Essential AI Tools and Tips for Every Student

Students can use AI in several smart ways to improve their learning and work more efficiently. At this point, there are heaps of AI tools students can use, covering note-taking, tutoring, and much more. But which AI tools are the best for students?

The Best AI Tools for Students

Before we look at some tips for using AI as a student, let's check out some of the best tools.

1. Wolfram Alpha

Wolfram Alpha is one of the most powerful research tools you can use. It utilizes data from across the internet to quickly provide overviews, and you can also use the program to solve complex mathematical equations. Wolfram Alpha is a great tool for all kinds of studying courses, and when used correctly, it can save you hours of manual searching.

Through Wolfram's Problem Generator, you can create an unlimited number of practice problems and also get their answers. And if you already use ChatGPT, you can get Wolfram as one of many great custom GPTs.

You can use Wolfram Alpha for free, but the Pro version includes downloadable results, step-by-step solutions, guided calculators, and more. Pricing for Pro and Pro Premium are as follows:

Wolfram Alpha Pro	Wolfram Alpha Pro Premium
$5/mo	$8.25/mo

Pros:

• Comprehensive database; especially good for math solutions
• Available as a custom GPT

Cons:

• Some information can be quite basic unless you get the paid version

2. Grammarly

Incorrect grammar can negatively impact your grade, but it has become simpler than ever before, thanks to AI tools like Grammarly. The app identifies typos that you might have missed in both documents and emails, and you can also see your writing tone.

Grammarly supports several types of English: UK, US, Canadian, Indian, and Australian. But unfortunately, you can't yet use the app for other languages. It's possible to use Grammarly as a free plagiarism checker by copying and pasting your text into its online checker.

You can get Grammarly as a free plugin, which will identify typos in your emails and other places online. However, having used the full version for almost four years, I'd recommend upgrading to the paid edition. You'll get suggestions for citations, rephrasing suggestions, and more. Grammarly Premium costs $12/mo.

Pros:

• Check spelling and grammar as you go along
• Works in emails and documents
• Free plagiarism checker

Cons:

• Some restructuring suggestions can actually make your text sound worse
• You can only use Grammarly for English

3. ChatGPT

ChatGPT is arguably the best-known AI tool, and as a student, you can use it to outline assignments and research topics. You can even use ChatGPT for other aspects of student life, such as creating a daily schedule and getting nutritious recipes for budget meals. If you're looking for an internship or student job, you can also use ChatGPT to write your resume.

When using ChatGPT, you can simplify complex topics that you don't understand. Moreover, it's possible to draft emails, thesis defenses, and more. If you're a visual student, consider using ChatGPT to create prototypes of your work via DALL-E.

To use features like DALL-E and custom GPTs, you'll need a paid plan; this will cost you $25/mo.

Pros:

• Integrates well with several tools
• Great for planning

Cons:

• Information is sometimes inaccurate or outdated

4. Notion AI

Notion is one of the best all-round productivity tools; you can use it to take notes, plan your day, outline big projects, and much more. I'd recommend starting with the free version if you're a student, but Notion AI is a decent add-on if you want to automate manual things like summarizing lecture notes.

If you've built up a comprehensive library in Notion for your studies, you can also use Notion AI to find essential information without having to put too much manual force behind it. Notion AI is available as an add-on for all plans for $8 per month.

Pros:

• Good for summarization and finding information
• Available as an add-on for all Notion plans

Cons:

• Basic features compared to other AI tools

Tips for Using AI as a Student

Besides using AI tools to maximize your learning, you should also think about how to use AI more effectively. You need to think about things like your educational institution's rules and the limitations of each tool you use. Here are our top tips for using AI as a student more effectively.

1. Always Fact-Check

If you blindly take everything that AI gives you without verifying the information, you're setting yourself up for failure in the long run. AI tools will sometimes give you outdated or inaccurate data, and using these in your assignments will impact your grade.

For all data you use from AI tools, you must do your own research to ensure everything is correct. Verifying sources and performing search engine page searches are two ways to do this. You can read this guide on how to use Google to fact-check information if you want a solid starting point.

2. Never Plagiarize

Just as is the case without using AI, plagiarism is an absolute no-go. If you use information from ChatGPT and other resources, you should make the work your own and cite sources where necessary. My university had a pretty good online plagiarism checker, which was back in 2016—so yours will probably also have pretty solid checkers in place.

Plagiarism takes several forms, including paraphrasing and direct copying and pasting. Make sure all of your work is original to avoid these.

3. View AI as a Tool, Not a Necessity

It's very easy to fall for companies' "AI-powered" marketing these days, but you aren't required to use AI. Like anything else, it's simply a tool that is supposed to get you from point A to B. Sometimes, it'll make sense to use AI, and on other occasions, you might spend more time correcting errors caused by the software.

Assess each situation and determine which tools and apps you need. If they don't include AI, it doesn't matter.

4. Don't Ignore Your Educational Institution's AI Policies

Many educational institutions have AI policies, and you should respect the rules put in place for where you study. If you're found guilty of violating these, you could suffer significant penalties like being removed from your course.

If you're in doubt, you can always ask your lecturers and the school, college, or university's helpdesk. Once you know what you can and can't do, maximizing AI will become much easier.

AI has several advantages for students; it can help you catch grammatical errors and plan your assignments more efficiently. Moreover, you can quickly search for information. The tools mentioned today are a great starting point for improving your studies, and you should also take on the different tips we've provided.

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