AI has gained its momentum and is here to stay. It’s set to positively impact virtually every modern day industry, and students are interested. Although it’s never advised to exclusively use AI to do work for you, it can be used ethically to assist students with their work, and improve their understanding of more complex topics.
Learn how the correct and ethical use of AI can enhance your studies. Also keep in mind that AI use is permitted on a case-by-case basis, and that it is important to discuss any AI-related policies with your professor or teacher.
How Can Students Use AI Ethically?
There are many correct ways to use AI to assist with your learning. However, we can’t stress enough that AI’s use in schoolwork depends entirely on your school and instructor’s policies. The following suggestions in this article are intended to be used assuming that AI’s use in research has been permitted by your school and/or instructor.
Just as students in the 90s and early 2000s adapted to using the internet in their schoolwork, students today and in future generations will be instructed on the appropriate use of AI.
There are many ways that AI can enhance students’ schoolwork and learning experience when used ethically. It goes far beyond having a robot write an essay (which would likely fall under some category of digital plagiarism).
Listed below are some of the ways in which AI can be used to enhance student learning.
Tutoring and Homework Help
Tutoring systems that are powered by AI can provide personalized learning opportunities and homework assistance. Many of these systems are designed to analyze students’ learning styles, and to assess strengths and weaknesses.
Assistance can be provided with a variety of subject matter. Students who are confused on a specific topic can ask questions, and most often, AI will be able to provide a thorough explanation. If this explanation is still unclear, AI can elaborate.
Many AI tutoring systems will also provide practice tests, progress tracking, and learning schedules to keep students on track to achieve their learning goals.
Research Assistance
If permitted, AI can provide excellent research assistance. Tools like ChatGPT, while unable to directly deliver links, can provide support to expedite your research process.
For instance, AI software like ChatGPT can offer keyword suggestions and related topics to search. If you are assigned an essay about the Cold War for example, ChatGPT can give you related keywords to consolidate your search results upon visiting your preferred search engine. These could be ‘Cold War tensions’, ‘Cold War timeline’, ‘Cold War events’, etc.
It can also make suggestions as to what academic search engines you may be able to use. Many online databases exist solely to help students find credible academic sources. Various AI-powered software can also suggest books and other relevant print materials.
Accessibility Services
AI capabilities are also expected to increase accessibility in schools. Whether it’s for disabled students, or students who speak English as a second language, AI’s algorithms powered by natural language processing (NLP) bridge gaps in communication across the board.
Tools like speech-to-text/text-to-speech can benefit students who have hearing, visual, or processing impairments. In addition, this NLP can facilitate translation services for students who are still navigating English as a second language. Also, AI is expected to make online classes more accessible to disabled and chronically ill students.
By integrating AI services with live recorded lectures, students who require more assistance can better maintain a cohesive school experience and avoid falling behind on coursework.
Virtual Labs and Simulations
AI can also facilitate hands-on learning through virtual labs and simulations. Just as labs in schools provide a controlled space for students to explore theories and concepts, virtual labs can also enhance students’ learning experiences.
Many virtual labs incorporate feedback and assessment tools to aid student performance and progress throughout the ‘lab’. Real-time feedback can better guide students throughout these virtual labs and can help personalize student learning. Further, these immersive labs can incorporate interactive simulations and animations to help break down stages of the experiment, and provide any clarifications that are needed.
Overall, AI-powered labs and simulations offer a more dynamic and engaging learning environment for students to explore and experiment with concepts that are being taught in class. This technology may also allow for students to get caught up on any unfinished or missed lab work at home.
Career Guidance
AI can help students who are in need of career guidance by analyzing students’ skills, interests, goals, etc. AI and AI-powered systems can personalize career guidance to support students as they navigate their way toward the working world.
Students can take advantage of career-exploration tools to form a more comprehensive idea of what a specific job or industry can entail. With access to databases of career profiles, job descriptions, industry trends, along with salary information, AI offers students in-depth career exploration services. Certain algorithms can also match students with specific jobs depending on their reported interests and strengths.
Whether a student is in need of more in-depth information about a specific job, or simply wants to explore a variety of potential industries, AI can help. There also are going to be careers based in AI. If you are someone who is interested in computers, technology, and web development, a career in AI may be right for you.
Why Should I Follow My School’s Policies on AI?
Aside from academic integrity and better supporting your learning, it is important for students to adhere to school policies on AI. Unauthorized assistance using AI can result in severe penalties, depending on your school’s/instructor’s rules. There are ways to detect AI-generated content.
For instance, some tools can leave identifiable marks on their generated content, making it easy for AI-detection software to flag plagiarized work. In other cases, plagiarism detection software can identify similarities between your paper and existing materials on the internet. The consequences for plagiarism – especially in a university setting – are not worth the risk.
If you are having difficulty with a particular assignment, we encourage you to meet with your instructor during his or her office hours. Getting your teacher’s guidance is the best approach to improving your grades.
How Can I Use AI Effectively?
There are an array of ways in which AI can be used to help students. It opens doors to improved accessibility, personalized learning features, career exploration, and more. Students can use it to enhance their learning and abilities – and to spark ideas.
While AI should never be used in a way not permitted by your school policies, it can definitely improve your learning. And if learning is your goal, find a college or university near you.
