Tools
The Tools tile in the AI settings area lets you configure which tools and integrations are available per AI provider. This determines which extra capabilities the AI can use in a conversation, such as web search, image generation, calculations, route planning, or saving information.
The tabs on this page follow the providers that are available in the model settings. If a provider is disabled there, the matching tool tab is not shown for the environment.
Page Structure
The page is divided into tabs per provider:
| Tab | Meaning |
|---|---|
| OpenAI | Tool settings for OpenAI models |
| Claude | Tool settings for Claude models |
| Google (Gemini) | Tool settings for Gemini models |
| European AI | Tool settings for European models such as Mistral |
| MCP | Manage MCP servers that are available for the entire environment |
Depending on the provider, each tab lets you manage:
- MCP connectors (OpenAI only)
- Native tools (built-in provider tools)
- Universal tools (AI-School tools)
On the MCP tab, you manage MCP servers at environment level. These are separate from the provider-specific tool settings.
The explanation for an individual tool is available through the information button next to the tool name. This keeps the page compact while still giving administrators extra context per tool.
MCP Connectors
MCP connectors (Model Context Protocol) make it possible to connect the AI to external services. These connectors are available through OpenAI.
For each connector, you decide whether it is available for the environment. Individual users can then activate their own connection through their profile settings, as long as the connector is visible for the environment.
Examples of available MCP connectors:
- Google Calendar
- Gmail
- Google Drive
- Microsoft Teams
- Outlook Calendar
- Outlook Mail
MCP connectors only work with OpenAI models. If OpenAI is disabled as a provider, these connectors are not available to users.
Environment MCP servers
On the MCP tab, you can add MCP servers that are available to the entire environment. This uses the same form as personal MCP connections.
An MCP server configured here appears on the dashboard under Tools for users who are allowed to see MCP connections. They see these environment servers alongside their own personal MCP servers and can start a chat with them directly.
Users cannot edit or delete environment servers themselves. These servers are managed centrally via Admin area → AI settings → Tools → MCP.
Environment servers are only visible to users who have access to MCP connections. This access is determined by the environment limits and any individual settings for employees or students.
Native Tools
Native tools are built-in tools from the provider itself. They are not executed by AI-School, but are offered by the provider together with the model.
| Tool | Provider | Description |
|---|---|---|
| OpenAI Web Search | OpenAI | Searches current information using OpenAI built-in web search |
| OpenAI Code Interpreter | OpenAI | Runs Python code for data analysis, calculations, and visualisations |
| Claude Web Search | Claude | Searches current information using Claude's built-in search |
| Claude Web Fetch | Claude | Retrieves content from web pages and PDF documents |
| Claude Code Execution | Claude | Runs Bash and Python code in a secure sandbox |
| Gemini Google Search | Searches current information using Gemini's built-in Google Search | |
| Gemini Code Execution | Runs code for calculations and data analysis | |
| Gemini URL Context | Retrieves content from URLs for additional context | |
| Gemini Google Maps | Uses Google Maps for location information, routes, and places |
Google native tools are exclusive. When a Google native tool is used, universal tools for that Google context are disabled to prevent conflicts between similar tools.
Code execution tools, such as OpenAI Code Interpreter, Claude Code Execution, and Gemini Code Execution, are disabled by default. Enable them deliberately when code execution, calculations, data analysis, or file editing are needed.
Universal Tools
Universal tools are available for providers where they technically fit and are offered by AI-School itself. For each provider, choose what should happen per tool.
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
| Generate image | Generates images from a text description |
| Generate practice questions | Automatically creates quiz or practice questions about a text or topic |
| Internet search | Searches the internet for current information |
| Search images | Searches the internet for images based on a query |
| Get weather | Retrieves the current weather forecast for a location |
| Detect AI content | Analyses whether a text may have been generated by AI |
| Search Wikipedia | Searches Wikipedia for encyclopaedic information |
| Google Routes | Plans routes and calculates travel times |
| Google Places | Finds information about locations and businesses |
| Wolfram Alpha | Performs complex calculations and scientific analyses |
| Wikiwijs lessons | Searches Wikiwijs for educational teaching materials |
| SLO learning goals | Searches the Dutch curriculum for attainment targets and subject cores |
| Recording | Saves important information as an editable note attached to the chat |
Setting per tool
For each tool, choose one of four values:
| Setting | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Automatic | The AI decides whether the tool is useful for the question |
| On | The tool is always enabled in the relevant context |
| Off | The tool is disabled and cannot be used |
| Hidden | The tool disappears completely from the user interface and from personal preferences |
Automatic is the recommended choice in most cases. Choose On only when a tool is almost always needed in that context.
Users can only set personal exceptions for visible tools in their preferences. They cannot override the environment setting for tools set to Hidden.
Restore and Save
Use Restore defaults to reset a provider's tool settings to the AI-School defaults. Changes are saved with the Save button in the app toolbar.
See Also
- System prompts - guide AI behaviour with system instructions
- Models - configure available providers and models
- Tools and integrations (user guide) - explanation of tools from a user perspective
