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Agent or Workflow Sorter

Run the Agent or Workflow Sorter MicroSim Fullscreen

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Description

Sort eight described systems into four classes: ordinary program, chatbot, workflow or agent. The deciding question is who chooses the next step, the code or the model, and whether there are tools. Used in Chapter 15.

Explore mode lists the four classes, each with the fact that separates it from the others. The quiz then shows eight systems in a fixed order. You choose a class in the menu, press Check, and read why the answer is what it is.

Lesson Plan

Grade level: Middle school and up (age 12+). Time: 5 to 10 minutes.

  1. Read the four classes. In Explore mode, say in your own words what separates a workflow from an agent.
  2. Sort. Press Start. For each system, find the sentence that says who decides the next step, choose a class and press Check. You get one try for each system.
  3. Read the reason. The feedback names the correct class and gives the reason. Mastery is 7 of 8.
  4. Think about it. The same language model can sit inside a workflow or an agent. Why does the difference matter for a robot arm?

A common mistake is to call every program that uses a language model an agent. It is an agent only when the model chooses the steps and the tools.

Specification

The learning objective, evidence of mastery and content for this MicroSim are specified in Chapter 15: AI Agents, Tools, and OpenClaw Skills.