SINGAPORE – Imagine having a professor in your pocket, a research assistant working behind the scenes, or a debate partner waiting at your fingertips.
Chatbots and other artificial intelligence (AI) tools are fast becoming part of campus life, guiding and quizzing students through lessons.
As the AI boom hits universities, students are experimenting with technology to sharpen skills, get instant feedback and personalise their learning.
Students told The Straits Times that while AI does make learning feel too convenient, they check their work and ensure they still do the “primary thinking” themselves.
“It has the risk of making learners lazy, but when used properly, it can make the learning process very fast,” said National University of Singapore (NUS) law student Serene Cheong.
Dr Ranganath Vallabhajosyula from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) acknowledged that finding a balance between overusing AI and genuine learning is “tricky”.
“One strategy is to rely on AI for a basic level of learning, and then gradually… apply it to learn more advanced concepts,” he said, adding that the onus is on students to still take ownership of their learning.
“We should use AI more ergonomically, wisely,” Dr Ranganath said, noting that it is important to discern where AI adds value and plan its use so that it supports -– rather than replaces – critical thinking.
Law students at NUS use a chatbot to practise cross-examinations in a trial advocacy course.
Piloted in March, the bot simulates scenarios – from a distressed or evasive witness to a stern judge who demands precision – letting students practise questioning and courtroom etiquette.
After reviewing case documents, they act as defence counsel questioning their ‘client’, while a virtual judge and prosecutor respond in real time.
Year 3 law students Emmanuel Wong, 23, and Ms Cheong, 21, said the chatbot keeps them on track. Mr Wong noted that the ‘judge’ overrules them and corrects them when they ask leading questions – something their peers may not yet be trained to spot.
Ms Cheong said it reduces “psychological pressure” as she can practise at her own pace and regain composure.
Mr Wong added that the bot helped him ask precise questions and handle non-compliant witnesses or unreasonable objections.
While in-person training remains essential, the bot allows more personalised practice, testing students’ grasp of concepts before tutorials and serves as a gauge of their understanding, said Associate Professor Mervyn Cheong, who drew on his experience with real cases to develop hypothetical facts and scenarios for the chatbot.
Some 126 students have used the tool.
“If they plunge straight into in-person practices, when a lot of eyes are on them, it’s difficult to overcome the anxiety,” he said. “But if they do it in their own space, they have time to think and respond accordingly.”
Over at Singapore Management University, a design thinking bot plays the role of a stakeholder, as students negotiate and interact with clients. Rolled out in Jan 2024, nearly 400 students from the School of Computing and Information Systems have used it so far.
Koufu cleaner Ah Wu (centre) with SMU students (from left) Kayla Anne Vinh, Emma Foo, Ong Swee Long and Wong Jun Wei taking a photo with their prototype cart. The cart was designed to help track food waste in a way that fit the cleaner’s needs best.
PHOTO: COURTESY OF ONG SWEE LONG
Year 4 computing student Ong Swee Long, 25, used the bot in a sustainability course, where his group was tasked to propose a solution to tackle food waste on campus.
