Kenneth Hendricks | Blog
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Leveling Up: How AI Changed My Study Game

Mar 7th By Kenneth Hendricks

Table of Contents

The academic world is undergoing a massive shift, and I’ve had a front-row seat. Back in 2023, when I started community college, AI was the “boogeyman.” It was brought up once on the first day of class and then avoided like the plague.

Fast forward to today, and the conversation is completely different. Professors actually encourage us to use it—as long as we cite it. But the real game isn’t just about using AI as a source; it’s about using it as a high-octane study partner. Here is how I’ve been leveraging it to stay ahead.

📓 NotebookLLM: The Ultimate Content Synthesizer

If you haven’t checked out NotebookLLM, you’re missing out. It’s become a cornerstone of my study routine. I feed it slide decks, research papers, and even video transcripts.

What’s really cool is how it can transform dry material into something digestible:

  • Slide Decks & Video: It summarizes complex lectures into clear points.
  • The Podcast Feature: This is easily one of the most interesting parts. It can generate a podcast-style conversation between two voices about your study material. It’s perfect for listening while I’m driving or just need a break from reading.

🗣️ ChatGPT Voice Mode: The Tutor in My Pocket

While NotebookLLM is great for deep dives into documents, ChatGPT—specifically the voice model—is my go-to for active recall.

I love to just talk to it. I’ll feed it the slides from class and then have a conversation. It helps me memorize things way faster because I can:

  1. Ask for Quizzes: Have it grill me on the material.
  2. Explain Concepts: If I’m stuck, I ask it to explain a point in a different way.
  3. Active Verification: If I get something wrong, it tells me the answer. If I’m right, we move on.
Kenny's Tip

Talking through a subject with an AI voice model simulates the “Feynman Technique”—explaining a concept simply to someone else to solidify your own understanding.

🧭 Final Thoughts

The transition from AI as a forbidden shortcut to a legitimate power tool has been wild. It’s not about letting the machine do the work for you; it’s about using the machine to sharpen your own mind. Whether it’s listening to an AI-generated podcast about your homework or having a voice-mode debate about history, the tools are there.

💬 How are you studying? Are you still avoiding AI, or has it become your secret weapon too?

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Written with reflections captured through voice conversation and powered by AI. Kenny | kenhendricks.me