assignments for management students

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Assignments.

The assignments in this course are openly licensed, and are available as-is, or can be modified to suit your students’ needs. Selected answer keys are available to faculty who adopt Waymaker, OHM, or Candela courses with paid support from Lumen Learning. This approach helps us protect the academic integrity of these materials by ensuring they are shared only with authorized and institution-affiliated faculty and staff.

If you import this course into your learning management system (Blackboard, Canvas, etc.), the assignments will automatically be loaded into the assignment tool.

Half of the written assignments are based on a fictional business called “Sun City Boards.” The business is initially profiled in the Why It Matters and Putting It Together sections of the Planning and Mission module. Additional information about the business appears in the Scenario and Preparation sections of each assignment. While these assignments work well together as a common framework for applying knowledge and skills developed through the course, it is not required to use all of the Sun City Boards assignments. Each assignment can stand on its own with the background information provided in previous assignments.

The other written assignments and discussions use a variety of approaches, depending on the subject and learning outcome being assessed; many ask students to go beyond course content to form connections between research topics and what they’ve learned in class. We recommend assigning  one discussion OR one assignment per chapter , rather than all of them.

You can view them below or throughout the course.

*This discussion invites conversation on race, which might require additional monitoring and involvement from instructors. This blog post from the Choices Program at Brown University contains links to helpful resources to facilitate talking about race in the classroom: “Approaching Race in the Classroom, Actively”

Rubrics for Written Assignments and Discussion Posts

For faculty using the assignments or discussions included here, there are also rubrics to assist you in grading. Instructors may download and modify these guidelines or use their own.

Grading Rubric for Discussion Posts

Written Assignment Rubric

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20 Effective Time Management Strategies and Tools for Students

Teachers can use these too!

One of the most important life skills for anyone to master is time management. Keeping track of everything that we have to do and carving out the time to get it all done can be a real struggle. Try these time management strategies and techniques, plus find helpful tools for staying on track.

General Time Management Strategies

Time management techniques, time management tools.

These time management strategies work for everyone, helping you set goals and prioritize, then set a schedule to get things done.

Visualize the big picture

Use a calendar of some type to lay out all your big-picture goals for a year, month, or week. Include major projects and assignments, as well as school and personal events. This is your place to get an overview of everything that’s on your plate. Keep items to broad descriptions: “History Project” or “Spring Play Opening Night.” You’ll get into the details next.

Break it down

The next step is to take major projects and assignments and break them down into smaller, more manageable parts. This is an incredibly effective way to overcome that feeling of “I’ll never get this all done!” It also prevents procrastinating on an entire project until the very last minute. Set smaller, more manageable goals with their own due dates in advance of a complete project or event.

For example, imagine your big-picture calendar says “History Project Due Feb. 23.” Breaking that down could look like this:

• Choose topic and presentation method: Jan. 9
• Initial research: Jan. 10-30
• Presentation outline: Jan. 31
• Write presentation script: Feb. 1-5
• Create visual aids: Feb. 6-12
• Rehearse presentation: Feb. 13
• Fine-tune presentation: Feb 14-16
• Final rehearsals: Feb. 17
• Give history presentation: Feb. 23

At first, this method might feel a little overwhelming, because it may make you feel like there’s too much to get done. But as you use it, you’ll see how it can actually make you feel more prepared and in control, and make your time easier to manage.

Determine priorities

Sometimes it’s simply true: You don’t have enough time in a day to get all the things done that you’d like to. That’s where setting priorities becomes vital. In the “Time Management Techniques” section below, you’ll find several different ideas for determining the priority of different items on your lists.

Once you’ve figured out which items are the most important, try a color-coding system to indicate which items get a higher priority. This will help you identify at a glance what you need to do now and what can wait until another day.

Make daily to-do lists

Make it a habit to start each day by creating a to-do list. (Not a morning person? You can do this the night before too.) Include high-priority items, as well as things you’d like to do but may not have to complete. Throughout the day, as you complete an item, revisit your list and check it off. It’s incredibly satisfying to cross things off, and checking in with your list a few times a day ensures you don’t forget important things.

Limit multitasking

Today’s world places a lot of value on multitasking (doing several things at once). But when you’re doing multiple things at the same time, you’re probably not doing any of them well. So keep your multitasking to a minimum. When it’s time to work on something, set your focus to that particular thing. Other stuff can wait.

But some multitasking is OK. For instance, you might throw your clothes in the washing machine, then work on your math homework while waiting for them to be ready for the dryer. Later on, you could fold and put away the laundry while practicing conjugating Spanish verbs out loud. This type of multitasking works because the physical tasks are ones that don’t require much concentration, leaving your brain free for academic subjects.

On the other hand, avoid something like trying to listen to a podcast for your history class while also doing your math homework. Your attention won’t be fully on each, and your learning will suffer.

Remove distractions

Some people are capable of deep focus no matter what’s going on around them. Most of us, though, need to find ways to remove distractions when it’s time to get down to work. Here are some examples to try:

• Turn off your phone, or set it to alert you only in case of emergencies.
• Wear noise-cancelling headphones or earplugs to block out distracting sounds. A white-noise machine or app can help with this too.
• Close miscellaneous tabs in your web browser (like social media or news sites), and use only the tabs you need for your work.
• Go into a quiet room and shut the door. Ask friends and family not to disturb you.
• Check your to-do list before you start to make sure you’re on track. Then, clear your mind of other projects or tasks, and focus on what’s at hand.

Do an end-of-day review

At the end of each day, sit down with your to-do list. Was there anything you didn’t get to? Move it to another day. Did you feel too rushed today? Think about how you might make tomorrow run a bit more smoothly. Where do you stand in terms of your big-picture goals? Take a few minutes to adjust any plans accordingly.

Try a time audit

It’s OK if you don’t get to everything on your list every day. But if you find that there’s never enough time to get things done, you might benefit from a time audit. Over the period of a week or two, write down exactly how you spend your time, hour by hour. Then, look it over and see if you can identify problem areas. You might need to cut down on some optional activities and give that time to high-priority items instead. Learn how to do a time audit here.

The time management strategies we’ve talked about so far are general ways to stay on track and get stuff done. But there are multiple ways to approach some of these strategies, especially when it comes to actually settling down to work. Check out these popular time management techniques and choose one or more that seem right for you.

Eisenhower Decision Matrix

President Eisenhower developed this matrix and used it to help him prioritize his tasks. He looked at each item to evaluate it by importance and urgency, then broke them into four categories:

• Do First: These are urgent, important tasks with high priority.
• Schedule: These are important tasks that aren’t quite as urgent.
• Delegate: You may be able to delegate less important but still urgent tasks to someone else.
• Don’t Do: These non-urgent, unimportant items can be eliminated entirely or postponed indefinitely.

Here are some possible student examples for each category:

• Do First: Homework that’s due tomorrow takes top priority, as might doing laundry if you’re out of clean clothes.
• Schedule: Set aside time (see Time Blocking) for smaller parts of long-term projects, such as research time or writing an outline. That could be today or one day in the near future.
• Delegate: Students aren’t always able to delegate their tasks, but they can ask for help. For example, if your schedule is incredibly tight, you could ask your dad if he’d be willing to throw your clothes in the dryer when the washer is done.
• Don’t Do: These are often bad habits you need to break, like surfing the web aimlessly instead of working, or texting your friends for hours instead of doing your chores.

Find out much more about the Eisenhower Matrix and how to use it for time management strategies here.

ABCDE Method

This is another time management strategy for prioritizing the tasks at hand. Assign each item a letter:

• A: Highest priority
• B: Should do soon, if not today
• C: Could do, but no serious consequences if not done
• D: Delegate or ask for help
• E: Eliminate from your list

This is very similar to the Eisenhower Matrix, with a little more flexibility around should-dos and could-dos. Learn more about the ABCDE method here.

Most Difficult First (Eat That Frog)

This method is based on a quote often attributed to Mark Twain: “If it’s your job to eat a frog, it’s best to do it first thing in the morning. And If it’s your job to eat two frogs, it’s best to eat the biggest one first.”

In other words, don’t put off the biggest, hardest tasks. Get them out of the way first. Then, everything else you have to do will seem easy in comparison.

For some people, though, this concept can be counterproductive. If you’re already feeling overwhelmed, tackling something extremely difficult can be too much and cause you to shut down entirely. In that case, it’s just fine to choose smaller, simpler items. The key is to make progress, one step at a time.

Pomodoro Technique

The Pomodoro Technique is a simple time management method: You work for 25 minutes at a time, then take a 5-minute break to rest and recharge. Simply set a timer for 25 minutes, and focus on one single task until it goes off. Then, you can spend 5 minutes stretching, resting your eyes, or checking your social media feeds. When the 5 minutes are up, set the timer for another 25 minutes, and get back to work. If you do four 25-minute sessions in a row, take a longer break afterwards. Learn more about the Pomodoro Technique here.

If 25 minutes seems too short and you’d like a little more uninterrupted time, try Flowtime instead. This stretches out both the work and break time proportionally. If you work for 25-50 minutes, take an 8-minute break. For 50-90 minutes, you get a 10-minute break. And if you’ve been at it for more than 90 minutes, take 15 minutes to recharge. Learn about Flowtime here.

Parkinson’s Law says that work will always expand to fill the amount of time available. Timeboxing seeks to shrink tasks back to the size they truly need to be. When you timebox, you set a specific amount of time for a task and complete it within that time.

In other words, you might look over your study planner and decide that you need one hour for tonight’s geometry and chemistry assignments, plus you’d like to spend another hour working on your English essay.

Set a timer and work on your geometry and chemistry for an hour, with no other distractions. When the timer goes off, reassess and adjust your goals as needed. Since you have to finish that homework tonight, you’ll probably need to add more time if you’re not finished.

Your English essay isn’t due for two weeks, though, so if you’ve boxed out one hour for working on it today, that’s all you need to do. Set a timer, determine your goals for day, and get to work. When the timer goes off, you’re done for today.

Here’s more on timeboxing.

Time Blocking

This method is similar to timeboxing, but it involves setting blocks of time aside on your calendar for specific tasks. For example, you might block out 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. each day for daily homework, 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. for working on your biology research paper, and 7 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for piano practice. Some people like to start each day by blocking time out on their calendar, figuring out how they’ll make the most of their time. Find out more about time blocking here.

Once you’ve selected some time management strategies to try, you’ll find plenty of tools to help make them work. Check out these top time management tools for students, from planners to timers and beyond.

Student Planners

Traditional paper planners come in a variety of styles, with some made especially for students. The most important thing is to choose one you’ll actually use, and keep it on hand at all times. See our selection of the top student planners here.

Planner Apps

Planner apps and online calendars are nice because you have access to them everywhere you go. For students, we really like:

• My Study Life

See more details on each of these here, plus more options.

Study Planners

Study planners are specific to academics, and they are a simple way to keep track of both short-term and long-term assignments, projects, and more. Check out these free printable options:

• Develop Good Habits: Study Planner
• Alex Marie: Weekly Assignments Due
• Sophia Lee: Homework Planner Pack

Time Management Apps

Planner apps are a good start, but other time management apps can help you stay on track by eliminating distractions or setting time limits. Here are a few to try:

• Pomofocus : A free online 25–5 timer with the ability to add a task list for each work segment
• Rize : An AI productivity coach that uses time tracking to improve your focus and build better work habits
• Forest : Eliminate distractions, stay on task, and grow a digital forest to celebrate your achievements

Bullet Journal

Bullet journaling has a lot of benefits, and some page setups are especially good for time management:

• Daily Schedule
• Project Planner
• Study Tracker

Check out our big roundup of bullet journal ideas here.

What time management strategies do your students find most effective? Come share your thoughts and ask for advice in the We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, ultimate study skills guide: tips, tricks, and strategies for every grade ..

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Ultimate Study Skills Guide: Tips, Tricks, and Strategies for Every Grade

Because they really do need to learn how to learn. Continue Reading

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Create an assignment

Use Assignments to create, collect, and give feedback on assignments in a learning management system (LMS).

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Fourteen Creative Assignment Ideas for the Online Classroom

April 10, 2024

In today's rapidly evolving world of higher education, online learning has become an integral part of the academic landscape. As institutions continue to embrace virtual classrooms, the need for innovative assignments that not only engage students but also address the growing concern of academic dishonesty has become increasingly vital. If instructors want to promote learning—true learning that fosters synthesis, critical thinking, and knowledge retention—assignments should necessitate students are actively engaging with the course material. This engagement may involve curating novel insights, synthesizing various sources, critically analyzing the content, or applying information in new contexts. Recognizing that learners’ time and attention are geared toward graded course assignments, it is essential that we embrace innovative assignment ideas that can foster critical thinking, analysis, engagement, and reflection.

The online classroom presents unique challenges when it comes to engaging students. While it offers unparalleled flexibility and accessibility, it also lacks the immediate interpersonal connection found in a traditional learning environment. Students who struggle to stay motivated, may disengage and have a lack of investment in their coursework. To counter this, educators must create assignments that capture students' interests, inspire critical thinking, and encourage active participation. Incorporating innovative assignments tailored to individual learning goals and preferences can help educators bridge the gap and create a more stimulating and inclusive learning experience.

Moreover, the rise of digital learning has led to increased opportunities for academic dishonesty. Traditional assignments, such as essays and exams, are particularly susceptible to plagiarism and cheating. As a result, educators need to think outside the box to develop assignments that limit the potential for dishonesty and provide meaningful learning experiences By adopting unique, experiential, and collaborative approaches to assignments, educators can cultivate a classroom environment where students are invested in their work and are less likely to resort to dishonest practices.

