STUDENT FAQs
STUDENT FAQs
First, before utilizing any AI tool, be sure you understand what constitutes plagiarism. Plagiarism is the act of using someone else's work, ideas, or expressions without appropriate attribution. You can review university guidance for this topic here: PG Student Code of Conduct and Academic Integrity guidance.
Then, when using AI tools, remember that they can be great for brainstorming, generating ideas, or checking work. However, you shouldn't rely on AI to produce entire assignments or papers. Instead, you want to use them to augment your original thoughts and ideas. Also, make sure to understand the limitations and potential biases of the models you're working with. While AI can generate human-like text, it doesn't inherently know what's right or wrong, nor can it guarantee originality or accuracy. Just because AI suggests an answer doesn't mean it's the best or most accurate one. Always cross-check information, apply your own reasoning, verify results, and make informed judgments. In addition, before submitting assignments, remember that plagiarism detection software, such as Turnitin, can help ensure originality. This will help you catch any unintentional similarities with already existing content.
Finally, if you've used AI to help in any part of your assignment, consider informing your instructor or peers about it. Transparency is a significant step toward responsible usage. And, don't forget, it is also important to give proper credit to the AI system if required, and cite the sources of the generated content.
As always, please defer to instructor guidelines when completing assignment and essays.
There continues to be debate among citation authorities, journals, and universities on how to cite ChatGPT and other generative-AI resources and tools. However, some guidelines have been developed and can be followed.
Yes, there are numerous AI tools and software available to assist you in your coursework. Some popular examples include:
Natural language processing tools like Grammarly for improving writing skills.
Reference management tools like Mendeley or Zotero for organizing and citing sources.
Research platforms like Google Scholar or Microsoft Academic for discovering scholarly articles.
Virtual assistants like Siri, Alexa, or Google Assistant for quick information retrieval.
Data analysis tools like Python libraries (e.g., pandas, NumPy) and software like Tableau or MATLAB.
Potential Risks:
These tools may collect and store the information that you provide. Ensure that the platforms you use comply with privacy regulations and protect your personal data. Be cautious about sharing sensitive information and review the privacy policies of the tools or platforms you use.
Suggestions may not be accurate or inclusive. ChatGPT will even make up information that sounds convincing but isn't real.
Your intellectual property might be compromised.
AI platforms are not neutral. They reflect the perspectives and beliefs of the datasets they have learned from and will reproduce those ways of seeing the world. It is especially important to use critical thinking skills when reading AI-generated text.
Language patterns are the basis for AI platforms to generate answers to prompts. They do not use the same cognitive process as a student would to find the correct ("right") response or answer.
Your writing may lose its personality and uniqueness when you use AI tools too much. Voice and style are important rhetorical techniques for good writing, and they may be diminished by over-reliance on AI.
Limitations:
Generative AI, like ChatGPT, often makes mistakes. Verify all generative AI content.
AI chatbots may not be using the most recent information available. For instance, ChatGPT is not currently plugged into the internet to access “real-time” information. It has been trained on information that’s current through 2021 but not the present.
Chatbots face challenges in understanding different languages, dialects, accents, slang, or jargon.
AI tools may struggle with situations that are complicated, unclear, or sensitive and may not be able to empathize or comprehend the user’s feelings, mood, or purpose.
Service disruptions and user dissatisfaction may result from AI chatbots experiencing errors, malfunctions, or unavailability.
Yes, AI can greatly assist you in research and data analysis. AI algorithms can quickly process and analyze large volumes of data, identify trends and patterns, and help you draw meaningful conclusions. AI-powered tools can streamline tasks like literature reviews, citation management, and extracting relevant information from scholarly articles.
AI can enhance your writing and proofreading skills by providing automated grammar and spell-checking, suggesting improvements in sentence structure, vocabulary, and style, and offering real-time feedback on your writing. Tools like Grammarly, Hemingway Editor, or ProWritingAid utilize AI to assist you in improving your writing skills.
