AI tools: 7 effective ways to enhance studying

Can students use AI tools in studying?

Yes, they can! These tools not only boost productivity but also create a more engaging and enjoyable study experience, while significantly reducing the time spent on research and repetitive tasks. However, it’s important for students to follow essential guidelines to ensure they use these tools responsibly and not to rely on it to do the work for them.

AI tools can be used for studying in a variety of ways, including:

1. Preparing for exams: These tools can create practice quizzes and flashcards. Flashcards are great for revising because they train your brain to find information you have learned by actively trying to remember the meaning of the term. This process helps move from short-term to long-term memory. Example: Quizizz, Quizlet and Kahoot!
2. Learning new topics: These tools can help you quickly learn about a new subject or topic by providing tailored explanations and summarizing key concepts. Example: Eightify is an AI-powered tool that designed to help users quickly grasp key insights from videos, particularly long-form content. It generates concise, high-quality summaries, allowing you to understand the main points without having to watch the entire video. It is especially useful for educational videos, lectures, tutorials, and even TED Talks, where getting a quick overview can save time.
3. Improving language skills: These tools can tutor you and help improve your language skills. They can offer exercises, pronunciation practice, and real-time feedback on writing and speaking skills. These tools can also help you become bilingual, which not only improves cognitive abilities but also boosts self-esteem by enabling communication in diverse environments. Example: Duolingo and Babbel.
4. Creating study guides (Perfect for lecturers too !) : These tools can help you create study guides. Example: Kahoot! is a game-based AI learning platform that lets lecturers create fun and interactive quizzes or study guides to make learning more engaging. Notion’s AI features assist with summarizing notes, organizing content, and creating structured study guides tailored to your subjects.
5. Time management and organization: These tools can help you organize your study schedule, set reminders, and manage tasks with structured technique like the Pomodoro method. This technique help students improve their focus and productivity by breaking tasks into smaller, and more manageable intervals. Example: Todoist is ranked as “the best to-do list right now” and used by 25 million people to organize, plan and collaborate on projects.
6. Writing assistance: These tools like Grammarly and ProWritingAid can help identify mistakes in writing that might be difficult to spot. These tools useful for improving academic writing, maintain originality while improving content quality.
7. AI growth and motivation coach:  These tools able to break larger tasks into smaller, manageable steps, and offer word of encouragement at each step. Example: Habitica is a habit-building app that turns your to-do list into a game, where you earn rewards and level up by completing tasks, making studying more fun and motivating. Todoist is a task manager that helps you break down goals into manageable tasks and set reminders. The app provides encouraging notifications to help you stay on track.

However, it’s essential for students to use AI tools responsibly. Instead of relying solely on AI for answers, students should use these tools as aids to reinforce understanding and encourage deeper learning. By incorporating AI into their study routines, students can enhance their productivity, grasp challenging topics more effectively, and stay organized, all while maintaining academic integrity.

In conclusion, AI tools can be highly effective in enhancing productivity, improving time management, and providing personalized support for students. However, it’s essential to use these tools responsibly to ensure academic integrity. Balancing AI assistance with active learning practices can help students make the most of these technologies while achieving their academic goals.

References:

Expert help guides: Artificial Intelligence (AI): Generative AI as a study tool. (n.d.). https://latrobe.libguides.com/artificial-intelligence/study-tool

The European Education Directory (Ed.). (n.d.). How to Use AI Tools for Studying (Not Cheating). How to use AI tools for studying (not cheating). https://www.euroeducation.net/articles/how-to-use-ai-tools-for-studying.htm