Innovative assignments can help mitigate the risk of academic dishonesty while providing students with valuable skills that extend beyond the confines of the classroom. These types of assignments encourage students to think critically, problem-solve, and work effectively in teams, which are essential skills for success in both their academic and professional lives. Furthermore, by giving students opportunities to explore their interests and apply their knowledge in real-world situations, innovative assignments can help foster a sense of ownership and pride in their work, ultimately boosting their motivation and dedication to learning. The following 14 assignment ideas provide unique opportunities for faculty to motivate and assess student learning:

• Description: Students create short multimedia narratives, combining text, images, audio, and video to share a personal or researched story.
• Sample directions: Create a 3–5 minute multimedia story based on a personal experience, or a researched topic related to the course. Use text, images, audio, and video to craft a compelling narrative.
• Tools: Adobe Spark, WeVideo, or iMovie.
• Learning objectives: Improve storytelling skills, enhance creativity, develop multimedia production abilities, and practice effective communication.
• Description: Students virtually explore museums, historical sites, or scientific institutions and create a presentation or report reflecting on their experience.
• Sample directions: Explore a designated virtual museum, historical site, or scientific institution and create a 10-slide presentation summarizing your experience and key takeaways.
• Tools: Google Arts & Culture, VirtualFieldTrips.org, or Prezi.
• Learning objectives: Expand cultural and subject matter knowledge, hone presentation skills, and improve critical thinking and reflection.
• Description: Students research a topic and create an interactive infographic that effectively communicates complex information in a visually engaging manner.
• Sample directions: Research a course-related topic and design an interactive infographic that presents complex information in an engaging and accessible manner.
• Tools: Canva, Piktochart, or Visme.
• Learning objectives: Develop visual communication skills, practice data analysis and interpretation, and enhance design abilities.
• Description: Students produce a podcast episode on a course-related topic, requiring them to conduct research, develop a script, and record and edit their audio.
• Sample directions: Produce a 10–15 minute podcast episode discussing a course-related issue, including background research, expert interviews, and your own analysis.
• Tools: Audacity, GarageBand, or Anchor.
• Learning objectives: Strengthen research and critical thinking skills, improve audio production abilities, and enhance communication and storytelling.
• Description: Students work together to create a wiki on a specific subject, with each member contributing to the development of content, organization, and design.
• Sample directions: Work in teams to create a comprehensive wiki on a specific subject within the course, with each member contributing to content, organization, and design.
• Tools: Wikispaces, PBworks, or Google Sites.
• Learning objectives: Build teamwork and collaboration skills, enhance content creation abilities, and practice information organization and presentation.
• Description: Students develop and execute a social media campaign addressing a course-related issue, focusing on creating shareable content and engaging with their target audience.
• Sample directions: Develop a week-long social media campaign addressing a course-related issue, creating content for three platforms (e.g., X, Instagram, and Facebook) and tracking engagement metrics.
• Tools: Hootsuite, Canva, or Buffer.
• Learning objectives: Develop digital marketing and communication skills, practice content creation, and analyze audience engagement.
• Description: Students participate in a simulated experience, such as a mock trial, business negotiation, or diplomatic negotiation, to develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills.
• Sample directions: Participate in a virtual mock trial, business negotiation, or diplomatic negotiation related to the course material. Prepare by researching your role, developing strategies, and collaborating with teammates.
• Tools: Zoom breakout rooms, Discord, or Roll20.
• Learning objectives: Enhance problem-solving and critical thinking skills, improve collaboration and communication, and gain practical experience in real-world scenarios.
• Description: Students create a digital portfolio showcasing their course-related work, reflecting on their learning experiences, and demonstrating their growth and development.
• Sample directions: Create a digital portfolio showcasing your course-related work, including reflections on your learning experiences and evidence of your growth and development.
• Tools: Wix, WordPress, or Google Sites.
• Learning objectives: Develop self-assessment and reflection skills, enhance digital literacy, and showcase personal and academic growth.
• Description: Students engage in structured online debates on controversial topics, requiring them to research, articulate, and defend their positions while responding to opposing arguments.
• Sample directions: Engage in a structured online debate on a controversial course topic, with assigned roles (proponent, opponent, moderator), and provide evidence-based arguments and rebuttals.
• Tools: Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Google Meet.
• Learning objectives: Strengthen critical thinking and research skills, improve argumentation and persuasion abilities, and enhance communication and collaboration.
• Description: Students create a series of blog or vlog posts on a course-related topic, reflecting on their learning process and engaging with their audience through comments and feedback.
• Sample directions: Write or record a series of three blog or vlog posts on a course-related topic, reflecting on your learning process and responding to audience feedback in the comment section.
• Tools: Blogger, WordPress, Loom, or YouTube.
• Learning objectives: Improve written or verbal communication skills, develop content creation abilities, and practice self-reflection and audience engagement.
• Description: Students become "experts" on a specific course topic and prepare a lesson, including multimedia elements, to teach their classmates in an online setting.
• Sample directions: Choose a course topic, become an "expert" on the subject, and prepare a 20-minute multimedia lesson to teach your classmates in an online setting.
• Tools: PowerPoint, Google Slides, or Prezi.
• Learning objectives: Enhance subject matter expertise, develop teaching and presentation skills, and foster collaboration and peer learning.
• Description: Students participate in a game-based learning activity, such as a digital scavenger hunt or escape room, that requires them to apply their knowledge to solve problems or complete challenges.
• Sample directions: Participate in a digital scavenger hunt or escape room related to course material, solving problems and completing challenges within a set timeframe.
• Tools: GooseChase, Breakout EDU, or Minecraft: Education Edition.
• Learning objectives: Reinforce subject matter knowledge, improve problem-solving skills, and foster collaboration and engagement.
• Description: Students collaborate with local organizations, virtually or in person, to address real-world issues and apply their course knowledge in a practical context.
• Sample directions: Collaborate with a local organization to address a real-world issue related to the course, develop a project proposal, execute the project, and present your outcomes.
• Tools: Zoom, Trello, or Slack.
• Learning objectives: Apply course concepts to real-world situations, develop project management and collaboration skills, strengthen community engagement, and enhance problem-solving abilities.
• Description: Students develop and present a webinar on a course-related topic, honing their public speaking, research, and presentation skills while engaging with a wider audience.
• Sample directions: Develop a 30-minute webinar on a course-related topic, including a presentation, Q&A session, and audience engagement activities.
• Tools: Zoom, Webex, or GoToWebinar.
• Learning objectives: Strengthen public speaking and presentation skills, improve research, and content creation abilities, and engage with diverse audiences.

The need for innovative assignments in the online classroom for college students is undeniable. By embracing creative, engaging, and authentic assignments, educators can not only address the challenges of student engagement and academic dishonesty but also help students develop valuable skills and a lifelong passion for learning. As we continue to navigate the ever-changing landscape of higher education, educators are responsible for adapting and evolving to ensure that we provide our students with the best possible learning experience in the digital age.

About the Authors

Jean Mandernach, Ph.D. is executive director of the Center for Innovation in Research on Teaching at Grand Canyon University. Her research focuses on enhancing student learning experiences in the online classroom through innovative instructional and assessment strategies. She explores strategies for integrating efficient online instruction in a manner that maximizes student learning, satisfaction, and engagement. In addition, she has interests in innovative faculty development and evaluation models, teaching and learning analytics, emergent instructional technology, and faculty workload considerations. Mandernach is an active researcher, author, presenter, and consultant in the field of online education. 

Morgan McNaughton, M.A., M.S., serves as a dedicated program manager at Grand Canyon University's Center for Innovation in Research on Teaching. Her research is centered around dynamic faculty development models, teaching and learning analytics, instructional technology, and cultivating a supportive adjunct faculty culture. With a wealth of experience in elevating student learning experiences in online classrooms, McNaughton has honed her expertise in implementing innovative and efficient program development strategies to help students and faculty alike.

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Teaching Introduction to Business with Mini-Projects

Article Summary

• Mini-projects are quick, low-stakes assignments that help bolster student understanding
• When supplemented by MindTap activities and textbook readings, mini-projects help students relate course material to real-world applications
• Mini-projects can build student confidence in speaking, engaging with others and presenting in class

Dr . Elizabeth Cameron is a Professor of Law, Cybersecurity & Management at Alma College

Teaching Introduction to Business provides a unique opportunity to inspire students to study Business and kickstart their careers. Actively engaging students in class discussion can excite them about the course topics, improve assessment scores, increase Business majors and improve retention .

One way to do this is by using mini-projects. Mini-projects are quick, low stakes and engaging exercises that help students apply course material in a memorable way. The key is to not overcomplicate the exercises or make them too time consuming.

Professors can use a bonus point incentive to grade these or mark them as engagement points. I assign mini-projects frequently and don’t award points because students love them so much that they willingly do them. These projects are also scalable for larger classes and can be done in breakout rooms with the most interesting ideas being shared with the entire class.

As an instructor, I have found the “Why Does it Matter to Me?” and “Learn It” assignments in MindTap to be a great prelude to mini-projects. The “Why Does it Matter to Me?” assignments help students better understand why the content matters in real life. Then, when the professor links the pre-learning to a mini-project, it cements this knowledge. The “Learn It” sections are also great ways for students to learn terms, definitions and elements. All of this advance learning application in MindTap helps improve the value of mini-projects and results in higher assessment scores.

Below are some of the mini-projects with MindTap that have been successful in my Introduction to Business class. For these activities, I reference chapters in my Foundations of Business , 6th Edition text. All of these mini-projects can be done face-to-face or online with modifications.

1. What Motivates You?

This goal of this mini-project is to have students link motivation theories to real-life application.

Before Class : Have students read chapter 10 on motivating employees, complete MindTap assignment(s) and come prepared to share one item that motivates them.

During Class : Ask students to identify one strategy to motivate employees when money is not an option. This is fun because you will see students build on each other’s comments, whether in the classroom or online. As a follow up activity, ask students, “How would you motivate your classmates?” If you assign group work like I do, this helps your students encourage one another.

2. Stranded at Sea & The Key to Effective Decision-Making

This project focuses on building critical thinking and identifying a problem or opportunity in the decision-making process. I actually led this assignment on Microsoft Teams and it worked just as well as in person.

Before Class : Have students read assigned chapter 6 on management and complete the corresponding activities.

During Class : Go over the steps in the decision-making process then ask students to comment on which step they think is the most difficult. They will have a variety of answers, with few students saying it is hard to identify the problem or opportunity (as not everything is a problem).

Next comes the fun part. Tell an outrageous stranded at sea fact pattern using numbers based on the size of your class, such as:

“The students in the class are traveling by ship to Portugal for a business conference and a sudden storm erupts. The ship sinks into the ocean and the only survivors are the students in the class — all others have perished. Your professor is not with you and is unlikely to immediately look for you. No remains of the ship are visible. You see that four of the students are hurt, and six students have no life jackets.”

Then, have students sit on the floor and “tread water.” Ask, “What is your problem or opportunity?” Students will start with food, sharks, water, injured classmates, etc., which are all symptoms of a greater problem or opportunity. A student usually spots an island. If they don’t, you can interject with this fact.

Once students are on the island, ask the question again: “What is your problem or opportunity?” Students will suggest getting food, starting a fire, helping the injured, etc. Then ask, “Are your problems over once you reach the island?” Typically, at least one student will say no, and that the problem or opportunity is “How will we function? Who will lead and how will we survive?” If the problem or opportunity is misdiagnosed, more people will perish.

Whether online or in-person, make sure to have students “tread water” to put them in a real frame of mind. Also, make sure to embellish the facts each semester as this exercise becomes legendary.

After this exercise, students will have learned a valuable lesson that correctly diagnosing the problem or opportunity is key to effective decision making.

3. Product Classifications

This project helps students better understand the product classifications and how marketing tactics change for each classification.

Before Class : Have students read the content on consumer product classifications in chapter 12, complete MindTap assignments and come to class to class prepared to talk about a product they purchased and its classification (i.e., convenience product, shopping product, specialty product, etc.). I give an example of a unique woven beach mat I purchased while in Hawaii.

During Class : Students will bring a variety of examples such as food, clothing, sports equipment or technology. What is very helpful about this assignment is that students often misclassify these goods. They correct themselves and revise their classifications as they hear their classmates’ examples.

In person, students give answers in a round robin fashion. When teaching online, I allow students to give verbal answers or post in the chat. Students enjoy this activity because they like talking about what they purchase and why. They leave with a solid understanding of product classifications and how businesses market products differently.

4. Shark Tank Analysis  

This project lets students pull together information from all chapters in the book and apply it to a real-life entrepreneurial venture. I discuss the assignment on the first day of class and have it submitted in the last few weeks of the course.

Before Class : Have students select an episode of Shark Tank and focus on one entrepreneur’s pitch. Students then write a one-page reflection on issues, concerns, recommendations and other connections to the course with little repetition of the facts.

During Class : Each student gives a five-minute presentation that demonstrates how their business learning applies to that entrepreneur’s pitch. Students also provide business recommendations to the entrepreneur. For online courses, you can use Bongo within MindTap to have students record a video presentation.

It’s amazing how students notice the topics that were covered in the course. I was also very surprised by which Shark Tank episodes interest students and how fun these class discussions are. For example, “ Squatty Potty ” was more engaging and hilarious than expected. If you have many sections or a large class, consider putting students into teams for this project.

5. Vacations and Hotel Stays

This mini-project aligns with the chapter on marketing and market segmentation. This is a new concept for most students and not always easy to understand.

Before Class : Have students read chapter 11 on building customer relations, complete MindTap assignments and think about a vacation they took, jotting down where they lodged and why.

During Class : Do a market segmentation mapping on the physical or virtual whiteboard with all the places students have stayed. Student answers typically include cheaper hotels (i.e., Super 8) mid-range (i.e., Holiday Inn) above mid-range (i.e., Sheraton) and some real high end (i.e., Ritz-Carlton). For online classes, expect the chat feature to blow up as students really engage with this activity.

