Brain First Principles
The ARC's AI Toolkit is designed to help you navigate how to use AI in your learning process by taking a brain-first approach - use AI to extend your thinking, not shortcut it. Before getting started, here are a few key things to keep in mind when working with AI:
- Identify your need – Be specific about what you’re trying to do.
Example: “I need to understand concept X for my exam” or “I want practice questions that test both concept choice and problem-solving.” - Frame the task – Decide how AI can help.
Do you want an explanation, a summary, practice problems, or a step-by-step breakdown? - Set your preferences – Tell AI the format that works best for you.
“Use bullet points,” “limit to 150 words,” “make a timeline,” “keep it simple.” - Stay in the lead – You need to lead the thinking and direction, not AI.
Check accuracy, compare with course materials, and make sure it fits your learning goals.
Prompt Templates
These templates help you use AI in a brain-first way — make sure you’re thinking, recalling, and connecting ideas yourself, instead of letting AI do all the work.
When to use: At the start of learning a new concept, when you’re trying to check or expand your understanding
1. Describe what you already understand.
This forces you to recall from memory, which strengthens learning.
2. Ask clarifying questions - Am I correct? What am I missing?
This keeps AI in a feedback role, not a replacement role.
When to use: Later in the learning process, when you need to apply what you know to specific academic tasks (e.g., discussions, assignments, or exams).
1. Provide the relevant information
This ensures AI has the right foundation.
2. Explain the context (“I need this for a class discussion/paper/exam”)
Context helps AI generate targeted, useful responses.
3. Ask AI to create specific practice questions for you to answer
This encourages active recall and practice, rather than just reading explanations.
AI and the Study Cycle
The sections below will help guide you through how to navigate using AI as a thought partner in certain parts of the study cycle process, and how to use AI to support—not replace—your thinking.
Open a section below to see tips and a quick example, then click Read the full guide button for a more in-depth discussion about prompting and considerations.
Pause & Reflect
Before you dive in, ask yourself:
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- Is it helping me learn—or just saving time?
- What do I need to do myself to really learn, even if it takes effort and time?
- How can AI support my learning without taking over my thinking?
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Pause & Reflect
- What’s hardest before class—getting started, focusing, or prepping questions?
- What must you do yourself vs. where can AI help?
Tips
- Explore the big picture. Connect the new topic to prior classes.
- Preview materials. Identify key terms, then check what you missed.
- Generate questions. Identify unclear areas and generate questions for class or office hours.
Quick Example
Template 1 - Build Knowledge
Brain-first prompt: “Here’s what I think the topic means in my own words. What did I get right, and what am I missing?”
Read the full guidePause & Reflect
- Do my notes capture key points and connections?
- Where am I unsure?
Tips
- Summarize notes. Then rewrite in your own words.
- Clarify concepts. Ask AI to act like a tutor and test you.
Quick Example
Template 1: Build Knowledge
Brain-first prompt: “Summarize these lecture notes in 3 sentences, then give one question I should be able to answer.”
Read the full guidePause & Reflect
- Do you feel ready to explain the material to someone else?
- Are there areas where things still feel fuzzy?
- What types of problems will be most helpful for the particular course and for deepening your understanding?
- Do you feel confident creating your own practice questions or problems?
Tips
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- Use AI to generate quiz questions based on your notes.
- Self-quiz - generate questions and answer them yourself before checking with AI
Quick Example
Brain-first prompt: “Here are my notes and my explanation of the concept of Plato's Republic in my own words. Based on my response ask me 5 questions that will deepen my understanding of the topic and provide feedback on what I may have answered incorrectly.
Plan with AI
AI tools can be help in mapping out planning and prioritizing tasks and timelines. Below are a ideas to get you started.
Pause & Reflect
- What takes me the most time—organizing, figuring out how to study, or practice?
- What part of studying often leads to the moment where something finally clicks for you?
Tips
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- Create a study plan - include spacing, interleaving, and retrieval.
- Self-quiz. Generate questions; answer before checking.
Quick Example
Brain-first prompt: “Given my syllabus and constraints (2h weekdays, 4h weekends), draft a 2-week plan with retrieval first each session.”
Read the full guidePause & Reflect
- Who’s motivated and available?
- What’s our goal for this session?
Tips
- Plan the session. Use AI to draft an agenda with activities.
- Generate practice. Ask for tailored problems tied to your course.
Quick Example
Brain-first prompt: “Using our notes on preterite vs. imperfect, create a 60-min plan with translation drills and retrieval activities.”
Read the full guide