Tips from our pros
Our Internal link opens in the same window:Center for Teaching and Learning (ZLL) accompanies our students on their journey at our university, from preparing to study, to taking exams. For example, the ZLL organises regular workshops on topics such as time management, learning methods, etc.
The ZLL also supports lecturers in the development, implementation and further development of contemporary and innovative teaching models.
So that students can also benefit from the broad knowledge of the ZLL, our experts provide you with useful tips on all aspects of learning!
Do's and don'ts when using AI tools in academic work
In this article, we offer a practice-oriented overview of how to get from an initial topic idea to a written paper using AI tools. For a more in-depth insight, we recommend the numerous textbooks on “Academic Writing”. Many of these can be found in the HFU libraries.
Although the following steps of academic writing generally build on each other, it is completely normal to have to go back in between − for example, if you adjust the research question after you have researched the initial literature. In addition, the effort required for the individual steps can vary, depending on whether it is a small term paper (e.g. ten pages) or a much more extensive thesis (which is also “rewarded” with many more ECTS).
Basic rules:
- Ask your supervisor if you are allowed to use AI tools. At HFU, students are advised by their supervisors as to whether AI tools can be used.
- If yes, you should clarify how the use must be declared.
Our recommendation
Many of the examples mentioned here can be found in the hochschuldidaktik akademie self-study course:
https://hochschuldidaktik-akademie.de/hausarbeiten-und-essays-mit-ki-so-schreibst-du-bessere-arbeiten/
A helpful overview of AI tools for academic work can be found in the book by Bucher et al. (2024) from page 38. Full access for HFU members via the HFU Library.
First I'd like to introduce you to Anna
Anna is studying “Marketing & Sales” in her third semester. For her upcoming term paper, she has chosen the topic “The influence of social media on purchasing behavior: Opportunities and challenges for modern marketing”. The scope of her planned paper is 20 pages.
Anna's research question
Anna wants to investigate how social media advertising and sustainability posts influence the travel behaviour of tourists. To do this, she has to explain in her literature section whether there are already studies that deal with this issue. To make her research transparent and comprehensible − for herself and for her professor − Anna records the following information in a table:
- What search criteria and keywords did I use?
- Which databases did I search in?
- Why did I choose certain sources?
Examples of AI tools in the literature search
Anna has started researching on External link opens in a new window:elicit.com and External link opens in a new window:consensus.app:
Reading and understanding texts
Anna has now found helpful literature for her research question. She has researched the HFU BOSS portal as well as various AI tools. Her paper should be 20 pages in total. As a general rule of thumb: one to two sources per page. Anna's term paper is not a Bachelor's thesis in terms of scope, so she will not be able to read 30 sources in depth. However, she plans to study around ten sources intensively. Thanks to the above-mentioned quick-ball system, Anna finds further relevant literature by reading individual articles and the literature cited in them.
(see also the video “Lesson 14: Step 4 - Systematic literature research with AI tools” from the External link opens in a new window:hochschuldidaktik akademie self-study course)
Anna remembers that she once heard that there are various reading techniques for efficient reading, such as “skimming” or the “SQ3R method”. Anna refreshes her knowledge of reading techniques with the following video and also learns how AI can help with text reading comprehension:
“Lesson 15: “Step 5 - Reading techniques” of the External link opens in a new window:hochschuldidaktik akademie self-study course)
After Anna has worked intensively with the sources she has found, she moves on to the next step: creating an outline.