After this exercise, students will better understand target markets and the ways that businesses segment the market to target a service or product to a specific group of people.  

6. Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

This project aligns with the “building customer relationships through effective marketing” marketing chapter and sub-topic. The exercise blends discussion on effective CRM, best management practices, marketing follow-up and effective business communication.

Before Class : Have students read chapter 11 on building customer relationships, complete MindTap assignments and think about a business that they continue to frequent because of great customer relationship management. Or, have them consider a business that has lost their patronage and why.

During Class : I put students into groups to discuss, then have them share their most interesting CRM story with the class. When time permits, I let all students share their stories.

After listening to their classmates’ stories on effective and ineffective CRM, students have a better understanding of the importance of a solid CRM plan.

Final Thoughts on Teaching Introduction to Business

Mini-projects are fun for discussion, but they also build student confidence in speaking, engaging with others and presenting in class. As an unintended benefit, these mini-projects also improve attendance, college retention and class friendships.

Every professor can benefit by letting students do more of the discussion. I believe learning goes full circle, and that professors learn as much from our students as they do from us. And above all, students learn a lot from each other. Share the floor, and you will find students more engaged and more excited about the material and your course.

For more teaching resources, check out this post on promoting student collaboration virtually and in person.

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And #11 Successful Students Learn Independently

16 Dealing With Assignments

Understanding your first assignment.

The number of assignments you will receive in a semester often surprises students. For some students, figuring out how to manage assignments is a new experience. For others who have had assignments in the past, the amount of work needed to complete assignments at the college level is what is unexpected. Most of the assignments you will receive will take longer than one session of study to complete. You will likely need to work on your assignment over several days or weeks. In this section, we will provide you with advice on how to understand the requirements of your assignment, and how to manage and track the tasks you will need to complete. We will provide you with some time management tips and an assignment tracker to try.

Assignment Terms

Assignment questions, outlines and marking schemes, breaking down large assignments.

How to breakdown assignments into tasks

• Understand the assignment: Read the assignment instructions carefully, and make sure you understand what is required. If you do not understand what you need to do, ask your professor as soon as possible.
• Create a task list: What are the smaller tasks you need to do to complete this assignment? Smaller tasks are activities like conducting research at the library or setting up group meetings for a group project.
• Create a timeline: Create a timeline that includes all the tasks that need to be completed. Consider how much time you will need to complete that task and when you will work on it. Set due dates for each task.
• Brainstorm ideas: Before you start writing, brainstorm ideas for the assignment. Think about the main points you want to cover, any research you need to do, and any supporting evidence you might need.
• Create an outline: Once you have a list of ideas, create an outline for your assignment. An outline can help you organize your thoughts and make sure you cover all the necessary points.
• Schedule time for research: Do your research before you begin writing. As you find sources, gather the information you will need to create a reference and take notes about essential information the source will provide and where this information fits in with your outline.
• Schedule time for revision: Plan to review your work before you submit. This can include checking your work against the assignment instructions or rubric, making changes to the content, and proofreading.

Here is an example of this process:

Key Takeaway from video

• Breaking down a large or medium-sized assignment into smaller pieces can help reduce stress, ensure completion of all parts of the assignment, and allow you to get other important tasks done too.

Using an Assignment Tracker

Time Management Considerations

Time management is the practice of organizing and prioritizing one’s activities and tasks effectively in order to maximize productivity and achieve one’s goals. For college students, time management involves creating a plan for allocating their time efficiently and balancing academic responsibilities with social activities, work, and personal obligations. It requires identifying tasks and goals, setting realistic deadlines, and using tools such as schedules, to-do lists, and reminders to stay on track. Effective time management helps students to reduce stress, increase productivity, and achieve academic success while still enjoying a balanced lifestyle.

• Procrastination:  Students tend to put off starting a large writing assignment until the last minute, leaving themselves with insufficient time to complete the assignment.
• Lack of Planning:  Many students do not adequately plan their time for the writing process, which can result in poor time management and a lower quality of work.
• Perfectionism:  Students may spend too much time trying to perfect every aspect of their writing, which can lead to time wastage and increased stress.
• Break the Task into Smaller Parts:  Instead of attempting to complete the entire assignment in one sitting, break it down into smaller, more manageable parts, and set specific deadlines for each.
• Create a Schedule:  Create a schedule for the writing process and stick to it. This will help you stay on track and ensure that you have enough time to complete the assignment.
• Avoid Distractions:  Avoid any distractions that can lead to time wastage, such as social media, television, and video games.
• Set Priorities:  Set priorities for your writing tasks, focusing on the most critical aspects of the assignment first.
• Use Writing Tools : Utilize writing tools such as spell check, grammar check, and citation generators to save time and reduce the need for extensive revisions.
• Take Breaks:  Taking regular breaks can help you stay focused and prevent burnout, ensuring that you produce your best work.

Avoiding Procrastination

Key Takeaways

Want more? The Learning Portal has more ideas for Managing Assignments.

A Guide for Successful Students 2nd ed. Copyright © 2023 by Irene Stewart, Aaron Maisonville, and Nicolai Zriachev, St. Clair College is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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• Our Mission

Teaching Students to Manage Their Digital Assignments

Predictable routines can teach students how to use organizational tools and help them develop their executive function skills.

You just wrapped up an invigorating conversation with your 10th-grade students. They contributed brilliant ideas, and you’re looking forward to reading the written reflections you assigned for homework. But when you log into Google Classroom the next day to grade their work, you find that nearly half of your students didn’t submit the assignment. Only two-thirds of them even opened the document.

Sound familiar? 

So many students who are engaged in real-world learning activities struggle to complete assignments in the digital world. Digital work is often out of sight and out of mind the moment they leave our classrooms. It can cause teachers and parents to wonder if being organized is even possible in our tech-focused society. 

1-to-1 Devices are Permanent Fixtures in Today’s Classroom 

Even before the Covid-19 pandemic pushed most schools into a virtual teaching model, students spent much of their instructional time on a device. A 2019 study out of Arlington Public Schools found that middle school students spent 47 percent of their time and high school students spent 68 percent of their time on a device. Findings from the study suggest that devices are frequently used for “reference and research, presentations and projects, and feedback and assessment.” 

By the return to in-person learning, 90 percent of students had access to a one-to-one device for school, and it’s evident that technology in the classroom (and workplace) is here to stay.  

Teaching Digital Organization Skills is Key

Although they have access to a myriad of digital organization tools ( myHomework , Evernote , Google Keep , and Coggle , to name a few), students may still struggle to organize their assignments and complete them from start to submission. We often assume that students can transfer organizational skills from the real world to the digital world, and we often ask them to quickly and seamlessly transition from hard-copy work (reading a chapter in a novel, completing a science experiment) to digital work, such as writing a reflection in Google Docs and submitting it to a learning management system (LMS). 

Digital files are perceivable to the human brain, but they aren’t tangible in the same way that binders, notebooks, and folders are. And while an LMS may aid students’ access to information, it doesn’t do the heavy lifting of organizing information and prioritizing tasks. These actions are highly demanding cognitive skills that students can be taught and practice in the digital world—even if students have already perfected them in the analog world. 

Teachers can prioritize strategic, direct instruction of organizational and other executive functioning skills for a tech-focused world. 

Streamline Your Classroom Resources 

The first step in helping students organize digital work is to organize your classroom resources on the back end. In coordination with your department, grade level, or district, choose one LMS and three to four instructional resources, and stick with them for the entire year. For example, you could select Google Classroom as your LMS and use PearDeck, Google Calendar, and EdPuzzle as instructional resources. 

Though it’s tempting to adopt new and exciting technology as it evolves, a revolving door of programs is difficult for students to juggle and can lead to app fatigue. 

Teachers can further streamline their classroom resources by color-coding folders and files in their chosen LMS, posting log-in directions in easily accessible locations, and offering a landing page in their LMS that holds all of the links to digital resources. 

Create Predictable Routines Around Digital Work 

Next, it’s important for teachers to create clear and predictable routines around organizing digital assignments.   

One routine that I’ve developed in my classroom is a living table of contents document. I create and print out a blank table of contents for each unit, and students house them in their binders. I then project the table of contents at the start of each class with the day’s newest assignments, and students fill in these new items on their hard copies when they settle in. Each assignment is numbered, and assignments located online that won’t appear in their binders are labeled with an “S” (for us, that stands for Schoology) to note that the assignment is in our LMS.

Another predictable routine is entering homework assignments into Google Calendar or agenda books together at the end of every class. Prompting students to write down their homework may seem elementary, but even older students appreciate the predictability and consistency of this routine because it reduces anxiety (rushing to write it down before the teacher moves on) and frees up brain space for critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving.

If you’re not sure that your current routine is clear and predictable, consider whether or not students could replicate your system in your absence. If students can’t get through the routine on their own, your routine may need to be articulated more clearly (such as being posted somewhere in the classroom), or it may need to be implemented more consistently.

Model a Variety of Organizational Strategies 

Similar to the process of how academic skills are acquired, teachers can model organizational skills for students. Consider creating opportunities to demonstrate strategies such as how and where to save documents, how to sync information across devices, how to share calendar events with peers and parents, and how to plan for long-term projects. 

You can also help students get more comfortable with organizational strategies by sharing “think-alouds” for task initiation, task prioritization, and time management. Consider using common language for reminding and prompting. For example, at the start of every new assignment, you could say something like, “Now that I’m ready to start, I’m going to open up Schoology, Google, and a Word document and close out of other tabs.”

Because executive functioning skills are not innate, providing language for them allows students to identify them, replicate them, and use tools to do them more quickly. Prioritizing these skills can improve student outcomes and prepare students for an increasingly tech-focused world.

Learning & Education

Google Assignments, your new grading companion

Aug 14, 2019

[[read-time]] min read

Instructors lose valuable time doing cumbersome tasks: writing the same comment on multiple essays, returning piles of paper assignments, and battling copy machine jams. These frustrations are most often felt by instructors with the highest teaching workloads and the least time. For the last five years, we’ve been building tools—like Classroom and Quizzes in Google Forms—to address these challenges. Now you can take advantage of these tools if you use a traditional Learning Management System (LMS). 

Assignments brings together the capabilities of Google Docs, Drive and Search into a new tool for collecting and grading student work. It helps you save time with streamlined assignment workflows, ensure student work is authentic with originality reports, and give constructive feedback with comment banks. You can use Assignments as a standalone tool and a companion to your LMS (no setup required!) or your school admin can integrate it with your LMS. Sign up today to try Assignments.

If you're one of the 40 million people using Classroom: you've got the best of Assignments already baked in, including our new originality reports . For everyone else, Assignments gives you access to these features as a compliment to your school’s LMS. 

Assignments is your tireless grading companion

Using an LMS can create more work than it saves: students turn in all kinds of files, you have to download and re-upload student files one-by-one, and what if students can keep editing after they already turned in their work? Assignments handles all this for you.

Assignments streamlines the creation and management of coursework, and tackles some of your biggest frustrations:

Stop typing the same feedback over and over by using a comment bank, and never worry about pressing the “save” button again

Check student work for originality and automatically lock work once it’s turned in

Assign files with the option to send each student a copy (no more copy machines!)

Grade assignments for an entire class with a student switcher and rubrics, and review any file type without leaving your grading interface

Comment and leave suggestions on student work with Google Docs

Instructors and students can attach anything to assignments: Docs or Word files for papers, spreadsheets for data analysis, slides for presentations, sites for digital portfolios or final projects, Colab notebooks for programming exercises, and much more. 

Help students turn in their best work with originality reports

With originality reports in Assignments, you can check student work for missed citations and possible plagiarism without interrupting your grading workflow. When students turn in a document, Assignments will check students’ text against hundreds of billions of web pages and tens of millions of books. 

If you enable originality reports on an assignment, students can also check their work for authenticity (a limited number of times) to correct issues, turn in their best work, and save instructors time grading. Since both you and your students can see originality reports, they’re designed to help you teach your students about authenticity and academic integrity. 

Getting started with Assignments

Starting today, you can sign up to get access to Assignments when it becomes available in a few weeks. Assignments will be available for free as part of G Suite for Education and can be used by instructors alongside or integrated with an LMS. 

Instructors can use Assignments even if your school has an LMS. There’s no setup required, all you need is to sign up and have a school-issued Google account. 

Admins can turn on access to Assignments within your LMS. Assignments is available as an LTI tool, which provides a more integrated experience and enables roster syncing and grade transmission to your LMS gradebook. Assignments is an improved and expanded version of Course Kit, so if you’re already in the Course Kit beta, you’ll automatically have access to Assignments. 

If you use Canvas, we’ve worked with their team to complement the Assignments LTI tool with a set of additional features that make Docs and Drive work seamlessly across all Canvas assignments. 

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• How-to Guides

Tips for Students: Writing Project Management Assignments

by MyMG Team · Published March 23, 2020 · Updated February 7, 2024

Is it confusing for you to kickstart the writing process for your project management assignment? Does all that jargon like sustainability strategies, project feasibility, or risk mitigation make you feel stressed?

What is the best way to highlight your challenging project management topic acceptably?

‘Phew, what a challenging paper! How can I find a professional writer to deal with these boring assignments?”

Ok, we hear you. You can do it online in a matter of minutes. In fact, assignment writing help services can take all your project management paper worries away and deliver you a custom essay or even a 5-star dissertation without any hassle for you.

Sounds fantastic? That’s exactly what they do.

“Ok, cool. Is this a reliable way to deal with my papers?” Sure. Unless you are super lazy and want to turn them in without any modifications.

“What do you mean?” If you want to avoid any troubles in your college or university and have no time/desire to write your assignment on your own, you can look for expert help online.

