Highline College Library: AI and ChatGPT Information: Tools for Students

Why would someone use ChatGPT?

When we asked ChatGPT to "explain what chatgpt is to someone with a limited understanding of technology," it said the following:

"ChatGPT is a type of computer program that can understand and respond to human language. Think of it like a very smart chatbot that can answer questions, hold conversations, and even write stories or poems."

It also said:

"The goal of ChatGPT is to make it easier for people to communicate with computers and get the information they need."

It's critical to understand that ChatGPT is creating content, not finding existing information, analyzing it, and giving you correct answers. ChatGPT may answer questions using some existing content it has been programmed with, but facts may be heavily mixed with content it makes up. Anyone who wishes to use ChatGPT and other AI products like it needs to be aware of this. Unethical usage of ChatGPT and other AI apps could lead to charges of cheating and/or plagiarism, which are serious student misconduct issues.

Additional resources:

To learn more about plagiarism, see the Highline College Library's Recognizing and Avoiding Plagiarism tutorial.
To learn more about Highline College policies related to academic integrity and dishonesty (including consequences for academic dishonesty), see the Academic Integrity website.

Using Generative AI Effectively as a Student

Using ChatGPT Effectively (for Students) (2:57)
This video from the University of Arizona Libraries helps to explain which tasks ChatGPT (and gen AI tools) can help students with, and which tasks it is not so good for.
Student Guide to Artificial Intelligence 2025
"This guide empowers students to engage with AI – academically, professionally and ethically. Understanding AI isn’t just useful; it’s essential. Learn to use AI responsibly, assess its influence critically, and join the conversation about its future."

How to Cite ChatGPT

Do you need to cite ChatGPT? The short answer is yes!

According to the MLA:

"You should:

cite a generative AI tool whenever you paraphrase, quote, or incorporate into your own work any content (whether text, image, data, or other) that was created by it
acknowledge all functional uses of the tool (like editing your prose or translating words) in a note, your text, or another suitable location
take care to vet the secondary sources it cites?"

Artificial Intelligence and Information Literacy

Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Information Literacy
In this guide from University of Maryland Libraries, learn about how AI works and how to spot common errors AI tools tend to make. You'll also learn fact-checking and critical thinking strategies for AI, how to cite AI in an academic paper, and how to learn more in-depth about AI tools and issues.