Using AI tools in your studies

Image credit: TAFE SA

The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT, Quillbot and Grammarly has become very common.

AI tools offer many benefits, especially if you are studying in a second (or third!) language. These tools can be helpful for understanding course materials, generating ideas and fixing grammar mistakes. However, when you study an Australian course, you need to be careful how you use AI, or you could be penalised for ‘academic misconduct’ (cheating), such as plagiarism.  

This guide will help you understand how to use AI tools effectively, while still following the rules. 

Special uses for AI tools

AI-generated content must not be a replacement for your original thinking or research. For this reason, Australian education providers have rules on how their students can use AI. Using AI for your studies will usually be restricted. It might even be banned entirely.  

If your education provider does allow you to use AI as part of your studies, this could be for study-supporting tasks such as: 

• generating ideas (sometimes called ‘brainstorming’) for starting essays or projects
• researching your topic, e.g. to find the most cited authors on your chosen subject 
• grammar checks and spelling corrections. 

Tips for using AI in your studies 

Here are some things to keep in mind: 

1. Use AI as a learning tool  

AI can help with language, research, or ideas, but your submitted course work should always reflect your own understanding and critical thinking. AI tools should never complete assignments for you. 

2. Acknowledge AI tools where required

Some education providers have guidelines on how to declare the use of AI in assignments. Ensure that you properly cite any information or assistance gained from AI if required. 

3. Understand plagiarism risks

Using AI to generate new content – without proper modification or citation – can be found to be plagiarism. This is because AI tools scrape existing content and then plagiarise it.  

AI and ‘academic misconduct’ (cheating) 

Education providers will consider any AI tools used as “a third party” producing your work – instead of you. This means that if you submit AI generated work as your own work for course assessment, this will be considered deliberate ‘academic misconduct’ (cheating).

You might also want to use an AI tool to translate your own work into English. However, you need to be careful doing this. The translated text can still be found to be ‘AI-generated’ by education providers’ detection software.  

Students accused of plagiarism or cheating at Australian universities must attend academic disciplinary hearings and prove that their work is their own. Students who are found to have deliberately cheated could be penalised by: 

• failing the assignment 
• failing the whole subject
• termination of enrolment from the education provider. 

Issues with using AI  

When you use AI for your assessments, there are a few things to consider:  

• AI is not creative and does not have critical thinking skills. You need to bring those! 
• Relying too heavily on AI may prevent you from developing essential skills such as critiquing other authors, structuring an argument and learning academic styles of writing. 
• AI summarises information without providing references to sources or citations. You will need to reference your work in the style that your provider recommends.  
• Information generated by AI is often generic and frequently incorrect. 
• Using AI-generated ideas or text without proper references can be considered plagiarism.  
• If you want to excel in your studies, you need to show independent thought and original work. If you rely on AI, it could lead to bad grades or academic penalties. 

Speak to your education provider 

If you’re unsure about how to use AI within the rules, ask for advice from your teachers. Most Australian education providers offer workshops and online guides that explain their rules for the appropriate use of AI in academic assessments and research.

By staying informed about your education provider’s policies, acknowledging AI use where necessary, and ensuring originality in your work, you can benefit from these technologies while still maintaining the high academic standards expected in Australia. 

For more in-depth advice on using AI tools responsibly, check out the Australian Government’s TEQSA AI guidance for students.