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Rate Limits

Rate limits control how many messages students can send to Iris within a given time window. They help ensure fair access across all students and manage computational resources.

Why Rate Limits Exist​

Iris uses language models that require significant computational resources. Without limits, a small number of students could consume a disproportionate share of capacity, degrading the experience for others. Rate limits:

  • Ensure fair access — every student gets a reasonable allocation
  • Manage costs — prevent runaway usage that could strain infrastructure
  • Encourage thoughtful use — students learn to ask focused, well-formulated questions

Configuring Rate Limits​

Rate limits are set per course in the Iris settings on your course overview page. You can configure:

  • Message count — how many messages a student can send (e.g., 20 messages)
  • Time window — the period over which the count applies (e.g., 24 hours)

When a student reaches the limit, they cannot send additional messages until the time window resets.

tip

A limit of 20 messages per 24 hours is a reasonable starting point for most courses. Monitor usage patterns and adjust if students consistently hit the limit during assignment deadlines.

What Students See​

Students see a message counter in the chat header that shows how many messages they have remaining. This transparency helps students manage their usage throughout the day.

When the limit is reached, Iris displays a message explaining that the limit has been exceeded and when it will reset.

Balancing Access and Resources​

Too Restrictive​

If limits are too low, students may:

  • Feel frustrated when they run out of messages mid-problem
  • Avoid using Iris altogether to "save" messages for later
  • Resort to external tools like ChatGPT, losing the pedagogical benefits of Iris's scaffolding approach

Too Generous​

If limits are too high (or absent), you risk:

  • Excessive resource consumption
  • Students relying on Iris instead of thinking independently
  • Uneven distribution of resources across the course

Adjusting During the Semester​

Consider temporarily increasing limits during:

  • Assignment deadlines — students need more help as submissions approach
  • Exam preparation periods — increased study activity leads to more questions
  • New topic introductions — students ask more questions when encountering unfamiliar material
warning

Changing rate limits takes effect immediately for all students in the course. There is no per-student override — the limit applies uniformly.

Next Steps​

  • Enabling Iris — configure which features are active
  • Variants — choose the right model configuration for your course