This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Artificial intelligence (AI) means high school and college students now have access to a resource that can potentially "do all the work for them." While this can reduce students' immediate stress about submitting assignments, it may negatively impact their long-term learning. As high school and college students enter the end-of-year exam period, they might look for ways to incorporate AI into their study practices.
My recent research suggests students need to master foundational knowledge and skills before they use AI to help their learning. The research offers a mixed bag of responses. One study suggests using AI chatbots, such as ChatGPT, while studying may boost learning, motivation and critical and creative thinking while reducing mental effort.
Other reviews have pointed to the benefits of AI in tailoring learning to the individual, providing timely feedback and enhancing student engagement. But some researchers have questioned the credibility of these claims due to low-quality methods and a lack of transparency in the previously mentioned studies. This doesn't necessarily mean students shouldn't use AI to study at all.
But they need to be aware of the risks that come with it. One of these risks is "cognitive offloading." This is when students become so reliant on AI completing their work that they let AI do the thinking for them entirely. Students who offload to AI regularly may quit studying before they've truly mastered the content.
This risk of "cognitive offloading" means you shouldn't use AI in every aspect of your review, particularly when taking practice exams. Research shows that when taking practice exams, it's best to recreate the conditions of the actual exam. In most cases, this means closing the laptop, putting the phone away, setting a timer for the exam's duration and seeing what information you can retrieve and write independently.
If you do use AI to assist with practice exams, it might give you a false sense of confidence. This is because AI can temporarily boost performance. But once you're faced with a real exam, you're likely to see performance collapse, which can reveal the true extent of your learning.
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