How Students Can Leverage ChatGPT to Enhance Academics

By Michelle Mojisola Savage

“The world is in constant motion, and those who adapt swiftly to change are the ones who surge ahead. “
- Michelle Mojisola Savage.

Imagine having unlimited intelligence right at your fingertips. The possibilities are mind-blowing, right? We are living in the era of artificial intelligence, where the potential for growth and advancement knows no bounds. One remarkable example of the astonishing power of AI is ChatGPT, a Large Language Model that took the world by storm in November 2022. Within just two months of its launch, this AI sensation amassed 100 million users, making it the https://chat.openai.com/ fastest-growing internet application in history. Since then, AI has infiltrated nearly all facets of our lives, including education. As a student, you hold the key to leveraging this potential to enhance your academic journey. Here are some tried-and-trusted tips on how I incorporated ChatGPT to streamline my school life.

1. A Personal Teacher - Need help with challenging courses? ChatGPT can act as a personal teacher or study companion, demystifying complex topics with simple explanations and examples. Sometimes, I even personalize our conversations by having it address me by my name, just like a teacher would.  Like a calculator, ChatGPT requires the right prompts for excellent results. Therefore, remember to keep them simple, concise, and comprehensive. Let’s take a Chemical Engineering student struggling with Transport Phenomena as an example. A good prompt is “Explain Transport Phenomena to me as a beginner and provide examples of its applications.”

2.  Test yourself - With ChatGPT, you can create mock tests to prepare for examinations. This helps you practice answering exam questions and pinpoint areas that require further study or improvement. For instance, after studying Transport Phenomena, test your knowledge with a quiz from ChatGPT, such as “Create 30 questions on Momentum Transfer in Transport Phenomena.”

3. Condense lengthy notes - Tired of sifting through lengthy and convoluted notes? ChatGPT can transform your 100-page note into a concise and easily digestible format. Provide your notes as input and prompt ChatGPT to condense them. For instance, write “Condense my notes on Mass Transfer and highlight key points and formula.” Watch as ChatGPT magically distills the essence of your notes, giving you a clear and focused understanding of the subject.
4. Assignment and research assistance: ChatGPT is an instant gateway to a vast sea of information, so when working on a project, it can offer detailed explanations and even suggest credible sources for further exploration. And if you’re stuck on a challenging assignment, let the artificial intelligence guide you through understanding and simplifying the task. For example, “Give a step-by-step derivation of the formula for viscous flow coefficients.”
5. Academic Personal Assistant: The free academic PA you need is right at your finger tips. ChatGPT can provide effective time management strategies, task prioritization, create tailored study plans, and streamline your overall student experience. This can enhance your productivity and organizational skills. 

Read Also: ARGUMENTS AGAINST THE USE OF CHATGPT IN ACADEMICS

Overall, when used responsibly especially in combination with books, ChatGPT can greatly simplify life and provide valuable assistance to students.

However, like any beneficial tool, it is not without its challenges. It should not be solely relied upon as it sometimes gives false assumptions and errors. Therefore, as a student, approach it as a productivity-enhancing tool that enhances productivity, like good shoes that make you run faster, without overly relying on it to the point of losing critical thinking abilities. For research and other self learning materials, visit our ZODML community library at 196, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi.