With 24/7 availability and no question considered stupid, AI could make a perfect study buddy!
Here are some suggestions for how you could use AI in this way.
AI should be used as a tool to assist learning, not replace it. To maximise the value of AI, you need to refine, fact check and build on any responses generated by AI.
Goblin tools is a collection simple, single-task tools such as Magic To-Do which breaks tasks down into smaller steps and Compiler which can be used to organise notes and ideas into a more structured format.
Note. Image generated using the prompt “Represent AI as a study buddy,” by Deep AI image generator. Deep AI, 2024. https://deepai.org/machine-learning-model/text2img
AI tools could help to streamline workflows, avoid procrastination and help make the most of your time.
Suggested uses could include:
Note. Image generated using the prompt “Using AI to help with time management,” by Deep AI image generator. Deep AI, 2024. https://deepai.org/machine-learning-model/text2img
AI tools can help streamline content creation, enhance creativity, and improve efficiency in academic projects and assignments.
Some suggestions for use could include:
It should be remembered that while AI aids content creation, it should be used responsibly, to ensure originality and academic integrity.
A suite of generative AI tools from Adobe, focused on image creation and editing but also has the capacity for video and audio generation.
AI can be a useful research assistant supporting with identification of relevant sources, summarising research papers, generating research questions and hypotheses and organising/analysing data.
However, you must ensure that you critically evaluate AI generated information for inaccuracies and biases. You should avoid relying solely on AI, adding original thought, analysis and proper citations. Combining AI assistance with traditional research skills will lead to the most effective outcomes.
Note. Image generated using the prompt “University student reading a journal article in a library” by Deep AI image generator. Deep AI, 2024. https://deepai.org/machine-learning-model/text2img
AI tools can make it easier for students to learn effectively and at their own pace. Some suggestions for this include:
Here are some suggestions for using AI to support your revision:
Remember, AI can't do the work for you, but it can help you to maximise your time.
Jungle AI can help create revision materials such as practice questions and quizzes. You can upload lecture slides, PDFs or even a YouTube video.
Note. Image generated using the prompt “exam revision at university” by Deep AI image generator. Deep AI, 2024. https://deepai.org/machine-learning-model/text2img
Here are some suggestions for using AI to enhance your academic writing.
AI can enhance academic writing, but students must ensure their work remains authentic, ethically sound, and free from plagiarism.
Grammarly is a digital writing assistant that provides grammar, spelling, punctuation, style, and tone suggestions which uses AI to enhance writing.
AI can play a supportive role in helping students manage their mental health and stress by providing access to resources, personalised solutions and helpful coping techniques.
Here are some suggestions that may be useful:
By leveraging Ai thoughtfully, students can create healthier study habits and achieve a better work-life balance.
AI is not a replacement for professional help.
You will find our wellbeing pages here.
Student support service 'Helping Hand'
Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot, and others can support students in many areas of their academic life. Here are some of the most useful ways:
Boosting Productivity: Generative AI can help with idea generation and brainstorming topics. It can create personalised study aids to help focus your study. It can help plan study sessions and prioritise tasks.
Explaining Difficult Concepts: AI can break down complex ideas into simpler terms, provide step-by-step explanations, or suggest alternative ways to approach a topic.
Creating Study Materials: Students can use generative AI to create flashcards, practice quizzes, outlines, or mind maps to help them prepare for exams or organise their notes.
Generative AI tools, such as ChatGPT and Copilot, can be useful for brainstorming a topic at the beginning of the research process. However, you will need to check the accuracy and reliability of any information provided.
Tools such as Connected Papers, Research Rabbit and Lit Maps can be useful to show connections between research papers, to visualise the literature on the topic and to overcome any limitations caused by having to know key words and synonyms.
Generative AI such as ChatGPT and Copilot can be useful for generating keywords and synonyms to use when searching. They can also be useful for formatting search queries that are appropriate for different databases.
Remember that any results will need scrutiny and refinement.
Note: ChatGPT's training doesn't include PubMed, so it might not always find relevant medical studies during a search.
Semantic Scholar is a search and discovery tool with partnerships with some academic journal publishers.
Connected Papers, Research Rabbit and Consensus can be useful when looking for research papers with similar themes.
AI tools such as Rayyan AI could be useful for the screening process as they provide consistency in interpretation.
Tools such as Elicit can extract data from PDFs into an organised table.
However, it is unable to access full texts behind paywalls, and it is unable to carry out advanced cognitive tasks necessary for comprehending and synthesizing literature.
Whitfield & Hofman. (2023) describe Elicit as 'a supplement to traditional library database searching for advanced searchers.'
Whitfield, S & Hofman, M. (2023). Elicit: AI literature review research assistant. Public Services Quarterly, 19(3), 201 - 207. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15228959.2023.2224125
SCITE AI looks for publications that cite the title of the paper entered into the search and it can tell you if there is any supporting or contrasting evidence.
Research carried out by Qureshi et al.(2023) concluded that while ChatGPT has potential to create summaries from abstracts, which would help when synthesising research, 'there were errors that suggest the technology is not yet ready for such a task.'
Qureshi, R., Shaughnessy, K., Gill, K., Robinson, K., Li, T.,& Agai, E. (2023). Are ChatGPT and large language models "the answer" to bringing us closer to systematic review automation? Systematic Reviews 12, Article 72.https://systematicreviewsjournal.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13643-023-02243-z
The following ethical considerations need to be remembered when using any AI tool:
Robust and Secure
Fair
AI tools can be particularly beneficial for neurodiverse students. Here are some suggested resources you may like to explore.
Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT can help manage day-to-day tasks as well as personalising content by simplifying, explaining, reformatting and rephrasing texts and providing examples.
Goblin tools is a collection of tools aimed at neurodivergent individuals to support with overwhelming or difficult tasks.
Tools such as Grammarly and Quillbot can be used as writing partners, providing one-to-one assistance when writing.
Voice assistant tools such as Siri and Alexa can help reduce cognitive load by organising information, creating schedules and setting reminders.
Scholarcy provides easy to understand summaries of research articles, reports and documents.
Personal reflections on the benefits of using AI from neurodivergent student Nalina Brahim-Said
Nalina Brahim-Said, a master’s student at the University of Bolton, shares their perspective of the benefits of AI as a neurodivergent student. They describe how AI has helped them to process and understand complex information, to structure their thoughts and to produce flowing written work. They even go so far as to say that AI has been invaluable in their academic journey.
Brahim-Said, N. (2024, January 9). AI: Empowering Inclusive Education. JISC. https://nationalcentreforai.jiscinvolve.org/wp/2024/01/09/ai-empowering-inclusive-education/