Chat GPT and AI tools are not going to make the student, just as buying a new kitchen gadget will not morph me into a chef (much to my chagrin). In fact, the more dependence one has on Chat GPT and AI, the less likely one will be a successful student.

These tools are simply that: tools. The principles grounding student excellence remain the same as they did twenty years ago. It’s all quite simple, yet seems to evade many. The promise of easy or quick is counter to authentic progress when it comes to strengthening the very thing that makes one human: thinking. Education is first and foremost an exercise of the mind.

You cannot outsource thinking.

The truth is that intellectual development requires time, patience, grit, and intention. Here’s a short list of habits shared among the best students:

1. Show up for class. Every class. On time.
2. At the beginning of the semester schedule the days and times for reviewing the assigned readings or activities for each course. For example: Mondays at 3:00 read for Intro to Philosophy. (You need at least 1 hour per course.)
3. Sit toward the front of the class.
4. Visit office hours for each professor at least once.
5. Take notes during class. If the professor writes it on the board or shows a screen, that information will most likely be on an exam.
6. Put your phone away during class.
7. If you earn less than a B- on any assignment, discuss it with the professor. Have the disposition of learning how to improve.
8. Review the syllabus or online course information before asking a question. When asking a question that could be answered by paying attention to what has already been shared, the student demonstrates a lack of maturity, and if not corrected, will pose dire consequences in “real world” environments. (Note: employers are citing lack of autonomy and ability to follow instructions as one of the top reasons new hires are let go.)
9. Accept that some courses are more difficult than others. I struggled with Astronomy and told myself, well if it takes an extra couple of hours to get this, then I’ll spend the extra couple of hours. Yours truly earned a B+.
10. Join a club on campus. This will connect you with other students and you’ll be invested in your community.

These basic skills are important not only for the student’s GPA, but also for entering the work force, building relationships, and discovering one’s talents. Practically speaking, employers seek out graduates who demonstrate potential for problem solving, thoughtfulness, and discipline.

It has been stressful and heartbreaking to be on the frontlines of the decline in students’ abilities to perform well. They’ve been sold an idea that social media is king, image is more valuable than character, and getting around a task in lieu of doing it is clever. Some shortcuts make perfect sense. I appreciate the dishwasher, for instance. Using it frees up my time and in no way interferes with my capacity for humanness. (Unloading is an altogether different beast.). But this attitude of cutting corners when it matters, when it circumvents the practice of contemplation, poses a threat to the wellbeing of students and society.

College Life | Essentials | Gifts

*click on image for purchase

*Etsy & Amazon products featured here, when clicked and purchased, support our work in educational content. Good Is In The Details podcast earns commission with Amazon. Thank you!