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SUNY Erie Library Resource Center

What's up with AI?

A student-oriented primer on generative artificial intelligence.

Wise use of AI

USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE (AI) TOOLS WISELY CAN ELEVATE YOUR COLLEGE GAME

 KEY BENEFITS

  1. Better organization and time management can significantly enhance overall efficiency and productivity. 
  2. By reducing stress, you can achieve a better work-life balance.
  3. Adopting smarter studying techniques promotes improved focus and fosters healthier, more disciplined habits, which ultimately contribute to better long-term information retention.

EFFICIENCY

Using a digital planner app can help you work smarter, not harder. These user-friendly tools allow students to set goals, track progress, and visualize daily tasks. By consolidating all your course plans into one app, you can better manage your time for studying, homework, and exam preparation. Many apps also feature calendar reminders and to-do lists, and they’re accessible across devices with cloud syncing for easy access. 

 

SUMMARIZATION 

AI tools can help manage information overload and improve study efficiency. Using a summarization tool can help you condense complex texts into key summaries, making it easier for students to understand essential concepts. Free AI apps are available that effectively summarize readings; just input passages and request a summary for a helpful studying resource.

 

INQUIRY

AI tools allow you to input specific passages from your readings and ask questions to clarify concepts. You can type your questions or take pictures of the text, and the app will provide helpful explanations and resources. If you're uncertain about a new topic, explore using AI chatbots as a “thought partner” for instant assistance. These tools can enhance your understanding by addressing your questions and clarifying complex ideas, making your learning experience more effective.

 

MEMORIZATION

AI tools can create custom flashcards from your readings, improving memory retention and recall. These tools offer will generate flashcards based on uploaded documents, along with various study modes and games. These features make them popular among students, allowing you to focus on key concepts effectively.

 

TESTING

Use custom "question creation tools" to help you prepare for your exams. These tools use AI to make practice questions that relate to your course materials. This way, you can check your understanding and build your confidence before tests. Many free AI apps can help by generating questions based on your readings. You can use these apps to make flashcards, quizzes, and practice tests that fit your study materials. Simply enter text, or submit PDFs of your study material, and the apps will generate questions and explanations to help you understand better. You can also create your own quizzes from your readings. This is a great way to check your comprehension and engage more with the material. Additionally, you can embed questions in videos to test your understanding as you go. Overall, these apps help you interact with your reading materials in a more hands-on way, ensuring you grasp the content fully.

 

TAKE AWAY: this acronym can help you remember how AI can be used effectively to help you do well in college: Testing, Inquiry, Memorization, Efficiency, Summarization: TIMES