Smarter Tools, Smarter Students
A Student View by Alaina C. Taube, Northwood University
Artificial intelligence is often misunderstood, especially in academic settings. Many people immediately associate AI with cheating, as if using it automatically replaces thinking rather than enhancing it. But this view misses the bigger picture. AI is not a shortcut around learning; it’s a tool that, when used correctly, requires more intention, creativity, and skill than people realize.
At its core, AI is only as good as the instructions it’s given. Tools like Claude or AI integrations within Microsoft PowerPoint don’t magically produce high-quality work on their own. They depend entirely on the user’s ability to “code” their thinking through prompts. A vague prompt leads to a vague result. A detailed, well-structured prompt, however, can produce something thoughtful, organized, and creative.
For example, when building a presentation, a student could simply type “make slides about friendship bracelets” and get a generic output. Or they could approach it strategically:
“Slide 1: Include five bullet points explaining the steps to make a friendship bracelet. Slide 2: Add a visual example. Slide 3: Suggest three color themes and design styles.”
In this case, the student isn’t avoiding the work; they’re directing it. They’re thinking about structure, clarity, and design. They can even refine further by asking for images, adjusting tone, or experimenting with layouts. This process mirrors tools like PowerPoint’s Designer feature, but with far more customization and efficiency.
The idea that AI is “cheating” comes from misuse, not the tool itself. Yes, AI can be used to generate entire assignments with little effort; however, the result is often shallow, generic, and disconnected from the user’s voice and course material. Without thoughtful input, AI produces low-quality output. In other words, using AI poorly is less effective than doing the work yourself.
On the other hand, when used intentionally, AI becomes a powerful collaborator. It can help brainstorm ideas, organize thoughts, improve clarity, and even push creativity further than a student might be on their own. It doesn’t replace learning; it enhances it.
For students at Northwood, this shift in mindset is especially important. Northwood emphasizes innovation, leadership, and forward-thinking. To stay ahead in modern industries, students need to understand not just how to use AI but how to use it well. That means learning how to write strong prompts, evaluate outputs critically, and refine results.
AI literacy is quickly becoming just as important as traditional computer literacy. The students who succeed won’t be the ones who avoid AI; they’ll be the ones who master it.
In the end, AI isn’t a shortcut. It’s a skill. And like any skill, its value depends on how thoughtfully it’s used.
About this piece:
Alaina C. Taube of Ira, Michigan, authored this piece as part of her Economics of Public Policies course at Northwood University. It is featured in the Summer 2026 digital edition of When Free to Choose, Northwood’s signature publication dedicated to exploring the importance of free enterprise and other tenets of The Northwood Idea. Click here to receive When Free to Choose in your inbox!