However, once you get a well-written paper on your topic from the expert writer in that subject area, you need to rewrite it and modify it to some extent.

If you do this, nobody will ever accuse you of cheating or plagiarism, and you’ll save tons of time instead of completing your assignment from scratch.

Now, let’s explore the top tips for writing your project management assignments.

Get Enough Time for Writing

Essay writing is an essential academic skill. To create amazing papers, it’s crucial to have a great essay writing competence. How do you get it? Through practice. Write often. Write a lot.

One of the golden rules of writing any kind of essay is to make sure you get enough time in your schedule for research and writing.

Understand that you need some time to complete the work without being in a rush. Rarely, you can come up with an exceptional essay overnight. For this, you need to be really motivated, inspired and loaded with facts, arguments, and brilliant ideas.

Of course, there needs to be adequate time for choosing a topic, doing the research, reading all the materials and taking notes, gathering the notes into a logical order to form an outline, and writing the essay. Without doing all these things, you won’t be able to submit a top-grade paper on time.

Once you finish writing your paper, you still need to put in some work. What does it mean? Your essay needs to be proofread, edited, and polished up.

Every student works at a different pace, so discovering how much time is needed is an individual thing, and the first most crucial essay writing skill.

Choosing a topic

This step is central to a knockout essay. That’s because the topic can make or break the article. Choose it carefully if you have such an opportunity. If the instructor has assigned a topic, then it is up to you to find a perfect angle on the topic to base your essay on.

Photo by Dollar Gill on Unsplash

Research and taking notes

The research phase is where the student dives into what others have written about the general topic. This step could be done before step 2 if the student needs help narrowing down the topic or the angle on the topic.

Jotting down notes during the reading and referencing the source for the notes will save tons of time later on in writing.

Forming the Outline and Writing the Essay

The notes are organized into groups that logically fit together. A description for each set is like a subheading. These can be arranged in chronological order or organized in a fashion that flows well from one idea to the next. This is the outline of the body of the essay.

Writing the essay consists of filling in the details for each of the sections in the outline. It includes writing a captivating opening paragraph and a memorable summary at the end.

Proofreading and editing

Unfortunately, this important step is often missed. Even the best essays will fail without detailed proofreading and in-depth editing.

It is best if this step is done by another person, as it is easy for a writer to overlook their own mistakes in assignment writing.

The proofreader and editor should be someone who is really good at writing, not just a neighbour or friend because they are available and free.

So now you know all the basic steps that you need to take to be able to submit a winning project management assignment on time. Don’t just sleep on these tips. Put them into work and you will see the results.

Alternatively, you may always choose a service for you to assist.

Tags: project manager student tasks writing

We are a small group of professionals specializing in project management. We wish you success in your career, business, studies, or whatever else you think is worth your time and effort—we are pleased to know that our advice is helpful.

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Table of Contents

Why is time management important for students, 10 time management skills and techniques for students, working smarter to enhance productivity, the benefits of good time management, how well do you manage your time, general time-management tools, time management in practice, implications of poor time management, how to better manage your time at work, choose the right program.

Effective time management is all about achieving the right balance between your homework, university/college life, and your free time. As a student, organizing your days will eliminate stress and ensure that you are productive. The general time management tips for students, such as sleeping well, scheduling, and prioritizing, are some important tips that can help students in the long run. A more strategic approach is required to optimize the time a student has in a day.

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Time management for students (and everyone else) is about making your day purposeful. It is about taking control of the time you have and optimizing it for focus, productivity , and above all, balance. Before we list out the time management tips for students, it is crucial for students to understand why time management is important.

All of us should make the most of the limited amount of time we have in a day. It is very easy to get wrapped up in a fury of various activities and accomplish less. Managing time effectively enables students to become more confident, and organized, and learn more efficiently. Effective time management skills are particularly essential for high school students, as they have to deal with more subjects, tests, assignments, and extracurriculars. Time management techniques can help students be on track and cope with the stress of added responsibilities. 

Following are a few more reasons why time management is important for students:

Enables You to Accomplish Your Goals Faster

Appropriate time management makes one more effective and encourages you to give your best to what you are doing and what you can, thus helping you achieve your goals much faster.

Enables You to Prioritize Your Work

When creating a timetable, you prioritize and arrange essential tasks that need immediate attention. For example, students have to complete assignments before attending a session. A student can fit in time to work on the assignments before attending a study group with correct time management.

Enables You to Get More Done in Less Time

Dedicating a specified amount of time to a particular task helps you focus on it. Instead of working on a given task with no predefined time assigned, you can complete the same task by sticking to a time plan. Without a time plan, you might completely forget to finish a task.

Reduces Stress Levels 

Time management skills can help you prioritize the time required for essential tasks; prioritizing tasks and having enough time to accomplish those tasks means reduced stress levels.

Helps You Become More Efficient

Effective time management helps you to be more focused at school/college/university, thus increasing your efficiency and enabling you to accomplish more within less time.

So, how can students learn to manage time more effectively? We have collated a list of the best time management tips for students to beat procrastination, stay focused, and be more productive.

Efficient time management is one of the primary keys to success, and thus, it is worth learning. Following are time management strategies for students to help them manage their time in the best possible manner.

1. Make Use of a Daily Schedule Template to Plan Your Day

Seminars, classes, and workshops may take up a chunk of your day, but how one schedules their own time makes all the difference. It is essential to master your schedule.

A daily schedule template helps you manage and control your time each day. It will enable you to stay organized and focus on what matters most and even help you overcome procrastination. The method that most successful people from Elon Musk to Bill Gates use is “time blocking”. Time blocking is creating a template for how you intend to spend every minute of your day. Students should therefore follow this method to manage their time more fruitfully.

2. Understand How You are Currently Spending Your Time (And Where You Are Losing It)

Your schedule will offer you an ideal version of your day, but you need to analyze how you spend your time to develop better time management habits. Without understanding how you are spending your time each day, it is impossible to build better time management strategies for students to stay focused.

3. Set Proper Goals to Measure Your Progress

Goals are an excellent way to get you motivated to do school work. However, the problem is that goals are just the result, with you not knowing how to achieve them. So, focus on what needs to be done to achieve that goal by focusing on constant progress and developing better habits. For example, if you need to write a 5,000-word essay in a month, set a daily goal of writing 500 words. If you continue this, you can complete your essay in a week.

4. Break Large Projects Into Smaller, Actionable Tasks

A part of proper goal-setting is to segregate large goals from smaller daily tasks. Doing this will help you stay focused and stop you from procrastinating. It is easy to procrastinate when a project feels like a huge task. However, taking that first step is all you need to build momentum.

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5. Be Realistic About the Time You Need to Complete a Task

Once you begin to schedule your tasks for the day, you may get overly optimistic about how much you can achieve. Psychologists also have a name for this – The Planning Fallacy. One of the most effective time management tips for students is to counter the planning fallacy. Students should add a buffer to their schedule depending on how familiar they are with the task. If it is something that has been done before, then 1-1.5X time must be allocated to the time they think it may take to complete the project.

6. Pay Attention to Your Body’s Natural Energy Highs and Lows

We all have moments in the day when we are more energetic and alert. And if you want to exploit the time you have each day to its maximum, you cannot fight against your body’s natural state. What does this mean in terms of time management tips for students ? Simply put, students should do their most essential work when they feel most energetic. This means scheduling intense projects during energy highs and scheduling passive activities when the body is at its natural low.

7. Take Breaks at the Right Time

Take more breaks to manage your productivity over time. But when exactly is the right time to take a break? Sleep researcher Nathaniel Kleitman states, “our minds naturally crave breaks after every 90 minutes of intense work. Even if you do not have a timer going, your body will let you know that you need a break by turning sleepy, fidgeting, hungry, or losing focus”. When you begin to feel this way, you know it is time to take a break.

8. Remove Distractions

Between social media, cell phones, and friends, there are so many activities that can distract students from their school work. When it is time to get down to doing school work, students need to turn off their cell phones and sign out of social media accounts. Any amount of time that is devoted to school work must be television and cell phone free!

9. Avoid Multitasking

It may be tempting for students to feel that they can multitask when their schedule is jam-packed. But the more one tries to do it at once, the longer each thing takes. Instead, studies have found that deeply focusing on one task at a time can be around 500% more productive.

10. Build Better Routines and Habits for Long-Term Success

We are what we repetitively do. One of the best time management strategies for students and everyone else is to develop routines and habits that endorse the kind of actions you would like to do more of, for example, following a morning routine that concentrates on getting an early win and prepping yourself for a productive day. Or, ensure your evening routine preps you for an effective next day by setting your goals and schedules the night before.

When planning, prioritize the more extensive, more complex, and time-consuming chores at the beginning of the week (or day), so you may complete them first and relax more as the week progresses. Front-load your week to maximize your chances of success. This is similar to Eat That Frog, a productivity strategy that recommends performing the most important or influential activity first every day to ensure it gets done.

Constant meetings, social media, and an endless stream of emails may make it challenging to create a productive day. Developing effective habits at work will enable you to accomplish your best job regularly. You have two options for increasing your productivity. You may work longer hours if you bring your job home with you. You may also work smarter by boosting efficiency without sacrificing quality. Let's look at some significant benefits of good time management are: 

Stress Relief

One of the primary causes of increased stress is poor time management. When you have a lot to accomplish and are unsure how to do it, you usually perform a rush job under pressure. However, with proper time management, you can schedule your daily chores so that you work smarter rather than harder. For example, you may prepare critical tasks for when you're most productive or set aside additional time for things you suspect will take longer than expected. So, even if you work longer, you will have enough time to complete everything while being calm.

By identifying task completion time, you can use less energy and worry less about whether you can achieve everything you need to do today. Instead, make time to take a break from your typical routine. You may preserve energy for your spare time since time management helps you to plan when your task will be completed before you begin it. Having more free time can help you achieve a better work-life balance and ensure you make time for yourself.

More Opportunities

Effective time management may help you achieve more success by improving the quality of your work. When you manage your time well, you not only provide excellent work on schedule, but you also work without stress. This displays improved decision-making abilities and potential for leadership . In other words, you exhibit traits that are necessary for job advancement. This will provide you with greater and more chances.

Ability to Realize Goals

You may simplify your day and spend less time selecting what to do or how to accomplish it if you use time management to arrange what you need to complete each day. For example, deciding what to do for each step before commencing the project may be beneficial if you have a complex project with an outline that requires several yet unclear phases. The project is then reduced to a short set of activities that give guidance. You save time by preparing your objectives rather than finding them out as you go. This might mean spending less time pondering what you should be doing and more time doing it.

There are several approaches you may use based on your time management abilities and experience, but the goal is to explain a system that works for you and makes sense in the position you're going for. In other words, if you're working in a team atmosphere, discuss an efficient time management approach for teamwork, such as getting everyone acquainted with project management software. Then, discuss the advantages of employing this method for time management. Going into depth about how this technique has worked for you demonstrates to the interviewer that you have real-world experience adopting this way to manage your time and aren't simply making it up.

Time management is critical to your success. You may achieve any goal you set your mind to by using an excellent time planner and master list. These are common time management tools and practices that you should employ to maximize productivity and personal organization. Each of these takes some effort to learn and perfect, but they will pay you back in increased efficiency and effectiveness for the rest of your life.

Prioritization

The 80/20 rule was developed by the Italian economist Vilfredo Pareto. It's believed that 20% of activities are accountable for 80% of results. The purpose of Pareto analysis is to assist you in prioritizing tasks that are most successful at issue resolution. List some of the difficulties you are experiencing. Determine the fundamental source of each issue. Assign a score to each problem and arrange them by cause. Add the scores from each group: The topic should be addressed first in the group with the highest score. Take some action.

Scheduling is the art of preparing your activities so that you may accomplish your goals and prioritize your priorities in the time you have available. When done correctly, it can assist you in realizing what you can do with your time. Ensure you leave adequate time for import duties and only take on what you can do.

Goal Setting

Smart goals enable people to plan and attain their objectives in a reasonable amount of time. It can also aid in improving time management in professional contexts such as school and the workplace. Smart goal planning may give direction for your aims and help you build practical measures to attain those goals if you want to manage your time wisely.

Concentration and Focus

Distractions are a major impediment to personal time management. Close the door to avoid as many distractions as possible. Only pay attention to what you're doing right now.

In terms of significance, describe your top two distractions over the next two weeks. Remember that staying focused during the day necessitates proper sleep habits and enough fluids.

Effective time management entails completing more vital tasks in a single day. Effective time management is more important than efficient time management. The most successful time managers are also the most efficient. Try some time management software. The first time management tool you require is a time planner, which provides all the information you need to plan and arrange your life. The most excellent time planners, whether looseleaf or electronic, allow you to prepare for the whole year, the month, the week, and each day.

We all know that there never seems to be enough time in the day, and as a result, things slip by the wayside. While this occurs to the best of us from time to time, students who battle with time management regularly are doing themselves no favors.

Poor Workflow

Poor efficiency results from a failure to plan and keep to goals. For example, completing related chores concurrently or sequentially is an intelligent approach if many significant tasks need to be accomplished. However, if you plan, you may be able to bounce back and forth, or backtrack, in your job. This equates to decreased efficiency and output.

Wasted Time

Wasted time arises from poor time management. For example, chatting with pals on social media while working on an assignment is a distraction and a waste of time.

Loss of Control

You will lose control of your professional life if you do not know the next assignment. This might lead to increased tension and worry.

Poor Quality of Work

The quality of your work could be better when you manage your time well. Quality is often degraded when things are rushed at the last minute.

Poor Reputation

When clients or your company cannot rely on you to finish things on time, their expectations and impressions of you suffer. A client who needs to trust you to complete a task on schedule will likely look for another service provider.

