Learning with AI: Using it honestly at school and in training

In short: AI assistants can explain, practise and give feedback but do not replace your own thinking; what matters are honesty, checking the answers and the rules of school and company.

In more detail: Chatbots explain material at any difficulty, generate practice tasks and correct texts. Precisely for that reason conscious use is needed: whoever lets them do the work learns nothing and risks accusations of cheating.

In Depth

Sensible use

• Have things explained: “Explain subnetting with an example as if I were 15.” and ask follow-ups until it is clear.
• Practise: “Ask me 10 questions on normalisation and correct me.” (active recall!)
• Summarise your own notes, create a study plan, generate flashcards (and check them).
• Feedback on your own texts/code: “Where is my argument weak?” instead of having the text written.
• Find errors: show code or calculation and ask for the flaw in thinking, not just the solution.
• Compare different explanations of the same topic.

Risks

• Hallucinations: AI invents facts, sources, formulas and still sounds sure. Always check against reliable sources (textbook, documentation, teacher).
• Illusion of learning: reading an understandable answer does not mean you can do it. Apply it yourself and repeat without help.
• Dependence: whoever asks for every task does not practise problem solving.
• Privacy: do not enter personal data, passwords, company or exam internals.
• Biases and outdated information.
• Plagiarism/deception: undeclared AI texts are often regarded as attempted deception.

Observe the rules

Schools, vocational schools, IHK and companies have their own rules: what is allowed (research, spell check), what must be declared, what is forbidden (in exams, in coursework without notice)? Ask beforehand. State AI use transparently (tool, for what, date) and stay responsible for the result. In exams and IHK projects your performance counts; in the technical discussion you must be able to explain everything.

Habits that help

1. Try yourself first, then use the AI as a tutor.
2. Write down the explanation in your own words and have it checked.
3. Vary examples (“Give me a harder task”).
4. Ask for sources and look them up yourself.
5. Breaks and sleep help more than asking at night.
6. Learning together (study group) remains valuable. AI is a tool: asking good questions and critically checking answers is itself a core skill.

See also: Using AI assistants sensibly and safely, Hallucination (AI), Learning how to learn, Citing sources correctly