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Generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and others can be incredibly helpful — but only when used thoughtfully and ethically. Here are strategies to help you benefit from AI without hindering your growth as a learner.

Visit UNLV Information Technology’s AI Technology page to explore available AI tools, support resources, and best practices for using AI at UNLV.

**DO: Use AI to Learn With, Not Instead Of**

Examples
Good use	Why it helps
Ask AI to explain a difficult concept in simpler terms	Reinforces learning from multiple angles
Use AI to brainstorm ideas or generate outlines	Jumpstarts your own thinking — not a replacement
Practice with AI: give it your thesis and ask for counterarguments	Builds critical thinking and helps refine your perspective
Use AI to get feedback on writing style or grammar	Supports revision and improves communication skills

**DON’T: Use AI to Replace Your Thinking**

Examples
Not Recommended	Why It Hurts Your Learning
Submitting AI‑written work as your own	You miss the chance to build your voice and skills
Asking AI to solve your homework problems and copying the answer	You’ll struggle on exams or future assignments where AI isn’t allowed
Using AI to summarize readings without doing them yourself	You lose out on nuance, analysis, and memory‑building
Relying on AI for citations	AI often fabricates sources that don’t exist (this is called “hallucination”)

Reflection & Self-Check

Tips for Balancing AI Use

Start with your brain, not the bot: Think or write a bit before asking AI for help.
Fact-check everything: AI tools are known to confidently provide wrong or biased answers.
Reflect on how AI helped: Did it clarify something? Speed you up? Confuse you? Keep track of what’s useful and what’s not.
Be transparent: If your instructor allows AI use, explain how you used it (e.g., “I used ChatGPT to brainstorm ideas but wrote the final draft myself.”)

Ask Yourself

Am I learning or just completing?
Would I be comfortable explaining this work without AI?
Am I meeting the expectations of this course and its academic integrity policy?

Final Thought

Think of AI as a learning partner, not a substitute for your effort or insight. If you use it well, it can help you think more clearly, write more powerfully, and approach complex problems with confidence. If you misuse it, you risk missing the chance to grow and could end up in a situation where you’re expected to know how to do something you never actually learned for yourself.