Using AI as a Personal Learning Assistant: Strategies for Student Success

The more I read and learn about Artificial Intelligence (AI), the more I see how it offers a significant opportunity to transform how students engage with their studies and the effectiveness of time spent studying. Rather than replacing traditional learning methods, AI can act as a powerful supplementary tool that provides personalised, on-demand support that allows students to have more time to balance their lives. However, to ensure that AI enhances learning rather than detracts from (replaces) it, students must be taught how to use it effectively. It is not cheating so long as the work passed in is not someone else’s so why not engage and facilitate better long-term results? Wouldn’t it be nice to teach our children that working smarter is better than just working harder? What a way to set them up for a balanced and fulfilling life.

Framing Queries to Support, Not Replace Learning

One of the key challenges with AI tools, particularly in education, is ensuring that they are used to support and deepen learning rather than to replace it. The first step in this process is teaching students how to frame their queries effectively. Instead of asking AI for direct answers to exam-style questions, students should be encouraged to ask for explanations, examples, or clarifications. For instance, a student working on a history essay might query an AI: "Can you help me understand the economic factors leading to World War I?" This type of question encourages the AI to provide a detailed, contextually rich response that guides the student’s understanding, rather than simply offering a quick answer that bypasses the thinking process.

AI is particularly valuable when it can be used as a personal tutor, available 24/7 to support students as they explore complex topics. According to VanLehn (2011), AI-based tutoring systems can help reinforce learning by providing explanations in a variety of ways, adapting to the learner’s current understanding. This method not only helps students grasp difficult concepts but also encourages them to engage in more active learning, prompting them to ask better questions and think more critically. The other advantage of AI is the ability of AI to model answers and provide feedback help guide learning and the structure of knowledge.

Using AI for Feedback and Assessment

AI’s potential for providing real-time, personalised feedback is another powerful tool for supporting student learning. Rather than waiting for a teacher’s response, students can use AI to receive immediate feedback on assignments, quizzes, and practice problems. This enables students to correct mistakes and understand their errors while the information is still fresh in their minds.

For example, students can use AI chatbots or learning platforms like Quizlet to practise vocabulary or solve math problems. After completing a task, the AI can offer feedback on areas that need improvement and suggest targeted resources to address those weaknesses. Teachers can also use AI to streamline assessments, providing more time for face-to-face interaction and targeted instruction. AI’s ability to assess a student’s work quickly and efficiently helps ensure that the feedback loop is not delayed, which is critical for maintaining motivation and momentum in learning (Hattie & Timperley, 2007).

Ensuring Contextual Relevance with Specific Topic GPTs

Not all AI tools are created equal. One way to ensure that AI provides responses that are relevant and in the correct context is by using specialised, topic-focused AI models. While general-purpose GPTs (Generative Pre-trained Transformers) like ChatGPT are versatile, they can sometimes offer broad, non-specific answers. To overcome this, teachers can guide students to use subject-specific AI tools designed to focus on particular areas of study, such as literature, history, or science. By directing students to the right AI resources, educators can ensure that the answers students receive are directly relevant to their learning goals.

For instance, when studying biology, a student might use an AI model trained specifically for scientific subjects, ensuring that the responses they get are rooted in accurate and up-to-date scientific knowledge. This approach allows students to dive deeper into the material without getting sidetracked by irrelevant or overly general information, ensuring that AI tools support their learning goals effectively.

Microlearning and AI: Encouraging Student Agency

AI’s role in microlearning, learning in short and highly focused bursts, is an emerging trend that can greatly benefit students. Microlearning leverages the flexibility of AI tools to break down content into smaller, digestible chunks that students can engage with at their own pace. This format is particularly effective for complex subjects where traditional learning might feel overwhelming. We talk about how attention spans are shortening, so why not work with it until we can solve the longer-term problem?

Students can use AI to create their own learning materials, such as flashcards or practice quizzes, based on the topics they are currently studying. Teachers can guide this process by teaching students how to identify key concepts, formulate their own study questions, and then use AI tools to generate answers or expand on those ideas. In this way, AI not only supports students’ learning but also fosters a sense of agency, empowering them to take control of their educational journey. According to Siemens (2005), this type of self-directed learning can lead to greater engagement and deeper understanding, as students learn to curate and manage their own resources. It also avoids students revising material they are already strong in and missing areas of need.

Final Thoughts

The key to successfully using AI in education is not just about providing tools, but rather it’s about teaching students how to use those tools to enhance their learning. By framing queries thoughtfully, using AI for personalised feedback, selecting appropriate topic-specific AI models, and promoting micro-learning, students can be empowered to take greater ownership of their studies in a way that will be positive rather than detrimental. Teachers, as the learning experts, play a crucial role in guiding this process, ensuring that AI is used to support learning in meaningful ways that align with educational goals. As AI continues to shape the future of education, students who are taught how to leverage it effectively will be better positioned to succeed in an increasingly demanding digital world.

References

Hattie, J., & Timperley, H. (2007). The power of feedback. Review of Educational Research, 77(1), 81-112.

Siemens, G. (2005). Connectivism: A learning theory for the digital age. International Journal of Instructional Technology and Distance Learning, 2(1), 3-10.

VanLehn, K. (2011). The relative effectiveness of human tutoring, intelligent tutoring systems, and other tutoring systems. Educational Psychologist, 46(4), 197-221.

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