS Code	Free code editor from Microsoft
Claude Code extension	Available in the VS Code extension marketplace
Claude subscription	Pro or Max plan required (provides the AI that generates content)
Node.js 18+	JavaScript runtime used by the build scripts
Python 3.6+	Used for attendance forms and Jenzabar LMS export

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Quick Start

1. Clone the repo:

   git clone https://github.com/arreddick/instructor-lab-agent.git
   

2. Open in VS Code:

   code instructor-lab-agent
   

3. Run the setup wizard in the VS Code terminal:

   node scripts/setup-wizard.js
   

4. Open the Claude Code panel and type /build

The setup wizard creates your folder structure, validates your environment, and walks you through adding your first course. After that, the /build command is your starting point for generating any deliverable.

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What It Builds

Deliverable	Description
Study Guide	Multi-phase interactive HTML study guide with practice-based questions, deep dives, key terms, and exam tips
Mind Map	Expandable D3.js interactive mind map with detail panels, exam question coverage, and zoom/pan navigation
Lab Packet	Step-by-step hands-on lab with real commands, expected outputs, screenshot capture boxes, and troubleshooting sections
Hands-On Test (HOT)	Timed practical exam with screenshot submission, a "Help Me" reference panel, and a built-in grading rubric
Grading Rubric (HOTs)	Scoring rubric with a live JavaScript calculator using your institution's grading scale
Grading Rubric (Labs)	Same rubric format tailored to lab grading criteria
Answer Sheet (HOTs)	Instructor answer key for hands-on tests
Answer Sheet (Labs)	Instructor answer key for lab packets
Troubleshooting Guide (HOTs)	Instructor reference for common student issues during hands-on tests
Troubleshooting Guide (Labs)	Instructor reference for common student issues during labs
Module Outline	Structured outline of a module's topics and objectives
Syllabus	Full course syllabus document
Attendance Consultation Forms	Filled PDF forms generated from a Jenzabar attendance export spreadsheet
Jenzabar LMS Import	Converts markdown exam files into Jenzabar/Blackboard-compatible cartridge zip files

All deliverables are self-contained HTML files. No internet connection is required to use them in the classroom.

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Available Commands

Type these in the Claude Code panel inside VS Code.

Command	Description
/build	Interactive workflow to generate any deliverable for any class
/batch [class] [module]	Generate all required deliverables for a module at once
/test [file]	Run structural validation on a generated file
/qa [file]	Run AI quality review on a generated file
/status [class]	Show completion status for a class (what is done, what is pending)
/log	Show recent agent actions
/resume	Detect unfinished work and pick up where the last session stopped
/daily-report	Full summary of the day's work: files built, failures, next in queue
/help	Show the complete command reference
/init	Pre-load templates and course configurations into session cache
/final [file]	Move a completed file from under-development to final
/patch [file] [fix]	Apply targeted edits to an existing file
/jenzabar [file]	Convert a markdown exam file to a Jenzabar LMS cartridge
/attendance [xlsx]	Generate attendance consultation forms from a Jenzabar export
/usage	Show API usage statistics
/show_agent_skills	Display all available agent skills with descriptions

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How It Works

1. Add your content. Place your textbook files (PDF, DOCX, TXT, or MD) and test bank files into the appropriate course folders.

2. Run the converter. The setup wizard handles this initially. For new files added later, run node scripts/convert-refs.js to prepare them for the generator.

3. Build. Type /build and follow the prompts. Choose what to build, choose the class, answer a few questions about the module and topic. The agent generates a complete, interactive HTML file.

4. Review. Open the generated file in a browser to check the content. Use /test for structural validation and /qa for an AI quality review.

5. Finalize. When you are satisfied, type /final [filename] to move the file from the working folder to the final output folder.

The agent reads your source materials, cross-references test bank content to ensure exam coverage, and produces deliverables that follow a consistent design system with your institution's branding.

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Supported Input Formats

Format	Use For
PDF	Textbook chapters, reference materials
DOCX	Textbook chapters, episode transcripts, test banks
TXT	Plain text content, converted reference files
MD	Exam questions (for Jenzabar LMS export), notes

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Folder Structure

instructor-lab-agent/
  classes/              Course folders (one per class)
    [CLASS]/
      TextBookFiles/    Your textbook content goes here
      TestBankFiles/    Your test bank files go here
      output/           Generated deliverables
        MindMaps/
        StudyGuides/
        LabPackets/
        HandsOnTests/
        InstructorOnly/
  courses/              Course configuration JSON files
  context/              Reference files (syllabus rules, verified resources)
  templates/            HTML templates used by the generator
  design-system/        Design tokens and schema files
  scripts/              All build, test, and utility scripts
  workflows/            Task queue, session logs, test results
  assets/               Static assets (logos, form templates)
  attendance/           Generated attendance consultation forms

Each class folder under classes/ contains the same structure. New classes are created automatically when you use /build and select "Other," or by running node scripts/new-class.js "Class Name".

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License

MIT License. See LICENSE for details.

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Credits

Created by Ashley Reddick Ranken Technical College, Information Technology Department YouTube: Ashley's IT Lab -- "From Curious to Certified"

For questions, issues, or contributions, visit the GitHub repository.