Be clear about the guidelines for AI use at your institution, if unclear, seek clarification and permission
Aspect of study
Selecting what to read
Chatbot/AI has the capability to …
- Explain material that you do not understand, whether for a course, test, assignment or practical application
- Help you to make sense of complex or specialist language, or material written in a language that is not your own
- Devise quizzes to test your understanding
- Support you to keep going over material in different ways, in response to your prompts, until you grasp the meaning
- Help you to learn at any time, and without embarrassment of asking too many questions
Your role as a student
1. Devise deliberate and considered prompts
This will allow ChatGPT to help you where you most need it. Persist, until you do understand. Don’t worry if you don’t make sense of the first explanation.
2. Test yourself
Once you do understand the material, return to it again to check that you still understand and recall it. Ideally, do this at least twice, the first within 24 hours, and in different locations. These methods all help with building recall.
3. Put it into your own words
The real test of understanding is whether you can state it, or explain it to another person (real or imaginary) in your own words, without having to check back on details.
Ensure you...
Do the reading. If you don’t understand a section, you could ask ChatGPT to explain. If you still don’t understand, you can continue to question from different angles until you get it.
Repeated questioning for clarification can be useful, but you may reach a point where you're no longer able to get any more valuable or meaningful responses.
If you don’t read the text for yourself, you would need to cite ChatGPT as part of your ‘source’ when writing out your list of references. Reading the text yourself would be favoured by your tutors.
Do not undertake any actions that are illegitimate, even if asked to do so by ChatGPT, such as those which might breach copyright (see the example).
Do not copy or paste any part of the summary into your assignment.
Student prompt 1:
What does the term 'nutrition' really mean - is it any food, or just 'good food', or something else?
The term "nutrition" refers to the process of obtaining and consuming nutrients from food, which are essential for the proper functioning of the human body. It encompasses not only the act of eating but also the physiological and biochemical processes that occur as the body digests, absorbs, transports, and utilizes nutrients for various functions.
Nutrition involves not just any food, but rather the intake of substances that provide the necessary nutrients to support growth, energy production, immune function, and overall health. Nutrients include macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) that provide energy, as well as micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) that are required for various physiological processes.
While the concept of nutrition encompasses all foods, there is an important distinction between "good" nutrition and poor nutrition. "Good nutrition" refers to the consumption of a well-balanced diet that provides adequate amounts of essential nutrients to support health and well-being. This involves consuming a variety of nutrient-rich foods from different food groups, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
On the other hand, "poor nutrition" refers to the consumption of a diet that lacks essential nutrients or provides an excess of unhealthy components, such as excessive added sugars, unhealthy fats, and low nutritional value. Poor nutrition can lead to various health issues, including malnutrition, obesity, chronic diseases, and impaired cognitive function.
In summary, nutrition is the process of acquiring and utilizing nutrients from food for the body's proper functioning and health. While it encompasses all foods, the concept of "good nutrition" emphasizes the importance of consuming a balanced and diverse diet to support overall well-being.
Commentary
This is one way to check that you are on the right track when pursuing an idea for an assignment. It is good to pause and check you have interpreted terms, concepts and tasks correctly, especially when using everyday words that might have a different sense when used in an academic context.
However, bear in mind that the explanation produced by AI might be incorrect. This is a risk, especially if you are studying a topic at a very advanced level.
It is good practice to triangulate the response you receive with that from a couple of other sources to check it is correct. This is useful, anyway, for forming a richer sense of the concept and for seeing multiple ways of phrasing, expressing or exemplifying the concepts.
What are your thoughts on the generated text?
- Strengths of the explanation?
- Weaknesses?
Student prompt 2: follow-up
Provide a seven paragraph outline with a focus on the major debates in this topic
ChatGPT: Certainly! Here's a seven-paragraph outline that focuses on the major debates surrounding the impact of poor nutrition on student academic outcomes in Higher Education:
I. Introduction
• Introduce the subject and its significance within the context of Higher Education.
• Provide a brief overview of the link between poor nutrition and academic outcomes.
• Present the thesis statement: "The impact of poor nutrition on student academic outcomes is a multifaceted topic marked by several major debates and areas of contention."
II. Causality vs. Correlation:
• Discuss the ongoing debate about whether poor nutrition directly causes lower academic performance or if there is a mere correlation.
• Present studies and expert viewpoints supporting both sides of the argument.
• Highlight the complexity of disentangling causation from correlation in this context.
III. Quality vs. Quantity of Nutrition:
• Explore the debate between emphasizing the quality of nutrition and focusing on the quantity of calories and macronutrients.
• Discuss the perspectives of experts who argue for nutrient-dense diets versus those who emphasize the importance of meeting energy requirements.
IV. Individual Variation:
• Examine the disagreement about the degree of individual variation in how nutrition impacts academic performance.
• Present studies and opinions showcasing varying responses to dietary interventions among different individuals.
• Discuss the implications of individual variation on research findings and dietary recommendations.
V. Short-Term vs. Long-Term Impact:
• Analyze the debate surrounding whether poor nutrition's effects are primarily short-term or if they accumulate over time.
• Present evidence supporting the immediate impact of inadequate nutrition on focus and energy levels.
• Discuss the arguments about the potential long-term consequences for academic achievement and future success.
VI. Campus Initiatives and Responsibility:
• Explore the debate over the role of educational institutions in promoting healthy eating habits among students.
• Present viewpoints advocating for campuses to provide nutritious options and those emphasizing individual responsibility.
• Discuss the challenges and benefits of implementing campus-wide nutritional initiatives.
VII. Cultural Considerations and Socioeconomic Factors:
• Discuss the debate around how cultural norms and socioeconomic factors influence nutritional choices and academic outcomes.
