College can be a rewarding experience for many. New freedom, specialized classes and living among friends seems like the ideal goal for many high schoolers, but underneath this is academics. Have you ever found yourself working through a statistics study or biology lab when suddenly you’re stuck on a problem? You may desperately begin searching for the solution to your problem, frustrated that your professors’ office hours don’t fit your schedule. That is when you remember AI and begin prompting it to fit your best interests. AI (Artificial Intelligence) is a great tool if used correctly, but for many college students in the United States, AI is a shortcut that diminishes creativity and original thought.
AI is a great shortcut for many students who may struggle with finding accurate solutions to math problems or the open-ended questions assigned by many professors. However, if students are constantly using AI as a substitute to complete reading assignments and formulating answers based upon them, they’re abusing the resource. AI should be used as a supplement rather than a sole means to an end. Students’ creativity will begin to diminish if they begin using AI to formulate full essays and writing then submit the work as their own.
In order to combat the misuse of AI, it is important to lay out some resourceful ways to use the
platform. Instead of asking Chat GPT to “write a three-page essay based upon this prompt” one can ask AI to list “three possible ideas for writing an essay on this prompt.” Instead of AI doing all of the work, students are able to be stimulated by the ideas of AI. Once a few possible ideas are created, students can formulate their own ideas based upon them and write authentically. AI platforms such as Chat GPT create their ideas from real world sources so using their ideas to create original work is justifiable.
In addition to coming up with ideas, AI is useful for giving background information. Have you ever found yourself stuck on an assigned reading looking for more information? If so, AI is a great resource for getting detailed information on authors of readings and details on specific portions of them, as well. Prompting AI to summarize two or three pages out of a novel chapter is a great way to formulate ideas on areas you’re confused about for class discussion. In addition, AI can help students formulate questions about specific parts of reading from the detailed summaries AI creates. The key to success is to not let AI represent the entirety of the work you submit. AI is a resource rather than a sole means to an end.
There are many people who believe AI must be eliminated entirely in order to restore the once prominent originality in students’ work. To those individuals, it is important to realize how AI is increasing the speed at which people gain access to all information. Although some students may abuse the platform, those who don’t are greatly benefiting from its stimulating ideas and speed. If awareness spreads on the correct way to utilize AI, the abuse of the platform will decrease, and it will become a supplement rather than a substitute for originality.
Programs on the correct ways to use AI would be beneficial in schools as opposed to teachers and professors simply stating that all of AI is bad and that students should avoid it at all costs.
As artificial intelligence continues to become more popular on college campuses, its potential to enhance education, research and campus life is undeniable. However, to acknowledge its benefits properly, institutions must teach students how to appropriately use the platform. By creating a culture of responsible use and ensuring that AI serves as a tool to complement authentic work, colleges can create an environment where students thrive in a tech-enhanced world. Embracing AI thoughtfully will not only prepare students for the future but also empower them to navigate the complexities of an ever-evolving digital landscape.