Your ability to manage your time affects how productive you are each day. You can accomplish more in less time with effective time management, which also helps you feel less stressed and advance in your profession. Instead of just using the following tools as a timetable to complete more tasks, make them represent your values—what is most important to you. When you arrange and calendar your time and make the split-second decisions essential to efficient time management for balance and well-being, remember these principles.

1. Know How You’re Spending Your Time

You need to keep track of what you do with your time to identify any activities or routines preventing you from achieving your desired objectives. You must start and end each day with a purpose to make the most of your time.

You have two choices for keeping track of your time:

• Spend a day or two manually recording your activities in a "time log."
• To automatically log your time, use a free program like RescueTime.

2. Stick to a Daily Schedule

While making a to-do list is a common theme in time and productivity management advice for students, mastering your daily schedule is even more crucial. 

Time blocking is the strategy of choice for many of the most successful people in the world, including Bill Gates and Elon Musk. But time blocking is planning how to spend each minute of your day.

• Create Realistic Timelines: A schedule must be practical to be effective. Plan your study time wisely to increase your study skills. The study techniques of the students vary from one another. This entails scheduling time for breaks, meals, exercise, social interaction, phone calls to loved ones, and all other "non-school" activities that keep you content and motivated.
• Give your undivided Attention: Your best friend in this situation is "self-discipline" and "self-control." If you must take a break, do so, but try to avoid sneaking away to other websites while working. Turn off your phone or put it away until it's time for a scheduled break.

3. Prioritize

1440 minutes make up one day. Within these hours, you must set practical priorities. Setting suitable priorities for your study goals is one of the sage study advice. If you have a lot of material to learn, start breaking it down into manageable chunks and choose what is most crucial. One of the best study strategies is making the most of your morning hours when nobody is awake to disturb you since they are asleep.

• Do immediately: Tasks that are crucial and have clear deadlines, or ones you've put off so long they're past due.
• Schedule for later: Crucial assignments with no set deadlines.
• Delegate: Those tasks that others can execute.
• Delete: Activities you can skip since they are optional to achieving your objectives or carrying out your mission.

4. Tackle the Most Difficult Task First

You should complete your most crucial tasks when you're most energetic. This entails arranging writing or other demanding tasks for when your energy levels are at their highest and reading or other passive pursuits for when they are at their lowest.

Brian Tracy's renowned Eat That Frog productivity technique is quite effective for those who delay or find themselves procrastinating frequently or who may have difficulty avoiding distractions. It suggests starting with the task that is the hardest, most complicated, and most critical, i.e., the one you're most inclined to put off for later. Once you've "devoured that frog," only then should you move on; that too without much stress.

5. Batch-Process Similar Tasks

Task batching is when you organize related jobs or tasks into groups and finish them all at once. Using this method, you can easily cut down on multitasking and extend your time to give all your projects your full attention.

For instance: At around 10 to 11 a.m. daily, organize and respond to emails and organize your digital study materials simultaneously.

6. Set Reasonable Time Limits

Focus on what has to be done to reach and surpass the objective instead of starting at the end and moving backward. You might take a full day to finish two different tasks that could be completed in only three hours if you had a full day to do so. There's a good possibility you'll still reach the earlier deadline if you give yourself a shorter window.

What can you do every day to further your ultimate aim? This entails putting an emphasis on steady improvement and forming improved routines. Even better, seeing daily progress will spur you to do more. Work "expands to occupy the time given to do it," according to Parkinson's law.

7. Learn When to Say No

Our energy levels are limited each day and tend to decrease with time. It is wise to know your limits and be prepared to say no to prevent doing subpar work. Understand your advantages and disadvantages. It is ideal for concentrating on one's strengths and delegating tasks that others can complete more quickly and effectively.

8. Avoid Multitasking

Concentrate on one item at a time to manage your time and commit it to study effectively. Nothing gets accomplished when you attempt to perform too many tasks at once. So, starting with one activity, finishing it, and moving on to another is one of the greatest study- focus- ideas .

When your schedule is packed, believing you can multitask is tempting. But everything takes longer the more you try to complete it at once. Instead, studies show that concentrating intently on a single activity can increase productivity by up to 500% . The American Psychological Association claims that mental juggling comes with "switching costs" that reduce your output. Changing tasks may take a few seconds each, but it adds up if you multitask regularly. Your potential for error also increases.

9. Keep Things Organized

Efficiency will rise if your workspace is tidy and organized because you won't have time to look for paper. Learning how to be organized is a talent that can be known. Start with these fundamentals.

• Maintain a clean work desk: The office's physical surroundings greatly impact how you operate. When your environment is chaotic, you are too. You can also be affected by clutter in less direct ways. Research has demonstrated that your physical settings substantially impact your cognition, emotions, and behavior, affecting how you make decisions and interact with others.
• Coordinate your computer files and shared drives: Loss of files and decreased productivity might result from improperly arranging shared files. Nothing is more confusing than spending most of your working hours searching your system for files. Create distinct folders for your files according to their categories to save yourself the hassle.
• Use a calendar: Using a well-organized calendar, you can manage your time to keep on top of your to-do lists and maintain focus throughout the workday. Although many executives have secretaries who work their calendars, anyone may utilize the same procedures to become more productive.

Level up your project management skills with Simplilearn's comprehensive courses. Gain practical knowledge, industry insights, and globally recognized certifications. Take charge of your career and achieve project success with Simplilearn!

Program Name PMP® Certification Training Course PMP Plus Post Graduate Program In Project Management Geo All Geos All Geos All Geos University PMI Simplilearn University of Massachusetts Amherst Course Duration 90 Days of Flexible Access to Online Classes 36 Months 6 Months Coding experience reqd No No No Skills you wll learn 8+ PM skills including Work Breakdown Structure, Gantt Charts, Resource Allocation, Leadership and more. 6 courses including Project Management, Agile Scrum Master, Implementing a PMO, and More 9+ skills including Project Management, Quality Management, Agile Management, Design Thinking and More. Additional Benefits -Experiential learning through case studies -Global Teaching Assistance -35PDUs -Learn by working on real-world problems -24x7 Learning support from mentors -Earn 60+ PDU’s -3 year course access Cost $$ $$$$ $$$$ Explore Program Explore Program Explore Program

Time management for students is highly intimidating, especially when you have multiple things on your to-do list. It is one of the most challenging tasks for students as they are expected to fare well and produce good results while handling the pressures of school assignments, homework, projects, and maintaining a social life. However, with our list of time management tips for students, we are confident that students will be able to come up with an arrangement to ensure that every day is as productive as possible. 

As you know, there is never an end to learning. To make your day more effective, you can always take up courses as a student to boost your career. A PMP® Certification Training  from Simplilearn will help you master core project management tools as a strategic tool for business transformation.

Our Project Management Courses Duration And Fees

Project Management Courses typically range from a few weeks to several months, with fees varying based on program and institution.

Recommended Reads

An Introduction to Project Management: A Beginner’s Guide

6 Effective Time Management Tips For Achieving Your Goals

The Best Guide to Time Series Forecasting in R

Project Management Interview Guide

Top 16 Time Management Skills to Help You Become a Success

A Simplified and Complete Guide to Learn Space and Time Complexity

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Top 7 Homework Planner Apps for Students

Whether you are attending classes, completing your assignments, studying for a quiz, project work, extra-curricular activities, or squeezing some time for friends and family. You’d agree that organizing and planning goes a long way. That’s why a homework organizer or a homework planner app can be a lifesaver to keep track of all your assignments, tests, submission deadlines, and exams. I did the research and shortlisted the perfect homework planner apps for Android and iOS. Let’s check those out.

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Homework Planner Apps for Students

1. student planner- homework agenda & notes.

The first app on the list is a simple homework and notes management app. It keeps track of homework, assignments, projects, and to-do lists. The layout is minimal, all the tasks are neatly organized with a colored bookmark for easy identification. You can mark a task complete and remove it from the pending list.

Courses can be added easily and color-coded as well. The calendar shows any upcoming deadlines so you can prioritize accordingly. The tasks have a progress bar that you can adjust as you make progress which enables you to get a quick summary without actually opening every task.

You can also break your assignments in small chunks as subtasks that would make finishing a task much easier and the progress bar will fill automatically. It also allows you to attach media files to your assignments or projects for easy access to the important information in one place.

• Progress bar
• Deadline Reminders
• Calendar View
• No option to sync data to the cloud

Student Planner is a great app for all the students, it has all the necessary features like Deadline reminders, subtasks, progress bar, color-coded tasks, and courses. It can significantly increase your productivity when used regularly. You can get this app for free in the Play Store.

Install Student Planner- Homework Agenda ( Android )

2. Student Planner

Student Planner is another fast and simple homework management app which is wrapped by a beautiful and intuitive material designed UI. What Student Planner adds to the table is the inclusion of a schedule or time table which you can use to either store your class schedule or it might even be a study schedule for your exams.

You first start by adding your subject and the schedule then you can add an assignment or set a reminder. The due assignments are arranged as separate cards and can be swiped away once done with.

•  Simple and easy to get started with
•  Fast and small in size
•  Beautiful Minimal UI
•  Option for Schedule
• No sync/backup
• Timetable implementation not perfect

I would recommend this app to anyone who is looking for a simple homework management app with timetable support and a minimal UI.

Install Student Planner ( Android )

Egenda is simple. Open the app, add all the classes or subjects to the app, and once that is set up, you have the option of adding a new Homework, Quiz, Project, or Test and choose the respective subject deadlines. The app also arranges the due work in cards that can be swiped away when done. But what I love the most about this app is that the fact it allows you to go subject-wise and view all your upcoming tests, projects, or pending assignments which is a huge convenience for planning your schedule ahead of time instead of the previous day.

Unfortunately, the app doesn’t have a timetable option, but in its latest update, it added a  Calendar View  where you can see your whole month at a glance with your assignments, tests, and projects.

•  Subject-wise sorting
•  Calendar View
• No timetable support

Egenda provides some great tools for Homework and Test planning and I am sure anyone would find them extremely convenient and useful. But keeping its single con in mind, go for this app if you are not too keen on having a schedule or timetable.

Install  Egenda  ( Android  |  iOS )

4. ChalkBoard

The next app on our list is ChalkBoard, which I found out to be a pretty smart homework planner app. Chalkboard strikes a perfect balance between simplicity and features.

Although the setup process is a little longer than the previous three apps, as you have to feed meticulous details about the classes, teacher, and schedule. It is worth the effort.

On the home screen, you are shown upcoming classes, events tab, and upcoming tests. ChalkBoard fetches the dates for every subject from the Timetable for your future classes. Little features like these make the app stand out from the rest and give an overall great experience. You can also view classes and assignments subject wise.

• Proper Timetable
• Ability to add teachers for subjects
• View tomorrow’s classes as well as assignments/tests/quizzes
• Smart features
• Little longer to set up
• No calendar view

If you are looking for a homework planner as well as a school planner, Chalkboard is the app as it strikes a great ground with almost all the features one might need while not being too bulky.

Install ChalkBoard ( Android )

5. School Planner

School Planner is a full-fledged planning application designed for students to manage their career as a student. Along with your homework and timetables, School Planner offers you to keep track of your grades and attendance, add contacts for teachers, add recorded lectures, and even multiple planners.

The app supports backing up of all your data via Google Drive, Calendar View along with a weekly report, attaching snapshots to your assignment reminders, student accounts from ClassViva, and a lot more. In spite of so many features, the app doesn’t feel slow at all and delivers a powerful performance with its beautiful design.

• Full-fledged student companion
• Feature-packed and free
• Supports sync and backup
• Widget Support
• Tedious setup procedure
• Big in size
• Complex, not so smooth learning curve

While it is not for someone who is looking for a fast and easy way into homework management, School Planner is a great student companion app and serious students will surely get the most out of hit.

Install School Planner ( Android )

6. My Study Life

My Study Life comes with its own web app and syncs with the Android app, essentially making your data accessible from any device as long as it has a browser.

It implements a goal-centric circular tracker that shows your progress. The Calendar view combines your timetable, deadlines, and shows all your classes and assignments, projects in a single place.

• Refreshingly new UI
• Access from anywhere through its web app
• Sync and Backup
• Lengthy setup process

If you study from your computer or laptop, My Study Life makes it easy to access your homework planner on your phone from your computer, while not compromising on features and being completely free. What more can you ask for?

Install My Study Life ( Android  |  iOS )

7. iStudiez Pro

Like School Planner, iStudiez Pro includes grading and subject wise organization of tasks. iStudiez Pro takes it further with the integration of Google Calendar that allows you to directly get all your holidays, exam schedule, routine from Google Calendar itself.

It also offers separate apps on all platforms including iOS, Mac, and Windows. All the apps sync seamlessly between themselves, so studying on your computer consulting your planner won’t be an issue.

• Google Calendar Integration
• Cross-Platform
• Cumulative Price

If Google Calendar integration and cross-platform support is a must for you, iStudiez Pro is definitely the app you want.

Install iStudiez Pro ( Android   |  iOS )

So this was our roundup of the best homework planner apps for Android. We genuinely think that there is an app for every need and we hope that you found a Homework Planner that suits your need whether you are a high school student or a college senior. So which one was your favorite or did we forget to add yours? Let us know in the comments below.

