# Configuring skills and tools ## 1. Configuring skills and tools [![CUNY AI Lab](../images/cail-wordmark-white.png)](https://ailab.gc.cuny.edu/) Led by Zach Muhlbauer and Meha Gupta New Media Lab · Room 7388.01 CUNY Graduate Center Thursday, October 15, 2026 2:30–4:00 p.m. Eastern [https://cuny-ai-lab.github.io/sandbox-series/skills](https://cuny-ai-lab.github.io/sandbox-series/skills) --- ## 2. Choose Your Own Adventure 1. Continue your saved model, or clone **STEM Adventure Games** in **Workspace → Models → ⋯ → Clone** 2. Open **Workspace → Models → Edit** and review your system prompt’s setting, goals, and rules 3. Keep your model card open to add a skill and a tool ![Workspace Models filtered to STEM Adventure Games, with annotations identifying Workspace in left sidebar and Clone for original model](../images/knowledge-stem-2026-09-28/clone-model.svg) --- ## 3. What Is a Skill? **Skills** contain plain-text instructions for repeatable tasks Trigger Request or condition that starts a procedure Procedure Steps, checks, and points that require a question Output Required response content and form --- ## 4. What Is a Tool? When a model calls a **tool**, it is given the ability to execute a function and return its result, usually through a Python script This is called **tool calling** (aka **function calling**) Input Information passed to a function Execution Code that applies specified rules Result Returned output for a model to inspect --- ## 5. Update Model for Tool Calling ![Model card base-model picker — 1 identifies Base Model; 2 identifies DeepSeek V4 Flash 0731](../images/current/workshop3-deepseek-base-model.svg) --- ## 6. Enable Filter Enable **Model Bound Tool Enabler** on your model card, which binds assigned tools to the model’s operations. ![Model card filter picker with Model Bound Tool Enabler outlined](../images/current/workshop3-model-bound-filter.svg) --- ## 7. Add Your Skill 1. Open **Workspace → Models → Edit → Skills → Select Skill** 2. Choose **Adventure Panel Play** and read its saved instructions 3. Keep your model card open to add **Adventure Panel** ![Skills picker with arrow 1 at Select Skill and arrow 2 at Adventure Panel Play.](../images/current/workshop3-panel-skill-select.svg) --- ## 8. Add the ‘Adventure Panel’ tool 1. Open **Tools → Select Tool** on the same model card 2. Choose **Adventure Panel** and keep **Adventure Panel Play** selected 3. Add the system-prompt instructions on slide 10, then select **Save & Update** ![Tools picker with arrow 1 at Select Tool and arrow 2 at Adventure Panel.](../images/current/workshop3-panel-tool-select.svg) --- ## 9. Model Card Check-In Confirm these selections on your model card 1. **Adventure Panel** tool 2. **Adventure Panel Play** skill 3. **Model Bound Tool Enabler** filter Keep your knowledge collection attached ![Model card with numbered arrows identifying the checked Adventure Panel tool, Adventure Panel Play skill, and Model Bound Tool Enabler filter.](../images/current/workshop3-panel-check-in.svg) --- ## 10. Add Skill Instructions to the Bottom of Your System Prompt ```text Load the attached Adventure Panel Play skill (extend-adventure-games) and follow it on every turn. Use show_scene from the Adventure Panel tool to display each scene and its choices. Follow this system prompt’s setting, goals, rules, and source instructions. ``` --- ## 11. Test Your Adventure 1. Run your updated adventure game 2. Verify configured skill and tool are called appropriately 3. Then play the rest of your game --- ## 12. Observe Game Results 1. Check the **Adventure Panel Play** skill call 2. Check the **Adventure Panel** tool call Open call details to confirm the skill and show_scene function ![User-provided live Clone response with numbered callouts for view_skill and show_scene above rendered ADVENTURES panel](../images/current/workshop3-skill-tool-run.svg) --- ## 13. Explore Other Skills 1. Read **Adventure Outcomes** or **Conclude Adventure Game** after your first adventure works 2. Change one skill and save your model card 3. Run your adventure again and compare results ![Skills picker showing Adventure Panel Play, Adventure Outcomes, and Conclude Adventure Game, with arrows at Select Skill and Conclude Adventure Game.](../images/current/workshop3-panel-other-skills.svg) --- ## 14. Choose Your Task ### Revise One Item 1. Copy complete tool code or skill instructions 2. Describe an observed problem and one change ### Create Your Own 1. Choose a task for your tool or skill 2. Specify its purpose, required input, and expected result [Copy tool code](navigation.html#tool-copy) · [Skill instructions](navigation.html#skill-copy) --- ## 15. Work With Support Prompt CAIL Workspace Support to generate a skill and/or tool that continues to support or further extends your adventure game, adapting an existing skill/tool or making your own. ![Fresh live CAIL Workspace Support interface with model identity, description, composer, and Get started suggestion](../images/current/workshop3-support-live-20261015.svg) --- ## 16. Adapt Your Adventure 1. Give **CAIL Workspace Support** your lesson plan, learning outcome, or disciplinary focus 2. Ask it to adapt or create a skill or tool that extends your adventure toward that outcome --- ## 17. Add Tools or Skills 1. Copy and paste all code for tools or plain text for skills, then save your item 2. On your model card, select your new tool or skill, and signpost it in your system prompt ![Tools Create form with code editor, Access and Save & Create visible; arrows identify relevant steps without changing interface pixels](../images/current/workshop3-arrow-create-tool.svg) --- ## 18. CUNY AI Lab | Coworking Sessions CUNY AI Lab | Coworking Sessions ➳ — reveal links Continue your [Sandbox](../) and [Vibe Coding](https://ailab.gc.cuny.edu/events/#vibe-coding) projects in [coworking sessions](https://ailab.gc.cuny.edu/events/#coworking), with time to build and troubleshoot together. [Workshop materials and guides ➳](https://ailab.gc.cuny.edu/guides/) [Molnár · Quimbot / Creative Clawing](https://creative-clawing.com/artifacts/molnar.html)