The use of AI in self-learning

[Sandra Jane]

So I've been confused about my learning methods lately.
I've been having a hard time understanding the way my lecturer explain things at the campus. So I have to learn it all over again myself after class. I've been using AI (ChatGPT) to study since I can't understand the topic whenever I tried to use real books, and lately I saw a video which said that AI use in self-learning is inefficient since it can give me a false sense of understanding.

Is it correct that using AI is actually inefficient even though I managed to understand my topics because of it? And if so, is there any learning method that can reduce my AI dependence?

(Sorry for the grammar mistakes. English is not my first language and I'm trying to write things myself without using Google Translate or AI)

 

[CrysPhys]

Is it correct that using AI is actually inefficient even though I managed to understand my topics because of it? And if so, is there any learning method that can reduce my AI dependence?

But how do you know that you actually do understand the material after an AI session? Is it the case that before the AI session, you tackle homework assignments (problem sets) and can't do them; but after the AI session, you can? Or is it just the case that the AI session provides a simplified explanation that lulls you into believing that you understand the material?

 

[Hornbein]

For most purposes today's ChatGPT is unreliable. I never use it anymore. All I see it doing is adding a layer of error. I guess people like the convenience.

It's terrific for computer programming but I no longer do that.

 

[MidgetDwarf]

I use it rarely, to understand concepts I don't know what the hell the author is talking about.

But it is my last attempt , after referencing other books/sources.

Ie., when I was first learning Measure Theory, I found the concept of Borel sets confusing. After working on it for a few days. I asked chatgpt and it clarified the definition.

I rarely input problems into it. Since it can spit out a lot bs, and if you aren't comfortable with the material, it can lead astray.

So I would use it sparingly after consulting textbook/lecture notes for sometime and really thinking about it.

If you are not stuck, then you are not learning.

 

[symbolipoint]

I've been having a hard time understanding the way my lecturer explain things at the campus. So I have to learn it all over again myself after class.

That much quoted there means this: Study the expected material before class time. Studying what was lectured after class met should be more productive and no need should be to resort to a.i.

 

[symbolipoint]

(Sorry for the grammar mistakes. English is not my first language and I'm trying to write things myself without using Google Translate or AI)

Your written use of English appears excellent.

 

[Sandra Jane]

But how do you know that you actually do understand the material after an AI session? Is it the case that before the AI session, you tackle homework assignments (problem sets) and can't do them; but after the AI session, you can? Or is it just the case that the AI session provides a simplified explanation that lulls you into believing that you understand the material?

Exactly. I've been trying to solve some homework assignments but unable to do that with the books I've borrowed from the library. So, I always ended up using AI. Even though the easy explanation made me think that I already understand the topic, I always ended up unable to answer another problem sets with different condition. :( I reaaaally want to start all over again so I can study with just books but how? Please elaborate

 

[Sandra Jane]

That much quoted there means this: Study the expected material before class time. Studying what was lectured after class met should be more productive and no need should be to resort to a.i.

Alright! I'll try this out at the next semester. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Sandra Jane]

Your written use of English appears excellent.

Thanks! I'm glad I can write things my own now haha :D

 

[symbolipoint]

One very cheap question, is what the *&@% people do in the old days to study tough stuff when were not any A.I. ?

 

[Sandra Jane]

One very cheap question, is what the *&@% people do in the old days to study tough stuff when were not any A.I. ?

I know. That's why I'm asking about how to stop my AI dependence

 

[CrysPhys]

Exactly. I've been trying to solve some homework assignments but unable to do that with the books I've borrowed from the library. So, I always ended up using AI. Even though the easy explanation made me think that I already understand the topic, I always ended up unable to answer another problem sets with different condition. :( I reaaaally want to start all over again so I can study with just books but how? Please elaborate

If I understand your reply here correctly, you are not using AI to review the course material. You are actually asking AI to solve your homework assignments, correct? But after you read the AI solution, you are not able to solve similar problems on your own. Is all this correct? If so, then AI is not helping you to understand the material.

Follow-up questions, before we continue:

(a) What course material are you talking about? One specific course, or several?

(b) Do the professors solve sample problems in class?

(c) Are specific textbooks assigned to the courses? If so, what are they? Do they contain sample problems and detailed solutions (not just answers)?

(d) Do your professors (or graduate teaching assistants) hold office hours during which you can seek further help?


(1) You need to understand the course material for sure. (2) But you also need to understand the methodology for setting up and solving a problem. Many students need to be explicitly instructed in this methodology.

 

[Hornbein]

One very cheap question, is what the *&@% people do in the old days to study tough stuff when were not any A.I. ?

They hired tutors. I've hired one. An impecunious Albert Einstein tutored Otto Stern on quantum physics. You had to be in a university town too in order to access the library. I also did that.

 

[symbolipoint]

They hired tutors. I've hired one. An impecunious Albert Einstein tutored Otto Stern on quantum physics. You had to be in a university town too in order to access the library. I also did that.

Very Fine! So tutors are better than artificial intelligence, and that makes sense. I also tried a tutor, a very very very long time ago. This was not helpful. I needed to and only slowly did learn that, I needed to study the needed material before it was taught at lecture time, and often needed to do some review fairly soon after that lecture time; and often enough I needed to review during some of the school off-season.