GenAI tools can quickly generate text on any topic, but what effect might that have on your learning? Below we look at how you can use generative AI in the writing process to enhance rather than hinder your learning.
Remember that you must always follow whatever requirements have been set for your assessment task. Failing to follow the requirements is likely to hinder your learning and put you at risk of academic misconduct.
Learning benefits of writing
It’s the process of writing rather than the final product that’s important in terms of learning. You learn from:
- doing the research;
- reflecting on the different ideas and perspectives you’ve read about;
- thinking carefully about your own perspective based on the available evidence;
- thinking about how best to communicate your ideas clearly and logically, which helps improve your understanding of the concepts as well as your communication skills.
Impact of GenAI on writing for learning:
Given that it’s the process of writing that helps you learn, if you skip that process you’re very likely to hinder your own learning.
If your assessment instructions encourage you to use GenAI tools for parts of the process, your teacher has decided that the learning value comes from a different process, such as critically evaluating the output that has been generated by GenAI, or thinking critically about how to adapt the prompts you enter to ensure you get the most effective output. These are legitimate tasks that can help develop your critical thinking and your ability to use GenAI tools more effectively.
However, your teacher may restrict the use of GenAI tools in some or all parts of the writing process for an assessment task. If they have made this decision, it’s because they’ve thought about what the learning outcomes and potential learning benefits of the assessment task are, and how you can best demonstrate that learning.
Below are some suggestions for how GenAI tools can help you with aspects of the writing process. You should only follow these suggestions if they comply with the requirements of your assessment task. If in doubt, always ask your teachers.
Strategies for using GenAI for writing
Instead of getting GenAI tools to generate text for you, use them to assist your learning by:
1. Brainstorming initial ideas to write about
2. Giving example outlines or structures for your writing
3. Providing feedback on your writing
4. Checking grammar errors to improve your grammar skills
A word of advice: even when you are allowed to use GenAI tools in your assessment task, you must reference it. Visit the Study Guide to learn how to reference GenAI tools.
Reach out to HELPS if you'd like some guidelines on what to do with AI tools or to learn to become a better writer or improve your learning and academic skills.