The Perfect Study Buddy

People constantly complain about AI. They say it’s going to take over the world and get as obsessed with it as Will Smith’s character in that sci-fi movie. Yet, what they’re missing out on are the many ways AI assists us. More so, how it can be useful to us now. I want to note that we already use these machines every day, even without realizing it. As much as I’m itching to share more on that, I’ll save it for a different piece. Let me stay on task here…

I joined an online community for women of color, either in tech or transitioning. It had been during my first week of learning Python, and one of the members posted a word of advice to another woman that I instantly stole. She suggested that the young lady use ChatGPT as a study buddy for whatever skills she was learning, and all the lightbulbs went off. It had to look like Vegas in my brain. I had no clue how I never thought of that! I had already used Chat to help organize my schedule or tailor my content where it wasn’t landing. It never dawned on me that it could help me with my Python lessons.

So, I instantly pulled up my online bestie, as I call it, and got to work. I told ChatGPT what I was doing, my tech aspirations, and that I was learning Python. I told it where I was struggling and asked it to set a schedule for me to practice according to my house schedule. I also asked if it could help me study and offer lessons. Of course, it did all of those things. That week, I was the happiest camper because certain nuances of Python coding truly began to click. Here’s why I believe it works as a perfect study buddy (or atleast for me):

1. Studying with a partner makes a world of difference. Although there are a plethora of studies about human-to-human cases, I believe similar can be applied in this case. It’s helpful to be able to ask questions, have your work reviewed, and be motivated by ‘someone’ other than yourself. Especially when it can feel confusing when you first start coding.

2. It’s already an expert (for the most part) on what you want to learn. I don’t recommend using it as the only method because ChatGPT isn’t always accurate. (It literally marked a code as incorrect, and I had to show it how it was wrong. It apologized, so we’re good). However, as a supplemental side piece, it’s a strong reinforcer of what you’re trying to soak in.

3. You don’t feel as embarrassed. This right here is for the perfectionist, folks with imposter syndrome, shy people, and maybe a few with an ego. It can be difficult, especially as an adult, not to feel a tad embarrassed when messing up. Even if it’s a new skill you’re not well versed in. Making mistakes with a machine whose memory is erasable can feel easier to learn than with a human, who you have to worry about judging your intelligence.

4. A truly personalized approach. Whether you’re neurospicy, have a crazy schedule, hate studying in general, or have a different challenge, Chat can add a personal touch. This has come in handy for me the most. Unlike boot camps or classes, if my schedule changes during the week, it will pivot my lessons so that I can still get the most out of everything. I don’t have to worry about a hard deadline and it creates my lessons based on my learning style or shortcomings.

5. [ChatGPT Answer:] Consistent Accountability: I’ll help keep you on track by setting manageable goals and gently nudging you if you start drifting off course. Whether it’s completing exercises or reviewing tricky concepts, I’ll be there to support your progress. (And then it asked if I was up for a quick coding lesson because I missed the one I usually did.)

AI isn’t going anywhere. You might as well find a way to use it to your benefit. Imagine how much closer some of your goals are if you gave it a chance. Start using your study buddy and get to those dreams faster, friend.