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Assignments are an essential part of academic life. It has the ability to make a significant difference in students’ internal grades. If your teachers or supporting staff are worried about how to handle these valuable assignments for every subject, class, and student, then relieve them by offering the featured SchoolOnApp Assignment Management System! If your teachers are stressed, you could help them by providing a solution for their most challenging tasks including the management of assignments. During a period of rapid evolution, more and more students are learning in several formats that include blended as well as fully-online courses. And during this time when changes in teaching methods have yielded more focus on digital platforms for efficient assignment management like Assignment Management System, it's time to strike a balance between being both highly organized and supportive. The Assignment Management System monitors the progress of learners in school since numerous things like completing assignments, attending classes consistently and improving overall grades directly affect their qualification. Studying along with exams means that you have to balance your studies and live a social life. If you’re looking for some good Assignment management system or app, better grading combined with a student monitoring system can eliminate risks of losing important documents like assignments and monitor whether they are ensuring the expected progress through self-assessments on a regular basis. As a teacher, one of the biggest problems you'll face will be making as many different assignments for as large a number of students as possible without becoming overwhelmed by the workload. We suggest that you to check our homework or assignment section because it includes an easy assignment creation feature which can automate part of the process of the Assignment Management System.  It's a common complaint of many parents that their assignments aren't properly graded by their teachers as they run out of time. Thankfully SchoolOnApp, as the leading student management software company. Encourage your teachers to evaluate students through a better student assignment management system that will allow them to properly assess their students. Accuracy and efficiency should be the main points of focus when organizing assignments, tests, and evaluations.

Key Features of Student Homework and Assignment Management System

• Students can submit assignments according to the end date of the academic year which will make their lives easier by managing their untiring day-to-day workload easily.
• Assignments can be provided by the teacher for different classes according to their subjects. And students can complete the assignment in a single click with the help of a mobile application.
• Multiple Attachments are Available This student assignment management system can attach a wide array of file types to each assignment by students such as PDFs, Word docs, images and many other types of files.
• The Project Tracker allows teachers to mark the status of each project from their end, so the complete status of each project can easily be tracked.
• The interface of the Student Assignment Management System is friendly in a way that it's not difficult to navigate around. With an intuitive design, students and teachers are able to access their data without any trouble.
• When a student is approved to take on an assignment, the instructor can then assign that assignment for the student. The teacher usually needs management approval in order to give out any required assignments.

benefits of Student Assignment Management System

• Your app should be both accessible and engaging as possible, to ensure that your employees/customers can access the information they need when they need it most.
• Assign the homework to include a mobile app which is subject wise.
• Remember that you can filter assignments by project, due date and various other parameters via our mobile app.
• Attachments needed from multiple perspectives i.e. PDF, Word, Jpeg etc.
• Create multiple tasks for multiple classes on a single click.
• For those with a limited amount of time, Quick assigning allows you to assign in a time range.

Online & offline assessments

SchoolOnApp cutting-edge online Assignment management system has workflow automation that supports all kinds of assessments creation, such as online, offline, competency-based, rubrics-based and outcome-based assessment. SchoolOnApp Assignment management system is a software created for schools to plan and design assessments of their choice, run from any device, and instantly assess followed by real-time analysis of student performance data. The assessment pattern mapping with question papers provides another dimension to measure the efficiency of a student!

Catered to Everyone's needs

Students -  Online Assignment management system can be streamlined to work on mobile devices. Once you have taken an assessment, whether it's a final exam or a personality test, you will instantly receive your results online.

Faculty -  Dashboard views keep students in check by keeping them on task towards their education goals. This ultimately benefits teachers and parents knowing that their children are on the right track as well.

Management -  Gain vigilance over the students' progress and forms of assessment; gives you a chance to measure their progress and be able to reflect on ways to improve, amend your plans accordingly, and ensure that all learning outcomes will be met in time for any accreditations.

                                    SchoolOnApp has proven to be invaluable towards our continuous improvement initiatives pertaining to Assurance of Learning. SchoolOnApp allows us to map each assessment component with its corresponding Learning Outcome, thus making it much easier for us to identify areas in which we are doing well as well as where we need more effort and attention. We can also see at a glance how many students have attained the “Design” level of each outcome because this information is recorded automatically in title and subtitle fields for each student's records. This allows SchoolOnApp users including course administrators, teachers, coordinators and designers, technical support personnel and students themselves to easily see what needs attention in their programs based on the Design Outcomes-specific data and activities that need completion.

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Stay on top of coursework with an assignment tracker template

Time management aids are one of many things that can help students increase their chances of success when they attend college or high school. A simple assignment tracker template may not look like much at first, but when used correctly, it can help students manage day-to-day workloads and class schedules. Find out more about assignment tracker templates in this article.

What is an assignment tracker?

Assignment trackers are a must-have addition to any student’s toolkit.

An assignment tracker is a tool that helps learners break down difficult assignments into more manageable chunks. For example, if an assignment asks a student to pick a topic and then write an essay plus make a presentation to the class, the tracker might cover the following tasks:

• Pick a topic
• Research the topic
• Plan/outline the presentation and essay
• Draft the essay (with a rough number of paragraphs)
• Draft the presentation (with a rough number of slides)
• Compile the bibliography

How much time the student would dedicate to each part of that work would depend on the number of credits the module is worth and how much the assignment itself is worth as a percentage of the learner’s grade.

Assignment trackers give students a visual indication of how much work would go into completing the assignment. This can help reduce procrastination and also give those who tend to feel overwhelmed at large projects a way to mark the progress they’ve made.

How can assignment trackers help you manage your time more effectively?

Compared to those in high school, college students have a lot more freedom in terms of their ability to manage their own schedules. A typical high school student will spend around 30 hours in the classroom each week, while college students spend half that time in face-to-face lectures or classroom environments. However, the actual workload in college is higher, with most courses requiring 2-3 hours of self-directed study per hour of contact.

Some students, especially those who are juggling their studies with part-time work or extracurricular activities, may find it hard to adapt to having to do so much self-directed study. Using an assignment tracker can help students stay organized by giving them an easy way to manage their academic life, making those lengthy and in-depth assignments seem more approachable.

Assignment trackers are particularly useful for coursework-heavy subjects because they help students prioritize work based on due dates and break each assignment into smaller pieces, making it easier for them to manage their course load.

Assignment trackers give a measure of progress

Some students experience writer’s block  or find it hard to measure their progress, especially when they spend lots of time brainstorming or mapping out sections of their paper. In their mind, their target is 2,500 words, and after 4 hours of reading and brainstorming, all they’ve managed to write is six headings.

Breaking down an assignment into clear stages is an introduction to the project management skills  students will use when they graduate. Team projects are a great time to learn about Gantt charts , for example.

Online time management tools for digital natives

Today, many college students are working remotely for at least part of their studies. Online lectures and access to digital libraries can save students a lot of time in terms of travel. However, remote learners typically get less face time with their teachers than those who attend in-person lectures.

In some ways, the challenges of working remotely can be a blessing. Students who manage their time effectively and achieve good grades on a course with a significant distance learning element have proven they have self-discipline and the ability to take the initiative when studying at a higher level. These are skills employers appreciate.

Taking advantage of online productivity and collaboration tools such as those provided by monday.com doesn’t just help learners complete their studies, it equips them with skills they’ll use daily once they enter the workforce.

Arm your students with productivity tools they’ll use for life

Many of the most valuable skills learners take away from their time at college aren’t subject-specific, but rather are critical thinking skills, organization skills, and an ability to learn independently. As a teacher, you have the chance to help your students learn how to work smarter, not harder. This can come in many forms:

• Using Pomodoro timers to help them get started with daunting tasks
• Using an assignment tracker template to break down a large project into smaller ones
• Creating decision matrices to assess complex issues
• Using online collaboration tools to make teamwork go more smoothly
• Maintaining detailed to-do lists and schedules with time-management tools
• Organizing materials on groupware platforms and keeping accurate records

While the average student may not need a full Work OS, learning about some of the most popular tools for file sharing and collaboration could help your students become more attractive to prospective employers. Show your students the templates available on monday.com , and give them examples of how they could use them in their projects to translate project management concepts into the academic world.

Help students to help themselves

If you’re a lecturer who works with first-year students or those who have a heavy course load, why not give those learners a helping hand by introducing them to assignment tracker templates, time management tools, and collaboration software? Take a look at the monday.com library of tools and apps, and consider how you could incorporate tools, such as the assignment tracker template, into your student assignments to give them some valuable real-world experience in project management.

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Fueled by philanthropy: Construction Engineering and Management program builds opportunities

Ongoing donor support from industry partners help train the next generation of the construction engineering workforce and provides experience to launch their careers.

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Strong donor support and industry partnerships bolster a plethora of opportunities offered in San Diego State University’s J.R. Filanc Construction Engineering Management (CEM program), preparing students with a competitive edge and industry knowledge as they enter the workforce. 

“The CEM program at SDSU has provided me with countless opportunities to begin my young professional career and to become a part of a highly supportive community. … I have had many off campus opportunities, which includes multiple internship positions and participation in the annual Associated Schools of Construction (ASC) Competition,” said Tristen Montalvo-Benedetto , engineering student and SDSU AGC and Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Chapter President. 

Established in 2008, the hands-on program is designed  to promote student success, and create a pipeline to the regional construction workforce. 

Harper Construction Company is among several philanthropic supporters that dedicate their time and resources to enriching the engineering management program. Their work with College of Engineering faculty and staff allows students to gain the training needed for construction engineering and management roles upon graduation. 

“Our donors' support is essential to the success of the program as we can continue to be competitive with other schools, attract the best faculty to enhance our students' education, and offer hands-on experiences that would not be available without their support,” said AGC Paul S. Roel Chair in Construction Engineering and Management Professor Thais Alves . 

Harper, a family-owned and San Diego-based firm, has hired SDSU alumni, and has helped establish faculty positions, student internships, and fieldwork opportunities.

Harper Construction CEO and President and Associated General Contractors (AGC) Board Member Jeff Harper , and founder and Chairman Ron Harper have a strong connection to the San Diego community. Longstanding Aztec sports fan Jeff Harper and his family became interested in finding ways to support student success and the development of the San Diego economy. 

“I enjoy that it appears there's some more training all the way around (at SDSU), to get more of a complete skill set involved, which is what we need for the workforce, and particularly what we're doing as a general contractor,” said Harper.

With the preparation the CEM program provides, students graduate with specific qualifications required to lead government-funded engineering projects. Some of these projects include F-35 aircraft hangars, training facilities, and recruitment barracks – useful skills in a county and state with numerous military bases. 

In addition, the company helped support the Jim Ryan Chair in Construction Management, which expanded the Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering Department to construction management degrees. Moreover, the endowed chair fund bolsters a high-level faculty position in the program. 

Preparing students

“The CEM program is particularly appealing to us as it trains students for, not just the engineering aspect of it but also everything else that’s involved such as letter writing, negotiations, and contracts,” said Jeff Harper. 

Alves sees firsthand how the SDSU engineers are ready  for real-world engineering roles upon graduation. 

“Being located in a metropolitan area, we have unparalleled access to active construction sites and networking opportunities that usually translate into paid internships and later, high-paying, fulfilling jobs,” said Alves. 

The philanthropic support for the program also allows student engineers to participate in field trips to public and private contracting organizations, site visits to ongoing projects as part of course assignments, and networking events that feature guest speakers from industry. 

“There are constant opportunities to attend information sessions from industry professionals, receive scholarships, and ultimately be highly qualified for the full-time positions upon graduating. The CEM program is also a very close knit community, where most students know each other, and are able to build long lasting relationships that will carry over to the field and their future careers,” said Montalvo-Benedetto. 

The donor impact is far-reaching and has gained momentum from local organizations and industry leaders on the AGC San Diego Board of Directors . Supporters such as President of Marathon Construction Company, Mike Furby; CEO of J.R. Filanc Construction Company, Mark Filanc; CEO of AGC, San Diego Chapter, Eddie Sprecco; Executive Vice President of AGC, Jim Ryan, Austin Cameron, have each played a significant role in the expansion of the program.

To provide a gift to support the College of Engineering, contact Senior Director of Development Kate Carinder at [email protected] .

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• Published: 30 May 2024

Enhancing AI competence in health management: students’ experiences with ChatGPT as a learning Tool

• Lior Naamati-Schneider 1  

BMC Medical Education volume  24 , Article number:  598 ( 2024 ) Cite this article

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Metrics details

The healthcare industry has had to adapt to significant shifts caused by technological advancements, demographic changes, economic pressures, and political dynamics. These factors are reshaping the complex ecosystem in which healthcare organizations operate and have forced them to modify their operations in response to the rapidly evolving landscape. The increase in automation and the growing importance of digital and virtual environments are the key drivers necessitating this change. In the healthcare sector in particular, processes of change, including the incorporation of artificial intelligent language models like ChatGPT into daily life, necessitate a reevaluation of digital literacy skills.

This study proposes a novel pedagogical framework that integrates problem-based learning with the use of ChatGPT for undergraduate healthcare management students, while qualitatively exploring the students’ experiences with this technology through a thematic analysis of the reflective journals of 65 students.

Through the data analysis, the researcher identified five main categories: (1) Use of Literacy Skills; (2) User Experiences with ChatGPT; (3) ChatGPT Information Credibility; (4) Challenges and Barriers when Working with ChatGPT; (5) Mastering ChatGPT-Prompting Competencies . The findings show that incorporating digital tools, and particularly ChatGPT, in medical education has a positive impact on students’ digital literacy and on AI Literacy skills.

Conclusions

The results underscore the evolving nature of these skills in an AI-integrated educational environment and offer valuable insights into students’ perceptions and experiences. The study contributes to the broader discourse about the need for updated AI literacy skills in medical education from the early stages of education.

