AI for Enhanced Study Habits

The Art of Using Artificial Intelligence for Schoolwork

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Some days it seems like technology is advancing faster than we can keep up with and every day we’re introduced to new gadgets we didn’t even know we needed – I mean, who even thought of a smart toaster? Artificial Intelligence (AI) is constantly growing and evolving and learning more each day, so it’s no surprise that students are turning to AI to help with schoolwork and studying. For the modern student, with software like ChatGPT and the way we tend to spread ourselves too thin from the moment we wake up to the moment we go to bed – it seems only natural that students would explore the possibility of using AI to write papers, offer answers to homework, and even replace the need for critical thinking. In this digital dreamland we live in, there must be a catch, right? Let’s look first at the pro’s of using AI for schoolwork:

1. Efficiency (or Laziness?): Why break a sweat researching when AI can do it for you? Get back to binge-watching cat videos while your AI minion compiles your bibliography, helps you cite studies, provides you with an outline, thesis statement, topic sentence, or just give you a swift kick in the mental butt to get going.

2. Personalization (or Ego Boost?): AI caters to your ego like a butler in a five-star hotel. It tells you that you're unique and that the world revolves around your learning style. If you can handle the learning curve of how to properly prompt AI, you can even get it to sound like you (in your writing, silly).

3. 24/7 Availability (or Sleep Deprivation?): AI doesn't need sleep, but you do! All those late nights watching Monday Night Football only to suddenly realize you have a paper due at midnight, then quickly cramming and writing something half-measures – no need for this stress anymore! School library or resource center closed? Who cares! AI will tell you what articles contain the information you need to complete your assignments. Say goodbye to those pesky circadian rhythms as you study 'round the clock, fueled by AI-induced insomnia.

4. Feedback and Assessment (or Instant Gratification?): Get ready for the ego rollercoaster. AI applauds your brilliance or shatters your dreams with its brutally honest assessments, all in seconds. Next time you need someone to proofread a paper but your roommates are all too busy with their own work - ask one of the AI software applications! They can even give you suggestions on how to make the paper better!

5. Instant Bibliography (or Plagiarism Paradise?): Say goodbye to those pesky citation guidelines. AI can generate a perfect bibliography faster than you can say, "APA format."

6. Endless Patience (or Human-Free Tutoring?): AI won't roll its eyes when you ask the same question for the tenth time. It's like having an eternally patient tutor who doesn't mind your endless confusion. It can give you shallow and in-depth answers - whatever you need to help you to understand the concept you’re trying to learn.

7. Multitasking Mastery (or Juggling Genius?): AI can handle multiple tasks simultaneously. So while it's writing your essay, you can conquer your TikTok dance challenge and plan your next vacation.
   

AI, when used properly and prompted correctly can be a great tool for inspiration, suggestions, feedback, efficiency, and the key for pushing your paper from a B to an A+. Now for the drawbacks… Cons of Using AI for Schoolwork:

1. Overreliance (or Brain Drain?): Beware! Relying too much on AI might turn you into a helpless human calculator incapable of solving 2+2 without its help. There’s a lot of research currently being conducted on the long-term effects of overuse of AI in place of actual critical thinking.

2. Privacy Concerns (or Digital Stalking?): Your AI tools know your study habits better than your own mother. Is it just here to help, or is it planning your life for you? AI systems rely on large amounts of personal data to learn and make predictions - this can be concerning for our privacy (check out this article by the Economic Times).

3. Cost (or Budget Black Hole?): As your bank account weeps, you may wonder if you're investing in education or simply funding the AI revolution. Using AI for schoolwork won’t be worth it if you end up expelled, especially if you’re tens of thousands of dollars into a college degree, or lose that scholarship you’re relying on.

4. Technical Issues (or The Revenge of Murphy's Law?): Just when you thought AI was your ally, it decides to crash right before your deadline. Is it a conspiracy? Your professor and the due dates they set don’t care about servers being overloaded, or if the robot you asked to help you with your homework gives you the wrong answer. Similar to the “dog ate my homework” excuse, it won’t fly.

So, let’s look at some practical tips for how to use AI properly without pissing off your professor, being accused of plagiarism or cheating, and employing our mental faculties when using AI to enhance study habits and help with schoolwork. Tips for Using AI to Enhance Study Habits:

• Use AI Sparingly (or The Apocalypse Awaits): Remember, AI's ultimate goal is world domination. Don't let it take over your study sessions entirely. What we’re really trying to say is, no matter how smart Artificial Intelligence may get, it’s still just that - artificial. It’s important to learn material and use AI as a resource, rather than a co-dependent relationship. Critical thinking is a skill that we use in various areas of life and overuse of AI has been linked to reduced critical thinking skills in teenagers and adolescents.

• Set AI Boundaries (or Maintain Human Dominance): Humans are the masters, AI the minions. Remind your AI who's boss with scheduled breaks for tea (or oil, for AI). Certain programs like ChatGPT come with “rules” you can set for the responses that the AI provides you with - this will help to make the most of the software.

• Evaluate Tools with Skepticism (or Trust No Algorithm): AI might be great, but can it make you a cup of tea? Prioritize life skills, just in case. Make sure you’re still working to learn the material you need to learn in order to practically apply it in your field of study or work - just because AI can tell you HOW to parallel park doesn’t mean it will do it for you (unless you have one of those nifty cars that does do that, and even then, technology does fail us at times).

• Privacy Paranoia (or Cover Your Webcam): AI might be watching you, so cover your webcam, speak in code, and wear a tinfoil hat for good measure. Just kidding - kind of - there are some reports of certain AI programs collecting, processing, and analyzing personal information without knowledge or consent, so be wary of which software you choose to trust and find out what you can about a website’s cybersecurity before using it.

• Growth Mindset (or Pretend to Try): While AI is learning at warp speed, humans can maintain a growth mindset by pretending to grow while sipping on that tea mentioned earlier.

• Stay Informed (or Embrace Your Robot Overlords): Keep an eye on AI developments, so when the robot apocalypse happens, you can at least say, "I knew this was coming." On a serious note, AI can be very useful if manipulated properly, so pay attention to news updates and articles that offer tools and tips on how to make the most of the software available.

• Proofreading (or Avoid AI-induced Gobbledygook): AI can be a fantastic aid, but it's not infallible. Always proofread your work to catch any errors, awkward sentences, or AI-induced gobbledygook that might have slipped through the cracks. Some Professors have even noticed that the information provided to students by AI when asked a question about a particular topic isn’t always accurate, so make sure you fact check what you find and proofread when asking AI to help you clean up your writing. After all, it's your human touch that gives your work its unique flair and coherence. So, put your human skills to good use and polish your assignments to perfection!

AI can be your study sidekick, but remember, it's not all smooth sailing in this digital wonderland. Embrace the absurdity, wield AI with caution, and keep your sense of humor intact as you navigate the eccentric world of AI-enhanced studying. Who knows, your AI might even help you find some humor in your textbooks. And please – for the love of God – proofread what our dear robot friends write for you, even if our smarty-pants software seems more intelligent than us, even the best Artificial Intelligence can have bugs (turns out they’re just a tad human, or, at least their programmers are).

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