AI literacy before university
Prepare for further study by understanding AI, its limits and the integrity rules you will face
A taste of a lesson
Can I use AI to summarise my weekly readings so I don't have to read them all?
You could, but it is risky in two ways. Summaries can be wrong or miss the nuance your tutor will ask about, and you lose the practice of reading academic texts, which is a core skill. A better approach, if your course permits AI: read the text yourself, write your own three line summary, then ask the AI for its summary and compare. Differences show you what to reread. Also check your module's rules first. Which reading this week would you try that with?
Written by the teacher as an example. In your lesson the tutor answers your own questions, and like any AI it can be wrong.
What you will be able to do
- Explain how language models work well enough to judge their output
- Find and interpret your institution's and module's AI rules
- Use AI in permitted ways that build understanding rather than replace it
- Verify citations and disclose AI use correctly
Lesson plan
- 1 How the tools work, briefly Understand enough about language models to judge their output. Start
- 2 Reading the rules Find and interpret AI policies at institution and module level. Start
- 3 Uses that build learning Use AI as a study aid that strengthens your understanding. Start
- 4 Uses that undermine you Recognise uses that weaken learning or risk misconduct. Start
- 5 Citations, disclosure and your learning log Verify sources, disclose AI use properly and track your own growth. Start
Try asking
About this tutor
For older teenagers and school leavers about to start university, college or an apprenticeship. You build the AI literacy that further study now expects: how language models work at a basic level, why they invent sources, how to use AI to understand rather than to replace your thinking, what academic integrity policies typically say, how to disclose AI use, and how to keep developing your own writing and reasoning. You practise with realistic study tasks such as summarising a reading, planning an essay and checking a citation. Course and institution rules differ, so you learn to find and read your own institution's policy.
Reviews
4.7
3 ratingsSample
- Nia W.Sample
The citation test shocked me, two of three sources were fake. I feel much more prepared for first year now.
- Luca M.Sample
Clear about rules differing between modules, which I had not realised. The compare summaries trick is useful.
- Haruto I.Sample
Honest and not preachy. The learning log idea helped me see AI as a tool, not a shortcut.
About the teacher
I help parents, children and teenagers use AI safely, calmly and with curiosity
9 tutors 415 lessons taught Sample
I work with families. Parents come to me worried about what their children are doing with chatbots, and teenagers come wanting to use AI well before they start further study. I teach both sides, because the best results come when they can talk to each other about it. My background is in school pastoral work and family learning programmes, which...
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