Asking Your First Question

Discover how to input natural language queries to extract meaningful insights from your data.

Welcome to the core of Doowii’s powerful analytics platform! Asking your first question is easy and straightforward, and the more questions you ask the better you understand how to get valuable insights that can elevate your work.

How to Ask a Question

You can start a new question thread in two ways:

1. Ask a question from the home page:

   • Navigate to the Home Page

   • Click on the central dialogue box that says “Message Doowii”

   • Type your question in natural language

   • Press Enter or click the Submit button

   • A new page will open with your results; most results are generated in 10-15 seconds, but may take longer depending on the question complexity and quantity of data being retrieved

2. Select a Suggested Question:

   • Below the dialogue box, you’ll find a list of generated data questions, relevant to your account and the available data

   • Click on a question to immediately submit the question, or refresh for more suggestions

Tips for Asking Effective Questions

1. Ask Specific Questions

   • Be precise about what you want to know.

   • Example: Instead of “How are students doing?”, ask “What is the current average score for Algebra students this semester?”

2. Understand the Available Data

   • Familiarize yourself with the data sources integrated into Doowii. Knowing what data is available helps you ask relevant questions and drill down into the details.

3. Include Filtering Details

   • Specify filters like class, course, instructor, year, etc.

   • Example: Instead of “How many are enrolled?”, ask “How many are enrolled in chemistry next semester?”

4. Use Clear and Concise Language

   • Keep your questions straightforward. Clarify any potentially ambiguous terms or metrics where needed.

   • Doowii’s knowledge graph is updated to your institution as your team submits questions; clarifying key terms helps ensure accuracy and consistency.

5. Ask One Question at a Time

   • To improve accuracy and response times, avoid compound or run-on sentences with multiple sub-questions. Break down complex questions into separate ones.

6. Utilize Comparative Phrases

   • Phrases like “compare,” “trend,” or “change over time” can yield insightful results.

   • Example: “Compare this semester’s enrollment numbers to last semester’s.”

7. Experiment and Explore

   • Don’t hesitate to rephrase questions if you don’t get the desired result.

   • Explore different aspects of your data to uncover hidden insights.