Ai - Tools for learning, or a crutch?....It's a fine line.

AI tools have been on the rise for a while now and since November 2022 with the release of OpenAI's ChatGPT has become even more popular and mainstream. Especially amongst both students and career professionals. Though I'd argue one side is more hesitant towards it than the other. In this short post we'll be diving into AI as a useful learning tool but also a cautionary tale of mine to not rely on it too heavily.

The Upside:

At least from the perspective of a student who just started using chatGPT to help me study more efficiently. I've always struggled with taking notes since I was a kid in middle school, and that hasn't changed now as a twenty-six-year-old! But what I am good at is googling whatever I need to understand the material given to me just a little better, then here comes chatGPT, my instructors at FlatIron were very transparent about the use of AI software like chatGPT which can be summed up as "if it helps you learn then go ahead, but don't rely on it as a crutch". Even with that green light, I was hesitant to ever use it up until phase three of our course, at that point I had barely passed phase two due to information overload and already struggling to take notes in the first place so I used chatGPT for the first time and got all my note taking and "information filtering" done within the first week of our three week phase three, I was even leading lectures when it came to answering instructor questions! ChatGPT was a huge factor in my ability to learn starting with phase three and even leading into phase four. This leads to our next topic...

The Downside:

"A tool is only as good as the hands that wield it"- A quote with many versions but rings true for AI as much as a shovel in a landscaper's hand. I barely passed phase four of the FlatIron software engineer course, not because I couldn't do it but because I slipped on the slope of using chatGPT as a crutch. Life happens and what matters is how you respond to the things that happen, without me being fully aware of my mistakes the issues of outside forces pressed me to be "fast" and "efficient" with my coursework to the point where I'd be completely discouraged if I hit a wall and just used chatGPT to bulldoze through. The allure of instant answers and the convenience of letting ChatGPT tackle complex problems led me down a path where I inadvertently skipped the process of grappling with the intricacies of coding. It wasn't a lack of capability on my part but a reliance on the tool that hindered my progress. The tool that was meant to aid my learning had inadvertently become a barrier to my understanding. Eventually nearing the end of phase four both my instructors pulled me aside and had a heart-to-heart of their concerns about my performance and the fact that it was obvious I had been heavily relying on chatGPT instead of my own knowledge or even the course information for that matter. Thankfully they gave me grace: a chance to prove myself during the group project for that phase, during this conversation I had immediately been shaken up and "woke up" from my brain fog. In the coming days, I hit the ground running and proved I could do it on my own.

Balancing Act, Striking the Right Mix:

The use of AI tools, including ChatGPT, can indeed be a double-edged sword. While they offer valuable assistance and learning opportunities, there's a risk of relying too heavily on them and missing out on the deeper understanding that comes from independent problem-solving. "Everything in moderation" - Is a great quote that I often use to remind myself that a good thing is only good as long as it helps rather than enables. If you ever find yourself thinking "This is going too slow...I'll just write a few lines of code-", I'd take that as a sign you need to take a step back and do some actual studying. Speaking from experience.

Life's unexpected challenges can throw us off balance, and in those moments, the temptation to lean on AI tools intensifies in this industry. However, my experience taught me a valuable lesson — that while AI can be a supportive companion, it should not replace the essential process of hands-on learning and problem-solving.

As I reflect on my journey through the FlatIron course, I realize that the key lies in balance. AI tools should be embraced as learning companions, not crutches. They should supplement our knowledge, not substitute for it.

Conclusion:

So, what's the takeaway from my journey? Life will throw curveballs, and AI tools are there to assist us. But it's our response to challenges that define our growth. The slope of dependency is subtle, and awareness is the first step to avoiding it. As I move on to phase five, I do so with a new appreciation for the delicate balance between leveraging AI tools and honing my abilities. I'm extremely lucky and grateful that I have the instructors that I do during this course.

In the end, it's not just about passing a course; it's about developing the skills that will carry me through a dynamic and ever-changing field. AI is a powerful ally, but it's the human touch that turns knowledge into wisdom.