July 28, 2026
How to Use Lessons on StudyInk
A practical walkthrough of the StudyInk lesson workspace, covering notes, video, the Desmos calculator, scratchpad, AI grading, and the lesson summary.
The short answer: open a lesson at /lessons/[id] to see its notes and video on the left and a practice panel on the right. Work through the questions, grade multiple choice instantly, let the AI grade free response, and open the summary when you finish. The workspace also has a calculator, a scratchpad, and a chat with the AI tutor.
This walkthrough covers each part of the screen so you can use the whole workspace instead of just reading the notes.
Lessons at a Glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| How do I open a lesson? | Via /lessons/[id], or from a track, tutor, or calendar link. |
| What is on the left? | Study Notes and Video Lecture tabs, plus objective and key concepts. |
| What is on the right? | A practice panel with one question at a time. |
| How are free responses graded? | By the AI grader for a small Inkies cost, or you compare to the answer yourself. |
| What closes a lesson? | The overview dialog, where you can mark it complete. |
The Lesson Header
At the top of a lesson you will find a close button that returns you to /resources. If you own the lesson, an edit button opens a small modal where you can paste a YouTube URL and choose to regenerate the lesson with AI. A share button copies the lesson link to your clipboard. Owners also see a delete button with a confirm step.
Notes and Video Tabs
The left side has two tabs. Study Notes shows the lesson objective, a list of key concepts, the lecture notes, and, when a document is attached, a download button. Video Lecture shows the lesson video, either a YouTube embed with a "Watch on YouTube" link or an uploaded video file. The tab only appears if the lesson has video content.
Built In Study Tools
A row of buttons controls the workspace tools:
- Calc opens a draggable Desmos graphing calculator window you can move and resize.
- Scratchpad opens a drawing surface with a pencil, an eraser, a clear button, color choices, and a math check toggle.
- Math Check highlights math answers.
- Consult Inky opens a chat panel where the AI tutor sees the current lesson and question context.
These tools sit beside the tabs so you can keep them open while you practice.
The Practice Panel
The right side is the practice area. It shows one question at a time with a skill label and a question number. For a multiple choice question, tap an option and press Confirm. The selected answer locks and the correct one is revealed if you were wrong. For a free response question, you type into a box, or use the numeric pad when the answer is a short math value.
Free response has two modes, chosen with a toggle:
- Auto grade sends your answer to the AI grader. This costs a small amount of Inkies, shown on the button. The grader returns correct, partially correct, or incorrect with feedback.
- Compare myself shows the expected answer so you can judge your own work without spending Inkies.
A bottom bar shows your question position, a running study timer you can hide, a retry button to clear the current answer, and the Confirm or Next button. Small dots let you jump between questions, and each dot is colored by your result.
The Lesson Summary
When you reach the end, open the overview dialog. It shows counts of correct, partial, incorrect, and skipped questions, then a list with your answer and the correct answer for each. An AI diagnostic paragraph sums up your performance. From there you can mark the lesson complete, which advances you to the next lesson if one follows.
Why Practicing Inside the Lesson Matters
The practice panel is not a decoration. Retrieval practice, answering questions rather than rereading, is one of the most reliable ways to build memory Dunlosky, "Strengthening the Student Toolbox". The lesson structure bakes that into the workflow: you read the note, then immediately produce answers against it. Using the summary to review misses turns the session into a feedback loop instead of a reading task.
Common Mistakes
- Forgetting the AI grading cost on free response. Switch to "Compare myself" if you want to practice without spending Inkies.
- Leaving the scratchpad drawing behind. Toggling it off keeps your sketch, so clear it when you are done.
- Skipping the overview. The diagnostic is the fastest way to see which questions need another pass.
- Reading the notes and never opening the practice panel. You get the least from a lesson you only read.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get into a lesson?
Open /lessons/[id] directly, or follow a link from a study track, a tutor profile, or the calendar.
What does the AI grader cost?
Free response auto grading spends a small Inkies amount per check. The exact cost is shown on the auto grade button.
Can I practice math with a calculator?
Yes. The Calc button opens a Desmos graphing calculator you can drag and resize over the lesson.
What is the study timer for?
It tracks elapsed time on the lesson. You can hide it with the eye toggle if you prefer a clean view.
How do I finish a lesson?
Answer the questions, then open the overview dialog and choose mark complete.
Can I share a lesson?
If you are the owner, the share button copies a link. Owners can also edit the video or delete the lesson.
About the author
Michael R. is a study skills coach with 12 years of experience and a learning specialist. He helps students develop effective study strategies and organizational systems.