You read the same paragraph three times and still cannot explain it. An AI assistant can offer a different example, ask a practice question or help find the part you missed.
Getting a finished answer is easier. But if you cannot explain the answer afterwards, you still have the same problem.
Ask it to work through the gap
Suppose you are studying photosynthesis, statistics or a new language. Start by telling the assistant what you already understand.
Ask me three questions about this topic. Wait for my answers, then explain the part I missed using a simple example.
You can also try explaining an idea in your own words and asking, “Which part of my explanation is unclear or incorrect?” Check its feedback against your course material.
A routine you can repeat
- Read your lesson or textbook first.
- Explain the idea yourself, without copying.
- Ask for a new practice question.
- Answer before asking for feedback.
- Check disputed facts and quotations in the original material.
For languages, ask for a short conversation and one correction at a time. For writing, ask which sentence is hard to follow, then make the change yourself.
Know your class rules
Teachers and institutions set their own rules for AI use. Check what is allowed for each assignment, including whether you need to acknowledge using it. UNESCO's education and research guidance discusses human judgement and privacy in this setting.
AI can invent references. NIST explains the problem. Open a cited source before trusting it.
At the end of a study session, close the chat and explain the idea aloud. If you get stuck, you have found the next thing to practise.