• Present the complexities of accommodating diverse cultural diets and the potential impact on educational equity.
• Highlight the need for culturally sensitive approaches to addressing nutrition-related challenges.
VIII. Conclusion
• Summarize the major debates discussed in the essay.
• Emphasize that the intersection of nutrition and academic outcomes is a multifaceted issue with no one-size-fits-all answer.
• Encourage ongoing research, collaboration, and the exploration of innovative strategies to address the complex relationship between poor nutrition and student academic outcomes.
This outline focuses on the major debates and areas of contention in the topic, allowing you to delve deeply into each aspect and provide a comprehensive analysis of the different viewpoints and perspectives.
Does this count as ‘my own work?’
Yes, if…
It is good to use different resources to develop your understanding. This can be acceptable in terms of maintaining originality in your work, as long as you explain concepts in your own way, and in your own words.
If you have paraphrased or quoted the work of others, you must reference the source.
No, if…
- This goes against the regulations set out by your institution. Check whether such use of AI tools, like ChatGPT, is permitted by your course in work towards assessments
- It is not acceptable to transfer explanations from an AI tool straight into your own work. It would be regarded as cheating and it also does not demonstrate your own understanding. Use your own words in your work. If you are using a short phrase taken from ChatGPT or other AI tool, cite this as your source.
Be clear about the guidelines for AI use at your institution, if unclear, seek clarification and permission
Chatbot/AI has the capability to …
- Explain material that you do not understand, whether for a course, test, assignment or practical application
- Help you to make sense of complex or specialist language, or material written in a language that is not your own
- Devise quizzes to test your understanding
- Support you to keep going over material in different ways, in response to your prompts, until you grasp the meaning
- Help you to learn at any time, and without embarrassment of asking too many questions
Your role as a student
1. Devise deliberate and considered prompts
This will allow ChatGPT to help you where you most need it. Persist, until you do understand. Don’t worry if you don’t make sense of the first explanation.
2. Test yourself
Once you do understand the material, return to it again to check that you still understand and recall it. Ideally, do this at least twice, the first within 24 hours, and in different locations. These methods all help with building recall.
3. Put it into your own words
The real test of understanding is whether you can state it, or explain it to another person (real or imaginary) in your own words, without having to check back on details. If you cannot put it into your own words.
Ensure you...
Do the reading. If you don’t understand a section, you could ask ChatGPT to explain. If you still don’t understand, you can continue to question from different angles until you get it.
Repeated questioning for clarification can be useful, but you may reach a point where you're no longer able to get any more valuable or meaningful responses.
If you don’t read the text for yourself, you would need to cite ChatGPT as part of your ‘source’ when writing out your list of references. Reading the text yourself would be favoured by your tutors.
Do not undertake any actions that are illegitimate, even if asked to do so by ChatGPT, such as those which might breach copyright (see the example).
Do not copy or paste any part of the summary into your assignment.
Student prompt 1: for reading suggestions
"What does the term 'nutrition' really mean - is it any food, or just 'good food', or something else?"
ChatGPT response 1
The term "nutrition" refers to the process of obtaining and consuming nutrients from food, which are essential for the proper functioning of the human body. It encompasses not only the act of eating but also the physiological and biochemical processes that occur as the body digests, absorbs, transports, and utilizes nutrients for various functions.
Nutrition involves not just any food, but rather the intake of substances that provide the necessary nutrients to support growth, energy production, immune function, and overall health. Nutrients include macronutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, and fats) that provide energy, as well as micronutrients (vitamins and minerals) that are required for various physiological processes.
While the concept of nutrition encompasses all foods, there is an important distinction between "good" nutrition and poor nutrition. "Good nutrition" refers to the consumption of a well-balanced diet that provides adequate amounts of essential nutrients to support health and well-being. This involves consuming a variety of nutrient-rich foods from different food groups, such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats.
On the other hand, "poor nutrition" refers to the consumption of a diet that lacks essential nutrients or provides an excess of unhealthy components, such as excessive added sugars, unhealthy fats, and low nutritional value. Poor nutrition can lead to various health issues, including malnutrition, obesity, chronic diseases, and impaired cognitive function.
In summary, nutrition is the process of acquiring and utilizing nutrients from food for the body's proper functioning and health. While it encompasses all foods, the concept of "good nutrition" emphasizes the importance of consuming a balanced and diverse diet to support overall well-being.
Commentary
This is one way to check that you are on the right track when pursuing an idea for an assignment. It is good to pause and check you have interpreted terms, concepts and tasks correctly, especially when using everyday words that might have a different sense when used in an academic context.
However, bear in mind that the explanation produced by AI might be incorrect. This is a risk, especially if you are studying a topic at a very advanced level.
It is good practice to triangulate the response you receive with that from a couple of other sources to check it is correct. This is useful, anyway, for forming a richer sense of the concept and for seeing multiple ways of phrasing, expressing or exemplifying the concepts.
What are your thoughts on the generated text?
- Strengths of the explanation?
- Weaknesses?
Does this count as ‘my own work?’
Yes, if…
It is good to use different resources to develop your understanding. This can be acceptable in terms of maintaining originality in your work, as long as you explain concepts in your own way, and in your own words.
If you have paraphrased or quoted the work of others, you must reference the source.
No, if…
- This goes against the regulations set out by your institution. Check whether such use of AI tools, like ChatGPT, is permitted by your course in work towards assessments
- It is not acceptable to transfer explanations from an AI tool straight into your own work. It would be regarded as cheating and it also does not demonstrate your own understanding. Use your own words in your work. If you are using a short phrase taken from ChatGPT or other AI tool, cite this as your source.