Example of Feeling of Learning
(Our translation, read the Danish interview here: AI-fortællinger fra læsesalene)
Study techniques with generative AI
It is important to be aware that you do not necessarily use generative AI in the same way when studying as you might in other contexts. When you are studying, the primary goal is to learn and acquire knowledge. Therefore, you must reflect on how generative AI affects your learning process.
Generative AI can support your study techniques if it is used consciously and as a supplement to your own academic effort. If you use generative AI to do the work for you, it becomes a parking space for your brain.
Generative AI cannot replace learning, understanding, or critical thinking. The person who does the work is the one who learns. You cannot delegate learning to a system – it cannot be optimized or “gotten over with.” Learning only happens when you process the material yourself.
Feeling of Learning vs. Test of Learning – and the use of generative AI
When you use generative AI to support your studies, it is important to understand the difference between Feeling of Learning and Test of Learning.
You feel like you are learning something—because you get a good, clear, and fast answer from a GenAI tool. However, your brain has not necessarily worked with the material.
This often happens with lazy GenAI use, for example when:
- GenAI writes the explanation for you
- GenAI completes your exercises
- GenAI creates the overview instead of you
You gain a sense of overview and satisfaction—but no real learning takes place.
(Our translation, read the Danish interview here: AI-fortællinger fra læsesalene)
You demonstrate that you understand the material without support.
This only happens when you actively:
- formulate answers yourself
- review and repeat the material
- struggle with the content
- explain concepts in your own words
- solve exercises before GenAI checks or corrects them
Eksempel på Test of Learning
(Our translation, read the Danish interview here: AI-fortællinger fra læsesalene)
How GenAI can support Test of Learning – reflected use of GenAI
GenAI can strengthen your learning when you use it to:
- test yourself (for example, let GenAI quiz you)
- ask follow up or counter questions
- explain something you have already written yourself
- identify gaps in your understanding
- double check your own answers – instead of generating them for you
Ideas for study techniques
Your use of generative AI as a student will likely depend on how far you are in your studies and how new the course content is to you.
At master’s level, for example, generative AI can be used more deliberately for structure, reflection, and efficiency in study work. Use the tool strategically to challenge your assumptions, test arguments, and create overview.
The learning process
It is important to always keep in mind what supports your personal learning process. If, for example, you learn best by writing things down yourself, it is crucial that you continue taking your own notes and do not leave this to generative AI. Generative AI can, however, be used advantageously to sort and organize your notes, helping you gain a better overview later. But if note taking is an important part of your learning, you must maintain this practice so that you do not lose the learning value that lies in the writing process itself.
Below are examples of how you can use generative AI as part of your study techniques:
For example, use GenAI to:
- create an overview of complex topics
- suggest outlines and connections
- summarize notes or curriculum material you have already read
GenAI can help you see the bigger picture, but it should not be your only point of entry to the material.
GenAI can support active learning, for example by:
- explaining concepts in multiple ways
- generating practice questions or quizzes
- asking follow up or counter questions related to what you are working on
Use the responses as a starting point for reflection – not as the final answer.
When you use generative AI in your study work, you should always:
- compare responses with at least one academic source
- consider alternative explanations or solutions
- pay attention to errors, oversimplifications, and fabricated content
- assess whether the output is relevant in relation to the subject, level, and context
The academic judgment and final responsibility always lie with you.
For example, you can use GenAI to:
- get feedback on structure, argumentation, and clarity
- identify unclear sections or weak assumptions
- test whether your explanations make sense
The academic evaluation is always your responsibility.
Generative AI can support your work process, for example by:
- helping with planning and prioritization
- suggesting alternative approaches to a problem
- supporting repetition and reviewing
Use the tool purposefully and avoid unnecessarily long prompts to save time and resources.
checklist
Good and learning supportive use of generative AI in your studies
- Who is leading the process – you or the system?
- What is the essential you need to learn?
- What do you already know – and do you know enough to outsource parts of the work to a system in order to be more efficient? - o Be aware that you generally do not learn from what the system does for you.
- • Are you far enough in your learning/knowledge to be able to validate the generated output?
This page is inspired by Aalborg University’s page on generative AI for students. Generative AI has been used in the preparation of this page.
