🤝 Network Lead Guide

Master the Student Configuration System

What is the Student Config System?

Each student gets a personalized version of Academic Allies. As a Network Lead, you customize the app to match your student's unique needs, disabilities, and learning style. You can rename modes, adjust spoon budgets, customize meals, create study quizzes, add comfort messages, and configure alerts — all without writing any code. The configuration system puts you in control of creating a truly accessible experience for each student.

Getting Started

To customize your student's Academic Allies experience, follow these steps:

  1. Sign in as a Network Lead — Use your Google account to sign into Academic Allies.
  2. Go to Support Dashboard — From the home page, click "Support Dashboard" in the navigation.
  3. Select your student — Click on the student's name to enter mirror mode (their personalized view).
  4. Click "Customize Student" — In the navigation, you'll see a "⚙️ Student Configuration" link.
  5. Use tabs to customize or the AI Assistant — Choose tabs (Modes, Spoon Plan, Meals, etc.) or paste your student's needs into the AI Assistant for automatic generation.

Using Your Own AI

The AI Assistant tab in the config editor lets you use your preferred AI (Claude, ChatGPT, Perplexity, etc.) to generate configurations. You don't need an API key — you paste text between the tool and your AI of choice.

Step-by-Step AI Workflow

  1. Describe your student's needs — In the "Your Student's Needs & Background" box, write a few sentences about your student. Example: "My student has POTS, migraines, chronic fatigue. Uses mobility aids. School schedule is 8am–2pm. She's an art student with lab work."
  2. Click "Generate AI Prompt" — The tool creates a detailed prompt ready to paste into your AI.
  3. Copy the prompt — Click "📋 Copy to Clipboard" to copy the full prompt.
  4. Paste into your AI — Go to claude.ai, chatgpt.com, or your preferred AI. Paste the prompt and hit Enter.
  5. Copy the AI's response — The AI will generate a JSON configuration. Copy the entire JSON.
  6. Paste JSON back here — Paste the JSON into "AI Response (paste JSON here)" box.
  7. Import or Preview — Click "Preview Changes" to see what will change, or "Import AI Response" to apply it.
💡 Tips for better AI results:
  • Be specific about the student's disabilities, school schedule, and interests
  • Include dietary restrictions, allergies, and sensory needs
  • Mention any custom quizzes or study focus areas
  • If the AI response isn't perfect, edit it before importing

Example Configurations

Start with one of these templates tailored to common scenarios, then customize as needed:

Config Field Reference

Here's every configurable field, what it does, and valid values:

🎛️ Modes Tab

Field What It Does Valid Values / Default
Mode Name Display name for the mode (e.g., "Recovery", "Bad Brain Day") Any text. Default: "Recovery", "Bad Brain Day", etc.
Emoji Icon that appears next to the mode name Any emoji. Default: 💙, 🧠, etc.
Description Tooltip text when hovering over the mode Any text. Default: "Taking it easy", "Low energy", etc.

🥄 Spoon Plan Tab

Field What It Does Valid Values / Default
Base Budget Daily spoon budget on a good day (normal mode) 1–100. Default: 20
Pain Scale Factor How much pain reduces spoon budget (multiplier) 0–5. Default: 1.0
Fatigue Scale Factor How much fatigue reduces spoon budget (multiplier) 0–5. Default: 1.0
Sleep Low Threshold Hours of sleep below which penalties apply 0–12. Default: 6
Sleep Low Penalty Spoon cost for insufficient sleep 0–20. Default: 3
Sleep High Threshold Hours of sleep above which bonuses apply 0–12. Default: 9
Sleep High Bonus Spoon bonus for good sleep 0–10. Default: 2
Daily Tasks List of tasks with emoji, name, spoon cost, description Array of objects. Default: hydration, breaks, rest, etc.

🍽️ Meals Tab

Field What It Does Valid Values / Default
Breakfast Options List of easy breakfast ideas for Recovery mode Array of strings. Default: eggs, toast, yogurt, etc.
Lunch Options List of easy lunch ideas for Recovery mode Array of strings. Default: sandwiches, soups, etc.
Dinner Options List of easy dinner ideas for Recovery mode Array of strings. Default: pasta, rice, etc.
Liquids / Drinks List of drink options (water, juice, tea, etc.) Array of strings. Default: water, tea, etc.
Dietary Notes Any allergies, restrictions, or preferences Any text. Default: empty

📚 Quizzes Tab

Field What It Does Valid Values / Default
Hide Built-in Tools Checkboxes to hide floral study tools not relevant to student Checkboxes. Default: all visible
Custom Quiz Name Display name for your custom quiz Any text
Quiz Type Game type: fill-blank, match, or flashcard "fill-blank" | "match" | "flashcard"
Quiz Description Instructions shown to student Any text
Quiz Terms List of prompt-answer pairs (varies by type) Array of objects with "prompt" and "answer"

💜 Comfort Tab

Field What It Does Valid Values / Default
Scriptures List of inspirational scripture references and text Array of {reference, text}. Default: faith-based scriptures
Comfort Messages Encouraging messages shown during hard modes Array of strings. Default: supportive messages
Breathing Exercise In Seconds to breathe in (breathing exercise timing) 1–10. Default: 4
Breathing Exercise Out Seconds to breathe out (breathing exercise timing) 1–10. Default: 6

⚠️ Alerts Tab

Field What It Does Valid Values / Default
Critical Debt (days) Show red alert when spoon debt exceeds this many days 0–30. Default: 3
Warning Debt (days) Show yellow alert when spoon debt exceeds this many days 0–30. Default: 7
Low Spoon Threshold (%) Show alert when remaining spoons drop below this % of budget 0–100 (step 5). Default: 20

FAQ

❓ Will my changes affect other students?
No. Each student's configuration is separate. Changes you make for Student A will not affect Student B.
❓ What if I mess up the configuration?
No problem! Use the Export button to save a backup of the current config before making big changes. If something breaks, use the Reset to Defaults button to restore Academic Allies to its original state.
❓ Can the student override my configuration?
No. Only Network Leads can edit the configuration. Students see the customized version but cannot change it themselves.
❓ What if my student needs something not in the configuration?
Great question! If you need custom features, you can:
  • Use the AI Assistant to suggest and generate custom features
  • Contact the development team with feature requests
  • Work with a developer to create custom quizzes or features
❓ Do I need to know how to code?
Absolutely not! The visual editor handles everything for you. The AI Assistant generates JSON so you don't have to write code yourself.
❓ How often can I update the configuration?
As often as you need. Update it anytime your student's needs change — during flares, schedule changes, or new semester challenges.
❓ What if the AI assistant generates something I don't like?
You don't have to import it! You can edit the JSON response before importing, or discard it and manually customize instead.
❓ Can I share configurations between students?
Yes! If two students have similar needs, you can:
  • Export the first student's config
  • Go to the second student's config editor
  • Import that JSON in the AI Assistant section
  • Adjust as needed and save

Ready to customize your student's experience?

Go to Student Configuration