The use of chatbots is substantially growing not only among peers but also among teachers. But can their technology replace our traditional educational system?
As a student myself, I use AI and chatbots to improve the efficiency of my learning. The best part about this modern-day innovation is how much time it saves by summarising textbooks and helping us learn content. Instead of spending hours making notes and trying to understand concepts, chatbots can explain a topic to you in seconds, however you prefer.
Sticking to the classics
Personally, I like to stick with Chat GPT, especially for less practical subjects such as history, law, or French. However, I tend to stay away from it when learning maths or accounting, as it sometimes answers inaccurately or with different methods compared to what I normally apply. The main way I use it is by uploading a picture or file of what I need to study and asking it to make summarised notes, including all the key points.
No more language barriers
One particularly interesting website I’ve come across recently is Podcast.AI, which lets you turn your notes into an educational podcast. Here, you can also choose the language, the voice, and the length of your podcast based on your preferences. This is a website I’d recommend to anyone who understands concepts better when they’re explained by someone else, by voice.
Study smarter, not harder
Did you know that some AI models are specifically made for studying and amplifying your knowledge? A key example would be Studley.AI, one of the most trusted AI study tools used by students from top universities. All you need to do is upload what you need to study, and you can choose from a series of methods that will be prepared for you, like flashcards, tests, tutor lessons, etc. The best part about it is the variety of methods you can choose from, making it more general compared to other artificial intelligences.
There’s also an app called Feynman AI, which is made to help you master the understanding of different topics. This app is based on the Feynman Technique, which involves choosing a topic and explaining it to someone else to memorise and understand it better (learn more about this method in my next blogs). Essentially, Feynman AI scans the content you give it and makes questions based on the subject. Your only job is to answer the question in a simple and understandable manner. After replying, it will grade you based on your answers and offer tips on how to optimise your grade. However, it’s important to clarify that these AI models don’t provide all their services for free, and you may need to get a subscription to have access to additional features.
Obviously, these aren’t the only types of artificial intelligence that can be used for studying, as there are still thousands of other tools that can revolutionise the way we, as humans, process information. The main question is whether or not they are sufficient to replace our current educational system.
Suprise Suprise…
Believe it or not, but even teachers use AI. Even teachers need to get a lot of work done, and chatbots are the best way to make a quick lesson plan or even to detect plagiarism. Some schools are even offering integrative courses on how to use Artificial Intelligence in the educational sector, possibly changing the future of our classrooms. Some believe that AI might be better at creating interactive lessons between teachers and peers, which can lead to many benefits, such as creating a calmer and more composed environment.
So what’s the catch?
This captivational technology should conventionally be used as a “helping hand” for your studies, but it shouldn’t exclude your actual lessons and teachers. It is commonly believed that the use of AI is dangerous, as it makes us work less and could increase laziness. In my opinion, it depends solely on how it’s being used. Obviously, using it to participate in cheating or plagiarism isn’t helping you to understand the topic, and could transform into a nasty habit. However, there is no harm in using it to make notes or for other study methods to essentially help you.
One shouldn’t completely depend on chatbots, the reason being that they don’t have a 100% accuracy rate, so they might sometimes provide misleading or false information. To avoid these problems, you can always confront AI answers with a teacher or tutor who will guide you to the best possible format for your studies.
<<This article is inspired by a recent essay I wrote, which focused on the social problems chatbots are and aren’t able to solve. One of the social problems I decided to cover within the essay is education, as I believe it should be a right for our entire society. Not only are these platforms accessible to anyone who has a digital device, but they also improve overall time and efficiency, obstacles that humans struggle with daily.>>
Giada Muntoni