Probably not. Proper paraphrasing involves understanding the source material and expressing it in your own words, while still giving credit to the original source. It's an important tool for learning because if you're unable to paraphrase something, it suggests that you might not fully comprehend the material. If you need guidance on how to utilize ChatGPT, or any other form of generative AI, for a particular course, it is recommended that you consult with your instructor.
Yes, there are several ethical considerations to keep in mind when incorporating AI into academic work. First and foremost, always be honest about how you're using AI. If you're getting help from an AI tool, it's similar to quoting a source; you should give credit where credit is due. Remember, the point of your coursework is for you to learn, so don't shortchange yourself by letting AI do all the heavy lifting. You'll miss out on truly grasping the content!
Also, be careful about what information you feed into online AI platforms. Just like you wouldn't want your personal details to be out in the open, be cautious with your academic work too. Also, remember that while AI can be intelligent, it's not always right. Sometimes these tools can reflect certain biases or give skewed results. So, always double-check the info and think critically about what the AI provides. Similarly, just as you'd scrutinize the reliability of conventional sources, it's vital to evaluate the trustworthiness of the AI tool you're using.
Lastly, while AI can be a powerful tool, it's essential not to become overly dependent on it, as human judgment and critical thinking remain indispensable in your academic endeavors.
Yes! There are AI-powered tools that can help you with task scheduling, setting reminders, prioritizing assignments, and even analyzing your study habits to optimize learning efficiency. Virtual assistants, such as Siri, Cortana, etc., can also provide information and answer questions promptly, saving you time in searching for resources.
AI can be applied in collaborative projects and group assignments by facilitating communication, coordination, and knowledge sharing among group members. Collaborative platforms like Google Docs, Trello, or Slack can leverage AI to enhance collaboration by suggesting file organization, facilitating version control, or providing real-time translation for multilingual teams. ChatGPT even includes the ability for users to "Share Link to Chat" for collaboration purposes.
Yes, there are some challenges to consider when using AI in coursework. Some of those include:
Lack of access or familiarity with AI tools or software.
Dependence on the quality and accuracy of data used in AI systems.
Potential biases or limitations in AI algorithms, requiring critical evaluation. Some AI models, like deep neural networks, can be difficult to interpret, making it harder to understand how they arrived at a particular result.
Over-reliance on AI without developing essential skills or understanding underlying concepts.
Potential ethical concerns.
It can provide personalized recommendations for learning resources based on individual strengths and weaknesses.
AI-powered tools can help in data analysis, making complex calculations, or finding patterns in large datasets.
AI can automate repetitive tasks, such as grading multiple-choice exams or generating summaries, saving time for both students and instructors.
There are several ways to do this. One effective approach is enrolling in online courses or participating in specialized workshops. Additionally, immersing yourself in literature on the subject—such as books, research papers, and articles specific to your field—can be highly beneficial. It's also advantageous to become a part of AI-related communities. Attending relevant conferences and engaging with experts in the domain can offer valuable insights and opportunities for growth.
Yes, AI can assist in studying and exam preparation! It can help you create personalized study plans, generate practice questions, offer automated feedback, and provide recommendations for additional study materials.
Smart Writing Assistants: AI-powered writing assistants like Grammarly and ProWritingAid can help students improve their writing skills by providing grammar and spelling suggestions, checking for plagiarism, and offering style improvements.
Study Organizers: Tools like Evernote and OneNote can help students organize their study materials, take notes, and create to-do lists. They provide features like search functionality, tagging, and cloud synchronization, making it easy to access and manage study resources across devices.
Flashcard Apps: AI-backed flashcard apps such as Anki and Quizlet help students memorize information through spaced repetition algorithms. These apps optimize the review schedule based on individual performance to maximize retention.
Exam Prep Platforms: Platforms like PrepScholar and Magoosh provide AI-driven test preparation resources for standardized exams such as SAT, ACT, GRE, and GMAT. They offer personalized study plans, practice questions, and performance tracking to help students prepare effectively.
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