Artificial intelligence is now a prevalent part of university life. Whether you’re writing essays, preparing lesson plans, revising for exams, or managing a full study load, there’s an AI tool that has been designed to help. But not all tools are created equal—and not every use of AI helps you learn.
Students across education, health, STEM, and the humanities are already using AI to improve their writing, manage time, and deepen understanding. The key is learning how to use these tools strategically—as partners in your learning, not shortcuts around it.
This post introduces some of the most useful tools for students and offers ways to prompt them effectively.
AI Tools You Probably Already Have
You don’t need to invest in expensive subscriptions to benefit from AI. Many powerful tools are already built into the software and systems you use daily.
Grammarly
Grammarly uses AI to refine writing by improving clarity, grammar, and tone. It’s best for final-stage editing once you’ve written your draft.
Use it to:
- Identify repetitive or unclear phrasing.
- Adjust tone (for example: “academic,” “confident,” or “neutral”).
- Check citation formatting and sentence flow.
Watch for over-correction: Grammarly can flatten your individual voice. Use its suggestions selectively, keeping your own style intact.
Microsoft Co-Pilot
Integrated into Word, PowerPoint, and Excel, Microsoft’s Co-Pilot helps streamline academic work.
Try it for
- Summarising long readings or lecture notes.
- Drafting outlines or slide decks from your own materials.
Analysing small datasets in Excel or generating graphs.
Example prompt:
Summarise this document in 150 words and list three key takeaways for a health science student.
Co-Pilot’s advantage is that it operates within Microsoft’s secure ecosystem—better for privacy and academic integrity than public chatbots.
Studiosity
Studiosity isn’t a generative AI system but a feedback service available to many University students. Upload your work to receive feedback on argument, structure, and clarity—usually within 24 hours.
You can also combine Studiosity feedback with AI tools toextend learning. For example:
How can I apply these comments to strengthen my argument about [topic]?
What sentences or examples from my assignment are examples of this criticism I have received from my markers/studiosity?
The combination of human insight and guided reflectiondeepens your understanding and builds confidence in your own writing.
ChatGPT and Other Conversational Tools
Conversational AIs like ChatGPT or Claude can act as thinking partners—helping you brainstorm, explain, or test ideas. Their usefulness depends entirely on how you frame your questions and how critically you evaluate their responses.
Prompts That Guide Thinking
Prompts are simply questions or instructions you give to an AI tool. The more specific, contextual, and purposeful your prompt, the more valuable the result. Here are examples that support learning without undermining it.
To Build Understanding
Use these to unpack complex ideas or technical language.
- Explain this concept as if I were a first-year nursing student.
- List the main differences between formative and summative assessment in education.
- Provide a plain-language summary of this journal abstract.
Use these explanations as a starting point, not as final answers. Always cross-check definitions and details with your readings.
Practise Critical Thinking
Encourage the AI to reason, compare, and critique.
- Present two opposing views on whether early childhood play should be structured or free, then suggest how a teacher might balance them.
- What assumptions underlie this statement: “Technology improves patient care”?
- List three ethical challenges in using AI in healthcare and propose one solution.
The aim is to evaluate the AI’s reasoning, not to adopt it uncritically. Ask follow-up questions such as “What evidence supports that claim?” or “Whose perspective is missing?” Sometimes asking “What would an expert in this field based in South Australia bring to the conversation about this topic?” or similar can help you think through the reasoning that the AI has used. Remember: an AI answer is rarely ‘right’ or ‘wrong’.
Save Time Without Losing Learning
AI can streamline routine tasks like organisation and formatting.
- Create a weekly study timetable for three subjects with 20 hours available.
- Turn these dot points into a paragraph outline.
- Rephrase this text in plain English for a presentation.
Time saved through automation should enable more reading, reflection, and discussion—not less engagement.
Strengthen Writing and Communication
Use AI to explore tone, clarity, and structure.
- Rewrite this paragraph in an academic style without changing meaning
- Suggest transitions between these sentences: [paste text].
- Provide three ways to begin a reflective journal entry about clinical placement.
Always revise the generated text so that it reflects your thinking and voice. Can you identify ways that the writing sounds like AI? Does it overuse three-adjective sentence structures? Is it overly vague? Does it use American English instead of Australian English? Spotting these things will help you understand what makes your writing unique.
Using AI Responsibly and Reflectively
We encourage students to use AI ethically and transparently. This means:
- Declaring any significant AI use in your assignments
- Keeping a short record of the tools you used and why.
- Checking all factual information against credible sources.
Rule of thumb:
If it replaces your reasoning, rethink your process.
The Bigger Picture: AI and Sustainability
AI systems rely on large data centres that consume significant amounts of electricity and water. Using AI intentionally rather than automatically helps reduce unnecessary energy use.
You can practise “slow AI” by:
- Consolidating questions before prompting
- Avoiding repeated or trivial requests.
- Using smaller, task-specific tools for simple edits or checks
Each thoughtful interaction helps reduce digital waste and fosters sustainable study habits.
A Student’s Checklist for Thoughtful AI Use
- Did I use AI to enable understanding, not just to finish faster
- Have I double-checked key information?
- Can I explain the output in my own words?
- Have I cited AI use where required?
- Did I pause to reflect before accepting an answer?
If you can answer “yes” to these questions, you’re already using AI wisely.
AI can be mimic a tutor, editor, organiser, and idea generator… but it can’t replace your curiosity or critical judgement. As a student in 2025/2026, the goal is not just to use technology, but to use it well.
Developing AI literacy means learning to ask good questions, evaluate responses, and think ethically about your tools. When used carefully, AI can expand your capacity for learning, not diminish it.
Use it to grow your understanding, challenge your thinking, and strengthen your own voice—because that remains your most powerful academic tool.
