How to Use AI for Learning

Remember when learning something new meant endless Google searches and YouTube videos? Those days are gone. AI has completely transformed how we can learn anything - and I mean ANYTHING. Let me show you how. 1. The "Explain Like I'm New" method This works great when you're totally lost about something. AI breaks down complex concepts using everyday terms and examples. 📝 Prompt: "Explain [topic] to someone who has zero background in it. Use everyday examples and avoid technical terms. Focus on core concepts that make it click." 2. Examples that actually make sense Ask AI to explain things using real-life examples. This makes abstract concepts feel more concrete. 📝 Prompt: "Give me 3 real-world examples that explain [concept]. Use scenarios from daily life that would help a beginner understand this better." 3. Getting motivated when you're stuck When you're feeling "meh" about learning, you can get strategies from AI that actually work for your situation. 📝 Prompt: "I'm struggling to stay motivated while learning [topic]. Share 5 practical strategies to regain momentum, and explain how each one helps overcome common roadblocks." 4. Practice through role-play Have AI play different roles to help you learn. This is perfect for practicing conversations and scenarios. And it is less awkward than practicing with real humans, isn't it? 📝 Prompt: "Let's do a role-play where you are [role] and I am [role]. We'll practice [specific situation]. Give me feedback on my responses and suggest improvements." 5. Creating study plans that don't overwhelm Tell AI your goal and available time. Get a broken-down plan that's actually doable for you. 📝 Prompt: "Create a 30-day study plan for learning [topic]. I can dedicate [X] hours per week. Break it down into small, manageable daily tasks and include milestones to track progress." 6. Quick knowledge checks Ask AI to quiz you on what you've learned and get explanations for wrong answers. 📝 Prompt: "Create a mix of 5 easy, medium, and challenging questions about [topic]. Include explanations for each answer and point out common misconceptions." 7. Connecting the dots See how different ideas link together. It makes remembering what you've learned a lot easier. Here's how: 📝 Prompt: "Create a concept map showing how [topic] connects to other related ideas. Explain each connection and why it matters." Pro tips for better results: - Be specific about your current level - Mention your learning style - Ask for examples you can relate to - Request simpler explanations if needed Remember: AI is like having a patient friend who never gets tired of explaining things. The key is asking the right questions! Try these prompts and let me know how they work for you! 👇 🔁 Repost if this inspired you. 💻 And follow #AIwithAnurupa to stay updated with everything AI. #ai #artificialintelligence #learning #education

What if you had a personal learning support system with custom AI helpers guiding you, challenging you, and giving you just the right practice at the right time? At work, I’ve been exploring strategies for using AI agents to deliver more personalized learning. With AI agent-driven experiences, you’re not just interacting with a chatbot, you’re learning through focused, goal-aligned support. Each agent plays a specific role: one might give you practice activities tailored to your skill level, another might offer feedback on what to improve, and another helps keep your learning aligned with your bigger goals. It’s not about dumping content. It’s about giving you the right nudge, the right challenge, or the right reflection at just the right time. That got me thinking… what if I built one just for me? Just for something I love and want to build my skills more on like 3D printing and laser cutting. This way not only do I learn more about AI ecosystems but something I enjoy. So I've added to my personal learning roadmap to start a side project to build an AI agent ecosystem that helps me learn through doing. One agent might quiz me on printer maintenance. Another could challenge me with a new project idea or walk me through troubleshooting a tricky print. Another might generate custom practice activities based on what I’ve struggled with. Because sometimes, the best way to level up is to design your own way there. #InstructionalDesign #GenAI #LearningDesign #eLearning #AIinLearning #CourseDevelopment #DigitalLearning #IDStrategy #EdTech #eLearningDesign #LearningTechnology #InnovationInLearning

A look at how CS50 has incorporated artificial intelligence (AI), including its new-and-improved rubber duck debugger, and how it has impacted the course already. 🦆 https://lnkd.in/eb-8SAiw In Summer 2023, we developed and integrated a suite of AI-based software tools into CS50 at Harvard University. These tools were initially available to approximately 70 summer students, then to thousands of students online, and finally to several hundred on campus during Fall 2023. Per the course's own policy, we encouraged students to use these course-specific tools and limited the use of commercial AI software such as ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and the new Bing. Our goal was to approximate a 1:1 teacher-to-student ratio through software, thereby equipping students with a pedagogically-minded subject-matter expert by their side at all times, designed to guide students toward solutions rather than offer them outright. The tools were received positively by students, who noted that they felt like they had "a personal tutor." Our findings suggest that integrating AI thoughtfully into educational settings enhances the learning experience by providing continuous, customized support and enabling human educators to address more complex pedagogical issues. In this paper, we detail how AI tools have augmented teaching and learning in CS50, specifically in explaining code snippets, improving code style, and accurately responding to curricular and administrative queries on the course's discussion forum. Additionally, we present our methodological approach, implementation details, and guidance for those considering using these tools or AI generally in education. Paper at https://lnkd.in/eZF4JeiG. Slides at https://lnkd.in/eDunMSyx. #education #community #ai #duck

Some thoughts on how we integrate AI into education: We first need to start by recognizing which skills are becoming more valuable and designing new ways to teach them. We all remember the effort it takes to write a paper—revising, structuring arguments, and refining our points. With AI, everyone will have a writing co-pilot to handle the mechanics, making the process more efficient. So, what if we redirected that effort into helping students develop higher-order skills like critical thinking, prompt design, and iterative analysis? A thought experiment: Imagine an assignment where students submit not just their essays but also the prompts they used to get AI-generated critiques. Their task wouldn’t be just to write and submit—it would be to argue, analyze, refine, and iterate. In less time than it takes to write a traditional paper, students could engage in deeper intellectual exercises—interrogating their own arguments, considering counterpoints, and strengthening their reasoning. For teachers, AI can streamline grading while amplifying feedback—providing broad insights that help shape targeted, meaningful commentary. This means students receive richer, more personalized guidance, making learning more interactive and impactful.

Is AI helping students think better—or replacing their thinking altogether? As a professor of International Marketing at Berkeley, I’ve embraced AI in my classes with clear rules around its use. Students need to identify when they use AI in assignments. As a marketer, I believe embracing new apps and platforms is part of the job description, but it’s equally important to use them judiciously. The most important goal is for students to learn the benefits and limitations of AI. If my job is to teach them how to think, they need to understand the thinking they must do on their own and how to supplement, not replace, it. So, in the first assignments, I ask them to answer one question three ways: first on their own, then with the help of AI, and finally by integrating both. I also ask them to reflect on what they learn. It's fascinating to see how the students’ AI-generated responses differ, highlighting the importance of effectively framing their prompts. But the most revealing part is their reflections. They quickly see how AI can support their inquiry and where it falls short; they learn to value their unique perspective and voice. My Berkeley colleagues have also found my approach helpful, and together, we’re all learning how to embrace and manage the tools at our disposal. By integrating AI into the classroom in a deliberate way, I’ve discovered a process that fosters experimentation, critical thinking, and self-awareness—skills that will serve students well in their academic lives, future careers, and beyond. What are your thoughts on integrating AI into education? Have you seen any examples that stood out to you? Let me know in the comments.