ChatGPT Introduced “Study Mode”, a New Way to Learn that Offers Step-By-Step Guidance

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IBL News
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IBL News | New York

OpenAI introduced “Study Mode” for ChatGPT, a new way to learn that offers step-by-step guidance instead of quick answers, designed to act more as an always-on tutor and less like a lookup tool. It aims to prevent—or at least discourage—students from taking homework shortcuts.

The company defined this new feature as “a new learning experience that helps you work through problems step-by-step instead of just getting an answer.”

This mode transforms the AI from an answer engine into a Socratic tutor, a pedagogical approach, developed after consulting with experts from over 40 institutions, that asks guiding questions to help students work through problems themselves instead of providing direct solutions.

OpenAI states that it is currently partnering with learning experts from Stanford “to study and share how AI tools, including study mode, influence learning outcomes in areas like K-12 education.”

The company aims to address educators’ concerns about academic integrity and cheating.

The feature is available to logged-in users on Free, Plus, Pro, and Team, with availability in ChatGPT Edu in August.

These are the key features, according to OpenAI:

• Interactive prompts: Combines Socratic questioning, hints, and self-reflection prompts to guide understanding and promote active learning, instead of providing answers outright.

• Scaffolded responses: Information is organized into easy-to-follow sections that highlight the key connections between topics, keeping information engaging with just the right amount of context and reducing overwhelm for complex topics.

• Personalized support: Lessons are tailored to the right level for the user, based on questions that assess skill level and memory from previous chats.

• Knowledge checks: Quizzes and open-ended questions, along with personalized feedback to track progress, support knowledge retention, and the ability to apply that knowledge in new contexts.

• Flexibility: Easily toggle study mode on and off during a conversation, giving you the flexibility to adapt to your learning goals in each conversation.

However, regardless of how engaging ChatGPT’s study mode becomes, it exists just a toggle click away from ChatGPT with direct answers. That could be quite hard to resist for many students.

In terms of market value, OpenAI’s “Study Mode” intensified the race among tech giants, with Google, Microsoft, and Anthropic each competing to shape the future of education.