Peer Review reports

Introduction

In recent years, the healthcare sector has undergone significant shifts in both local and global contexts. These shifts are primarily attributed to demographic, technological, economic, and political factors. These changes have had a profound impact on the healthcare ecosystem, requiring organizations to adapt their operations and strategies to this evolving landscape [ 1 , 2 ]. In response, healthcare organizations have had to modify their behavior to adapt to this ever-changing reality [ 3 ]. Among the factors that have most significantly affected the healthcare system are technological advancements, automation, and the rise of digital and virtual environments. The impact of these factors gained momentum in December 2019, primarily due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Technological advances, particularly the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) and digital tools, have been central to this transformation, with the COVID-19 pandemic accelerating the need for healthcare systems to adapt and innovate [ 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 ]. The integration of AI in healthcare, including the deployment of chatbots like ChatGPT that utilize the Generative Pre-trained Transformer (GPT)—a type of large language model (LLM)—underscores a shift toward digital and AI literacy in medical education and practice. [ 9 , 10 ].

The adoption of AI in healthcare, highlighted by the use of systems like ChatGPT, marks a pivotal shift towards greater digital and AI literacy in medical education and practice [ 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. This reflects the healthcare sector’s broader move towards technological innovation, aiming to enhance patient care and revolutionize healthcare professional training. Incorporating AI, such as ChatGPT, into educational frameworks prepares students for the complexities of modern healthcare, demonstrating AI’s potential to transform both healthcare delivery and professional skill development [ 11 , 12 ].

In the rapidly evolving landscape of AI, where technological developments are occurring at an accelerated pace, there is a significant need for comprehensive research to navigate this ever-changing landscape. In particular, research into the impact of AI on healthcare is still limited, highlighting the urgent need for more focused studies on the implications for medical education and the effective training of healthcare professionals in the use of AI technologies [ 13 , 14 ]. The emergence of LLMs, such as GPT, and their applications in educational frameworks, including chatbots like ChatGPT, has increased the urgency of reassessing the skills required, with a particular focus on digital literacy. This reassessment is essential to determine the continued relevance of these skills or whether a fundamental refocusing is required. Such a re-examination is essential to ensure that the healthcare workforce is adequately prepared for the challenges and opportunities presented by the integration of AI into healthcare practice [ 11 ].

Studies [ 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ] have identified a significant gap in understanding how digital literacy skills—such as accessing, analyzing, evaluating, and creating digital content—play a role in effectively leveraging LLMs like GPT and their applications, including chatbots such as ChatGPT, within educational frameworks. Furthermore, the successful integration of ChatGPT into educational settings may potentially lessen the reliance on traditional digital literacy skills, prompting a reevaluation of their ongoing relevance [ 19 , 20 ]. This gap underscores the need for more research into the critical role that digital literacy skills hold in the efficient use of technologies like ChatGPT for educational aims, as highlighted by recent literature [ 15 , 17 , 18 ]. ChatGPT’s access to accurate medical information could reduce the need for individual data analysis skills [ 21 , 22 ]. Yet, concerns persist among researchers that its content generation might hinder critical thinking development, including source evaluation and idea generation [ 23 , 24 ].

This qualitative study introduces a pedagogical framework that synergizes problem-based learning with the application of ChatGPT among undergraduate healthcare management students. It aims to qualitatively examine their interactions with this technology, focusing on the transition from traditional digital literacy towards a more advanced AI literacy. This evolution in educational focus is poised to revolutionize the requisite competencies for navigating the dynamic healthcare sector of today.

The rationale behind focusing on ChatGPT stems from its notable accessibility, user-friendly design, and versatility as a comprehensive tool in healthcare settings. Its capability to simulate human-like dialogues positions it as a prime resource for educational initiatives, thereby enriching the pedagogical domain of healthcare management and clinical practices. The unrestricted access to ChatGPT, along with its wide-ranging utility in executing diverse healthcare operations, underscores its capacity to significantly contribute to and spearhead innovation within healthcare education and practices. The selection of ChatGPT, attributed to its approachability and adaptability, marks a strategic endeavor to investigate the impact of artificial intelligence amidst the shifting paradigms of healthcare requirements. Yet, despite the widespread integration of ChatGPT in healthcare, research into the long-term effects and the necessary adaptation of skills and methods remains lacking. [ 11 , 12 ].

Literature review

Ai tools in medical settings.

AI involves creating systems that mimic human cognitive functions such as perception, speech recognition, and decision-making through machine learning. It excels in analyzing data, identifying patterns, and making predictions, offering improvements over traditional data processing. AI’s applications span multiple sectors, including healthcare, at various levels from individual to global [ 25 , 26 ]. The integration of AI into healthcare enhances diagnostic, treatment, and patient care, offering advanced decision-making and predictions [ 9 , 10 , 25 , 27 ].AI technologies enhance clinical decision-making, diagnosis, and treatment by analyzing patient data through machine learning for informed decisions, offering 24/7 support via AI chatbots, and enabling remote monitoring with AI-powered devices like wearable sensors [ 9 , 28 ].

AI facilitates remote patient monitoring, minimizing in-person healthcare visits [ 29 ]. It improves service personalization, with AI assistants managing appointments and reminders, and chatbots streamlining insurance claims, easing provider workloads [ 9 ]. AI automates routine administrative tasks, freeing providers to concentrate on patient care. It streamlines operations, cuts bureaucracy, and analyzes data to improve healthcare management and predict service demand, allowing for better resource allocation. AI’s analysis of patient feedback further aids in enhancing service delivery [ 10 ]. AI integration can transform patient-caregiver dynamics, enhancing diagnosis, treatment, and self-management of health conditions [ 30 ]. While AI integration in healthcare promises significant advancements, it presents challenges, including data management issues and the need for specialized skills.

Sallam [ 14 ] highlights ChatGPT’s potential advantages in healthcare, including enhancing clinical workflows, diagnostics, and personalized medicine. However, challenges such as ethical dilemmas, interpretability issues, and content accuracy must be tackled. In healthcare education, although ChatGPT holds promise for customized learning and creating lifelike clinical scenarios, concerns about bias, plagiarism, and content quality persist. Addressing these concerns necessitates preparing healthcare professionals and students through education and training to navigate the complexities of AI. Additionally, extensive research in these domains is essential [ 6 , 9 , 14 , 31 , 32 ].

Teaching with AI and about AI: advancing education in the digital age

To be able to utilize AI tools effectively and integrate them seamlessly into their everyday work, healthcare professionals need early exposure to AI tools in their education to boost their proficiency and confidence, understanding both their potential and limitations [ 9 , 32 , 33 ]. York et al. [ 32 ] explored medical professionals’ attitudes towards AI in radiology, revealing a positive outlook on AI’s healthcare benefits but also highlighting a notable gap in AI knowledge. This emphasizes the need for enhanced AI training in medical education.

According to Sallam [ 14 ], ChatGPT and other models based on lLLMs have significantly improved healthcare education. They customize responses to student inquiries, curate relevant educational material, and tailor content to individual learning styles. For instance, ChatGPT generates personalized quiz questions, suggests resources to fill knowledge gaps, and adjusts explanations to suit diverse learning preferences. Moreover, it simplifies complex medical concepts, employs analogies and examples for clarity, and offers supplementary materials to enhance comprehension.

Breeding et al. [ 11 ] argued that in medical education, ChatGPT should be viewed as a supplementary tool rather than a substitute for traditional sources. While it offers clear and organized information, medical students still perceive evidence-based sources as more comprehensive. Eysenbach [ 33 ] engaged in a series of dialogues with ChatGPT to explore its integration into medical education. ChatGPT demonstrated proficiency in various tasks, such as grading essays, providing feedback, creating virtual patient scenarios, enhancing medical textbooks, summarizing research articles, and explaining key findings. Nevertheless, it also demonstrated a tendency to produce erroneous responses and fabricated data, including references. Such inaccuracies have the potential to generate student misconceptions, spread misinformation, and cause a decline in critical thinking skills [ 33 ]. Han et al. [ 34 ] conducted a comprehensive examination of ChatGPT’s effectiveness as a pedagogical tool in medical education, focusing on the chatbot’s interaction with delineated educational objectives and tasks. Their findings suggest that while ChatGPT is capable of providing elementary data and explanations, it is not impervious to constraints and sometimes provides incorrect or partial information. The study stresses active learning and analytical reasoning in medical education, emphasizing the importance of understanding basic sciences and the need for expert oversight to ensure AI-generated information accuracy [ 34 ].

Das et al. [ 35 ] evaluated ChatGPT’s efficacy in medical education, focusing on microbiology questions at different difficulty levels. They found that ChatGPT could answer basic and complex microbiology queries with roughly 80% accuracy, indicating its potential as an automated educational tool in medicine. The study underscores the importance of ongoing improvements in training language models to enhance their effectiveness for academic use [ 35 , 36 ].AI implementation in healthcare must be carefully managed to maximize benefits and minimize risks [ 11 , 12 , 35 , 36 ]. With the rapid development of digital technologies and AI tools, particularly in healthcare, students need appropriate resources to use these technologies effectively [ 37 ]. Digital literacy is essential in the 21st century, including skills for interacting with digital content [ 16 , 18 ]. Hence, medical literacy skills should start early in the education of healthcare students.

Digital literacy and eHealth literacy skills

Digital literacy skills encompass a collection of essential abilities necessary for using digital technologies effectively in accessing and retrieving information [ 38 ]. These skills are often viewed as foundational digital literacies that are critical for full participation in the digital era [ 39 ]. The European Commission emphasizes the importance of digital literacy for employability and citizenship. They advocate for policies and programs to enhance digital skills across all segments of society. The EU aims for 70% of adults to have basic digital skills by 2025, focusing on analytical, evaluative, and critical thinking abilities crucial for assessing digital information’s quality and credibility [ 40 ]. Individuals need these skills to discern biases and misinformation in various media formats [ 16 , 17 , 41 ] and evaluate the credibility of online sources [ 42 ]. Critical thinking is crucial for distinguishing between accurate information and misinformation [ 43 ], while data literacy is essential for interpreting data and detecting misleading statistics [ 44 ]. These competencies are fundamental for navigating today’s complex digital information landscape.

eHealth literacy, which incorporates the digital skills needed to access and utilize medical information from digital platforms [ 45 ], is gaining recognition as an integral component of overall health literacy. Enhanced online medical literacy is vital for healthcare professionals and administrators [ 46 ] to adapt to changing demands and improve care management within evolving healthcare paradigms [ 47 ]. Additionally, acquisition of digital competencies has been identified as a valuable strategy that healthcare providers and managers can use to manage the psychological effects of heightened workloads and uncertainty, such as the fear, stress, and anxiety emerging from the COVID-19 pandemic [ 48 ]. These skills enable individuals to use AI as both an independent tool and a supplementary aid in decision-making. However, addressing challenges like bias and academic integrity is crucial when integrating AI into medical education [ 32 , 33 , 49 ]. Critical thinking skills are essential for analyzing digital information, identifying inconsistencies, and evaluating arguments. In today’s era of misinformation, users must verify the accuracy of online content and distinguish between reliable sources and hoaxes [ 43 ]. Data literacy skills are also crucial for interpreting data accurately, detecting misleading statistics, and making informed decisions based on credible sources in the digital age [ 44 ].

Research on digital literacy emphasizes the importance of analytical and evaluative skills. Morgan et al. [ 17 ] found that higher education students struggle most with evaluating digital content for bias and quality. They excel in social literacy skills like communication. This highlights the need to prioritize adaptability in digital literacy, integrating industry-relevant experiences into education to ensure students can navigate and critically assess digital information for real-world applications.

Indeed, since the introduction of ChatGPT in 2022, it has been beneficial in various educational contexts. Nevertheless, concerns have been raised about potential inaccuracies and misinformation that may affect student learning and critical thinking [ 20 ]. Moreover, the potential redundancy of certain digital skills as a result of ChatGPT’s capabilities has also sparked discussions on changing educational objectives [ 19 , 21 , 22 ]. The development of ChatGPT may replace some digital skills as it takes over tasks previously expected of students. Researchers [ 21 , 22 ] argue that it is constantly improving its ability to access accurate medical information, providing reliable advice and treatment options from reputable sources. This ability may render the need for individuals to be adept at information retrieval and evaluation redundant. In other words, ChatGPT’s growing proficiency in tasks such as translation, text summarization, and sentiment analysis, and its ability to generate content like movies [ 23 ] may potentially lead to the underdevelopment of critical thinking skills, including the ability to evaluate source quality and reliability, formulate informed judgments, and generate creative and original ideas [ 24 ]. Indeed, the integration of AI into the healthcare sector raises critical questions about the nature and scope of the digital skills required in the future [ 19 , 20 ].

As AI advances, essential digital competencies may need reassessment to keep pace with technology. This requires forward-thinking digital literacy initiatives, particularly in healthcare education and practice. Proactively addressing the potential impact of AI on human interactions with digital healthcare technologies is critical. This will ensure that healthcare professionals and students are skilled in current digital practices, and prepared for the evolving role of AI in the sector. Despite the swift integration of AI tools in healthcare, and applications like ChatGPT, research on their long-term impacts, effects on users, and the necessary adaptation of skills and methodologies in the ever-evolving learning environment remains insufficient [ 11 , 12 , 15 , 17 , 18 , 49 , 50 , 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 , 57 , 58 ].

This study aims to address the intersection of AI adoption in healthcare and its implications for medical education, specifically focusing on the skills required by healthcare professionals. With the rapid incorporation of AI, into healthcare settings, there is an urgent need to reassess the digital literacy skills traditionally emphasized in medical education. This reassessment prompts questions about the ongoing relevance of these skills as AI technologies continue to evolve and expand their role in healthcare [ 13 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ].

Research questions

Given the context, this study aims to explore the following qualitative research questions:

How does a pedagogical framework integrating problem-based learning with ChatGPT affect healthcare management undergraduates’ digital literacy skills?

What are students’ experiences with the combined use of problem-based learning and ChatGPT in their healthcare management education?

How do students perceive the shift towards AI-relevant skills as a result of engaging with this integrated pedagogical approach?

Methodology

Methodological approach.

