Learning with AI

A Three-Step Guide for Building Your Knowledge and Skills

Welcome

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Commitment

Forward

Welcome to Learning with AI: A Three-Step Guide for Building Your Knowledge and Skills from the Kortschak Center for Learning and Creativity & Rossier School of Education.

This guide is designed for USC students who are permitted to use AI as a learning aid in their courses. Rather than showing you how to complete assignments with AI, it helps you use AI to build your own knowledge and skills. At USC, our goal is for you to graduate with deep expertise and strong professional competence in your field. AI can be a valuable learning partner, but lasting learning comes from your own thinking, practice, and reflection.

Before using AI for any course activity, review your instructor’s AI policy in the syllabus or assignment instructions. If the expectations are unclear, ask your instructor before using AI. This guide assumes AI-assisted learning is permitted and is intended to help you use AI in ways that strengthen, not replace, your learning.

Important Notice:

This resource is intended as a learning aid; always verify with your instructor that your AI use aligns with course and assignment policies.

Before Using this Module

1. Access ChatGPT Edu through USC

USC provides students with access to ChatGPT Edu, which includes additional privacy and security protections compared with public AI tools. Learn how to activate your USC account and access ChatGPT Edu here:

ChatGPT EDU at USC

2. Review your instructor’s AI policy

AI expectations vary by course and assignment. If you’re unsure whether AI is permitted, ask your instructor before using it.

Step 1: Identify Your Learning Level in a Specific Area

Reflect on what you currently understand (knowledge) and what you can currently do (skills) within a specific topic. You may be advanced in one subject and a beginner in another, so choose the level that best matches your current knowledge and skills in this particular area. As your understanding grows, revisit this guide and begin using strategies from the next level.

Interactive Level Finder

1. Your current knowledge level on this specific topic:

2. Your level of independence regarding the needed skill support:

Diagnostic Output

Please make selections on the two metrics above to lock in your strategies.

Step 2: Using AI to Develop Knowledge and Skills

Before applying the strategies for your current learning level in a specific topic, keep these general guidelines in mind to ensure that using AI strengthens your learning.

General Learning Guidelines

•
Avoid copying and pasting AI-generated answers. Use AI to strengthen your learning, but make sure you can explain ideas in your own words.
•
Verify information. AI can make mistakes, so check important facts, calculations, sources, and claims.
•
Use clear, specific, contextualized prompts. The quality of AI responses depends on the quality of your prompts.
•
Keep yourself in the loop. Apply your own human judgment and ethics, and engage with the material as you learn.
•
Disclose AI use when appropriate. If AI contributed ideas, wording, analysis, code, or other significant content to your work, follow USC’s and your instructor’s guidelines for acknowledging or citing AI assistance.

*In addition to the general guidelines, use the table below to choose AI strategies that match your current learning level in a specific topic. The strategies are designed to support you in building an understanding and avoiding habits that can limit your growth. However, always review your instructor’s AI policy before using AI for coursework. Some instructors permit AI for learning support, while others may limit or prohibit its use for specific assignments.*

Beginner Level

I know very little about the topic and need step-by-step help.

AI Learning Tool

Learning with AI

Before Using this Module

1. Access ChatGPT Edu through USC

2. Review your instructor’s AI policy

Step 1: Identify Your Learning Level in a Specific Area

Interactive Level Finder

Please make selections on the two metrics above to lock in your strategies.

Step 2: Using AI to Develop Knowledge and Skills

General Learning Guidelines

Beginner Level

Strategies to Apply

Strategies to Avoid

Step 3: AI Prompts to Build Knowledge and Skills

USC Study Integrity Commitments

Moving Forward