Category Archives: How can I become smarter?

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Can AI make you smarter?

The developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) such as the capabilities in reasoning, problem-solving, coding and multilingual skills we’ve seen from OpenAI and DeepSeek, have created significant controversy regarding effective teaching methods in college. For additional detail on this matter please follow the following link:   a volatile teaching and learning environment. First, there were concerns about academic integrity such as plagiarism on essays.  Next researchers investigated the promise of personalised learning opportunities fine-tuned to student interests and aptitude without undermining critical thinking and creativity, and now – cognitive offloading. This is not always a bad thing, especially if the offloading of redundant or tedious tasks can make room for more higher-order thinking. 

According to ChatGPT AI can make humans less smart — but it doesn’t have to.

Here’s how AI could make us less smart:

  1. Mental laziness: If people rely on AI for basic thinking (math, writing, decision-making), they may stop practicing those skills, which can lead to cognitive decline — the same way GPS reduced our ability to navigate or calculators made arithmetic skills weaker.
  2. Reduced memory and attention: Constant access to information via AI can reduce the need to remember things or sustain focus, similar to how internet search already changed our memory habits; for more info on this topic please review the “Google Effect”.
  3. Shallow learning: If we use AI to get quick answers instead of wrestling with ideas, we may never develop deep understanding, critical thinking, or problem-solving skills.

But here’s how AI can make us more intelligent:

  1. Cognitive amplification: AI can offload repetitive tasks, letting us focus on complex, creative, or strategic thinking — similar to how writing enhanced memory or printing broadened literacy.
  2. Personalized learning: AI tutors, feedback tools, and adaptive platforms can help people learn better, faster, and in more customized ways than traditional methods.
  3. Knowledge access: With AI, anyone with an internet connection can tap into expertise that used to be locked behind institutions or expensive education.

Bottom line:

AI is a tool — like fire, books, or the internet. Whether it makes us less smart or more capable depends on how we choose to use it. If we over-rely on it, we risk intellectual atrophy. But if we engage with it critically and use it to extend our abilities, it can make us smarter than ever.

Would you like practical ways to use AI to stay sharp or support others in doing so?

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Do you need better critical thinking skills in college?

The What? So What? Now What? This reflection model is a useful way to analyze self-regulated learning (SRL). Here’s how it applies:

1. What? (Describe the experience)

Self-regulated learning refers to the ability of learners to plan, monitor, and assess their learning processes. It includes setting goals, managing time, maintaining motivation, and adjusting strategies based on feedback.

  • Have you used self-regulated learning strategies?
  • What specific strategies did you use (e.g., goal setting, self-monitoring, time management)?
  • What were the challenges or successes?

2. So What? (Analyze the significance)

This step focuses on understanding the impact of self-regulated learning.

  • How did self-regulation affect your learning outcomes?
  • What did you learn about your ability to manage and control your learning?
  • What worked well, and what could have been improved?
  • How did self-regulated learning contribute to your academic or professional success?

3. Now What? (Apply learning to future practice)

This step involves planning for future improvements.

  • How will you refine your self-regulated learning strategies moving forward?
  • What specific actions will you take to enhance your self-regulation skills?
  • How can you apply these strategies in different learning or professional contexts?

By using this framework, you can critically assess your self-regulated learning process and make intentional improvements for continued growth. Would you like help applying this to a specific learning experience?