Guiding Tomorrow’s Critical Thinkers Through Structured AI Prompting

As I write this piece, I am not too far removed from the full-time doctoral student experience (conferred summer 2022) and live by the mantra “work smarter not harder.” Generative AI allows students to work smarter and brainstorm topics and ideas by asking the AI tool for definitions and key considerations. Research indicates that technology can support students in their academic writing process by serving as a multi-tasking assistant, virtual tutor, and digital peer, which enhances their learning experience (Ambrose et al., 2010). With generative AI, students can ask to clarify research questions or ideas and seek guidance on how to frame an argument. Technology tools support the development of critical thinking skills by presenting diverse viewpoints and encouraging deeper analysis (Brookfield, 2012). Research has also found that AI-assisted writing can improve the quality of academic writing by providing immediate feedback on grammar, style, and coherence (McNamara et al., 2015).