Top Free Tools to Help You Study Smarter
Introduction: You Don’t Need to Spend Money to Study Well You don’t need expensive software or fancy equipment to succeed
Using AI to Support Your Learning: What’s Helpful, What’s Not
Introduction: AI Is a Tool - Not a Shortcut
You’ve probably heard of AI tools like ChatGPT, Grammarly, or voice assistants. They’re everywhere – and they’re changing how we learn, study, and work. But when it comes to adult learning, especially in vocational training, it’s important to know what these tools can help with – and where they can lead you off track.
This article is your practical guide to using AI tools as a student at Asset College. It’s designed to help you use them responsibly, ethically, and effectively – and points you to our detailed AI for Students Handbook if you want to go deeper.
What AI Can Help You With
When used correctly, AI tools can support your learning in some very useful ways:
- Understanding Concepts More Clearly
“Explain how to use a two-way radio in plain language.”
“Summarise the difference between risk and hazard.”
“Summarise the difference between risk and hazard.”
AI can reword or simplify ideas without replacing your own learning.
- Brainstorming and Planning
“What are some examples of hazards in crowd control?”
“Can you help me structure a report about a workplace incident?”
“Can you help me structure a report about a workplace incident?”
It can help generate ideas or outlines – but you still need to understand and apply them yourself.
- Practising or Reviewing Content
“Quiz me on communication strategies for dealing with aggressive people.”
“What questions might I be asked in a verbal assessment?”
“What questions might I be asked in a verbal assessment?”
AI can simulate study prompts and revision questions based on your course topics.
- Improving Clarity in Your Writing
“Can you check this report for grammar and tone?”
“Does this paragraph make sense?”
“Does this paragraph make sense?”
Tools like Grammarly or AI assistants can help polish your work – but they should not write it for you.
What AI Should Not Be Used For
AI tools can be helpful – but they also have serious limits and risks:
- Writing Your Assessments For You
Copying or submitting AI-generated content as your own is a breach of assessment integrity. Trainers can usually tell – and more importantly, it means you’re not learning the skills you need to succeed.
- Giving You Fully Accurate Information
AI tools can get things wrong. They may:
- Make up facts
- Misunderstand Australian laws or context
- Give outdated or oversimplified answers
- Sound confident, even when they’re incorrect
- Replacing Human Support
AI is helpful, but it’s not a substitute for:
- Asking your trainer for clarification
- Talking to a support team about learning struggles
- Collaborating with others in class or in your workplace
Using AI Responsibly at Asset College
We encourage you to explore and use technology – but we also expect all students to:
- Do their own work
- Understand what they submit
- Use AI ethically, not to cheat or avoid learning
- Follow any trainer instructions around use of technology in assessments
You can find detailed guidance in our AI for Students Handbook, including:
- Examples of acceptable and unacceptable use
- Specific tools recommended for learning support
- Guidance for online and in-person learners
Using AI Wisely, With Learning at the Centre
AI won’t do the work for you – but it can make the work more manageable, more efficient, and sometimes even more engaging.
At Asset College, we believe in helping you use the right tools to become a capable, confident learner. AI is one of those tools – but only when used wisely, legally, and with your learning at the centre.
Tools to Support Learning: Article Series
Using AI to Support Your Learning: What’s Helpful, What’s Not
Introduction: AI Is a Tool – Not a Shortcut You’ve probably heard of AI tools like ChatGPT, Grammarly, or voice