The present research adopts the case study methodology, which entails in-depth empirical research of a current phenomenon within its real-world context [ 50 ]. This approach involves collecting data on human activities within a defined time and space setting, thereby facilitating an understanding of the various processes occurring within the research case. In qualitative research, and particularly in case study research, themes are formulated from the participants’ narratives, thus allowing for the development of arguments or generalizations derived deductively from participants’ statements [ 51 ]. By focusing on our research questions and using a methodological framework that emphasizes depth and context, the study aims to shed light on the transformative impact of AI on medical education and the development of the skills required for future healthcare professionals.

The research was conducted and analyzed by the researcher, who has a PhD in Healthcare Management and over 15 years of experience in qualitative analysis. Her expertise ensures a deep understanding of the study’s qualitative data. Throughout the research, she engaged in continuous reflexive practices to evaluate how her subjectivity and context influenced the study. This included reflecting on her assumptions, considering power dynamics with participants, aligning research paradigms and methods, and understanding the research context [ 59 ].

Participants and research population

The study involved 89 third-year undergraduate students enrolled in a Health System Management degree program, specifically participating in a course on Service Quality in the Healthcare System during the 2023 academic year. The researcher, serving as the lecturer for this course, integrated writing reflective journals into the curriculum as part of the learning process. Following the course’s conclusion and after grades were distributed, the researcher asked students, in adherence to ethical guidelines, if they consented to have their reflective journals analyzed for research purposes, as outlined in the data collection section. Only students who completed all components of the intervention plan outlined for the class were considered potential participants in the research population.

From this group, qualitative data was extracted from the reflective journals of 65 students who consented to participate. The demographic breakdown of this participant subset included 80% females, with an average age of 24.26 years (Standard Deviation = 3.80).

Data collection

Throughout the course, participants were required to keep a reflective journal documenting their learning journey, to be submitted at the end of the semester. The aim of writing the journal was to capture their personal perceptions of their learning experience. They were encouraged to articulate various challenges, obstacles, and positive and negative aspects they encountered [ 52 ]. Specifically, they were asked to describe the main challenges they faced and the obstacles they overcame, and to provide an introspective account of their experiences. The practice of writing a personal journal not only served as a tool for reflection but also helped them adopt a comprehensive perspective on their educational process [ 53 ].

The credibility of the reflective journal prompts was assured by grounding their development in an extensive literature review and expert consultations within the field of healthcare education. This process ensured that the prompts accurately reflected the constructs of interest, facilitating consistent and meaningful student reflections. Content validity was emphasized to ensure the journal prompts were aligned with the study’s objectives and relevant to students’ experiences in healthcare management education. Refinement of these prompts to effectively meet research objectives was facilitated through expert input. A detailed coding scheme was developed, featuring definitions and categories reflecting the study’s aims and insights from the journals. The coding was applied to a subset of journals by the researcher to ensure credibility.

The data were collected from the reflective journals in accordance with the intervention plan outlined in the Instructional Method section. The study carefully complied with several ethical guidelines for research with human subjects. The nature and purpose of the research were fully explained to the students, with particular emphasis on the use of reflective journals to evaluate the intervention plan. The students gave their informed consent and signed consent forms. To ensure confidentiality, participants were informed that all names would be replaced by pseudonyms and all identifying details would be removed from the final research report. They were also explicitly told that the journal entries would be processed anonymously. The research was approved by the college’s Ethics Committee.

Instructional method procedure (intervention plan)

The focus of this study is a required course titled Introducing Quality into the Health System, which had formerly been taught using traditional frontal teaching methods. The study examines the transformation of this course into a course taught using ChatGPT-mediated online guided learning. This innovative learning approach provides learners a comprehensive experience that entails self-directed learning. The approach emphasizes problem-based learning and focuses on identifying ethical dilemmas and analyzing them within organizational contexts. The intervention plan was strategically organized into five primary stages. Each stage comprised a series of carefully constructed steps that were specifically designed to build upon the knowledge and skills acquired in the previous stages, thus ensuring a coherent and cumulative educational progression. Figure  1 summarizes the instructional method.

Initial Familiarization with ChatGPT

At the beginning of the course, students were introduced to ChatGPT to develop their understanding and proficiency with the tool. This involved providing them detailed instructions on effective usage and encouraging them to engage in interactive dialogues with ChatGPT. The aim was to foster a sense of familiarity and ease, thereby facilitating an informal, hands-on learning experience.

Exploratory Analysis of a Dilemma using ChatGPT

In this exploratory stage, students began to examine the topic of hospital accreditation. Through interactions with ChatGPT, they were introduced to the pros and cons of the accreditation process and to the dilemmas posed by following the accreditation guidelines. The issue of accreditation is central to the discourse on how to improve healthcare quality, but it is also fraught with challenges, such as staff shortages and funding issues. Hospitals have had to make significant changes to meet accreditation standards, leading to debates about possible abolition of the accreditation system. While accreditation is crucial for quality control, its associated costs, particularly those related to inspections and the need for additional staff, pose significant challenges. Without proportional funding, compulsory accreditation has placed financial pressures on hospitals, creating a complex dynamic for both the Ministry of Health and healthcare institutions as they navigate the accreditation process.

To explore the topic of accreditation in depth, students were instructed to develop a series of questions to input to ChatGPT aimed at extracting detailed information about the accreditation dilemma. Students engaged with ChatGPT by posing questions and critically analyzing the answers from three perspectives: organizational, healthcare worker, and patient/customer. They iteratively refined their queries to increase precision until they achieved a comprehensive understanding. Following guidelines, they condensed and reorganized the information into a structured paragraph, incorporating the core dilemmas and arguments from each perspective. To meet objectives, students demonstrated digital media skills, including locating and sharing relevant materials, analyzing ChatGPT responses, verifying sources, and assessing content credibility.

Synthesis and Documentation of Concepts Emerging through ChatGPT Interaction

In the third stage, students were required to submit a comprehensive list detailing new concepts, themes, and sub-themes that emerged from their learning experience with ChatGPT. Their submitted list was not limited to the final results, but also included documentation of all stages of their work, including their initial set of questions, their subsequent refinement of these questions, and the process of their development throughout the learning journey. In addition, they were required to provide a final section summarizing the culmination of their exploration and learning process with ChatGPT. This comprehensive approach was designed to demonstrate the students’ engagement and progression with the tool and to highlight their ability to develop their inquiries and synthesize information effectively.

Analytical Structuring of Learning Outcomes

In the fourth stage, students attempted to refine the learning outcomes they had previously generated. Following the established guidelines, their main objective was to identify and highlight the pros and cons of the various arguments related to the dilemmas they had studied, making sure to consider them from different perspectives. The challenge was to present their arguments in a coherent and logical order, for example by comparing budgetary considerations with quality considerations. They were also expected to support each argument with scientific evidence, thereby aligning their analysis with academic accuracy and empirical research. This stage was crucial in developing their ability to critically evaluate and articulate complex issues, particularly in the field of healthcare.

Final project: Integrative Analysis and multidimensional presentation

In the final stage, students developed and presented a final project, building upon their prior work to explore a comprehensive research question or delve into a specific aspect of their study. This included presenting organizational and managerial viewpoints. The choice of format and tools for their project and presentation—ranging from e-posters and slides to video clips, using familiar technologies like PowerPoint and ThingLink—was left to the students. This method fostered diversity and empowered students by allowing them to select their preferred presentation technique. Moreover, the project featured a peer review phase where students critiqued each other’s work through insightful questions and suggestions, enhancing the discussion. This interactive element aimed to bolster critical thinking and collaborative learning.

Summary of instructional method

Reflective Journaling: documenting the Learning Journey

Throughout the semester, students kept a reflective journal, which they submitted at the end of the course. The primary aim of this journal was to document their personal learning experiences. The journal provided a window on their challenges, difficulties and successes they encountered, all viewed through the lens of their own perceptions and experiences.

Data analysis

The present research employed a deductive-inductive method for categorical analysis of the dataset. Integration of these deductive and inductive approaches was essential to facilitate investigation of predefined categories that are grounded in extant literature and theoretical frameworks, as well as to permit the discovery of novel categories that surfaced during the analysis process [ 51 ]. Initially, the deductive stage was conducted, focusing on predefined categories derived from existing literature and theoretical frameworks. Following this, the inductive stage allowed for the identification and development of novel categories based on the data analysis. The inclusion of episodes, thoughts, and feelings expressed by the students in this study serves to reinforce the reliability of the identified themes. The analysis of the reflective journals began with in-depth reading to identify initial themes from students’ narratives. Inductive coding facilitated the identification and development of themes by the researcher, rather than merely allowing them to ‘emerge.’ This active interpretation and organization of the data by the researcher led to a compilation of key insights. After ensuring the reliability and validity of these findings through careful review, the researcher then organized the codes into themes and sub-themes, ensuring they accurately reflected the data and provided a clear narrative of the students’ experiences.

The findings

The researcher’s analysis of the reflective journals actively uncovered five main categories: (1) Use of Literacy Skills; (2) User Experiences with ChatGPT; (3) ChatGPT Information Credibility; (4) Challenges and Barriers when Working with ChatGPT; (5) Mastering ChatGPT Prompting Competencies. Table  1 summarizes the identified categories and subcategories. To further clarify each category, the table includes representative quotations from the data for illustrative purposes. Throughout the manuscript, pseudonyms have been used with quotations. This approach ensures confidentiality and anonymity for all participants.

Use of literacy skills

The category comprising the use of literacy skills, the code refers to instances where participants relate literacy skills such as reading comprehension, searching evaluation of Information, etc., in their interactions with ChatGPT.

It includes three subcategories: Search Strategies and Access to Data in ChatGPT Use; Data Analysis Enhancement with ChatGPT ; and Evaluation of Information in ChatGPT Interactions Search Strategies and Access to Data in ChatGPT Use.

In the reflective journals, the students consistently expressed their high regard for the efficiency and ease of searching for and accessing information through ChatGPT. The chat interface significantly improved the process of retrieving information by removing the necessity to navigate through multiple websites or sources, thereby making the material more accessible. Furthermore, the interface’s user-friendly and accessible content format played a crucial role in significantly enhancing students’ understanding of the material. Shir wrote: The chat was super easy and helpful in making the dilemma clearer for me. It put all the info I needed in one spot, and everything was explained in a way that was simple to understand.

The analysis of the student journals underscored the remarkable proficiency of ChatGPT in rapidly and effortlessly providing information for various tasks. This technology alleviated the necessity for students to delve into multiple sources, offering a direct approach for understanding concepts, interpreting implications, and compiling data for complex issues. ChatGPT’s swift and handy information retrieval supported autonomous learning on the topic. As an accessible and user-friendly tool, it saved considerable time. Moreover, its accessibility and constant availability helped in tailoring learning experiences to fit the learner’s schedule, independent of external factors or intermediaries. ChatGPT’s use of simple, everyday language, coupled with its capacity to deconstruct and elucidate complex concepts, rendered it exceedingly approachable and beneficial for information searches and for enhancing the accessibility of educational content. Lihi also acknowledged the efficacy of ChatGPT in facilitating the rapid acquisition and expansion of her conceptual knowledge. She underscored that the ChatGPT tool obviated the need to consult multiple databases and websites for extracting conceptual information: ChatGPT is really fast and easy to use when you need info on lots of different things. It’s great for finding technical stuff, explaining problems, understanding things better, and getting new ideas on the spot. You don’t even have to go looking for more sources – it’s all right there.

Data synthesis and analysis enhancement with ChatGPT

Analysis of the reflective journals indicates that students found the synthesis, editing, and analysis of content facilitated by ChatGPT to be extremely beneficial. The tool significantly reduced the technical complexity of gathering and synthesizing information from different sources, tasks that had previously been their responsibility. As a result, they were spared the need for synthesizing, editing, and analyzing the raw data, with ChatGPT efficiently performing these functions on their behalf. Meir wrote: ChatGPT really helped us out. It gave us a full picture of the whole process, including the good and bad parts, and how to handle them. We didn’t even need to look at any other info sources at that point .

Evaluation of information in ChatGPT Interaction

The streamlined data collection procedures enabled the students to engage in more advanced learning processes, such as distinguishing between facts and assumptions, differentiating critical from non-critical information, and developing arguments as they advanced to more complex stages. The students observed that although ChatGPT presented data objectively, it did not offer explicit arguments, thus requiring them to actively interpret and formulate their own positions regarding the dilemma and identify the foundational principles for their principal arguments. For example, Miri’s reflections highlighted her need to formulate and develop a stance on the dilemma, which compelled her to engage in critical assessment of the situation:

ChatGPT didn’t really point out which arguments were more important or less important. It kind of listed them all the same way, which made me decide for myself what to focus on. I had to pick the arguments I thought were key and then find evidence to back them up.

Furthermore, the students were asked to support their arguments with evidence from the academic literature, necessitating a thorough evaluation and critical analysis of the information. This process led them to make informed decisions and formulate solutions. In their reflective journals, students documented a cautious approach, emphasizing the need not to simply accept information as it is presented. Instead, they highlighted the importance of thoroughly evaluating the information’s accuracy. Amir similarly addressed this issue, noting his necessity to independently navigate the “thinking part” and acquire the skills to construct strong arguments or effectively employ academic resources: The chat didn’t really help me figure out what’s important and what’s not when I write. It also didn’t teach me how to make strong arguments or how to use academic stuff to back up my points.

User experiences with ChatGPT

This category refers to the qualitative data related to participants’ overall experiences, perceptions, and attitudes towards interacting with ChatGPT. The theme of user experiences is divided into three sub-themes: Time Efficiency using ChatGPT; Accessibility and Availability of ChatGPT; and User-Friendly Dynamics . Overall, analysis of the students’ reflective journals reveals broad agreement about ChatGPT’s user-friendliness and ease of use. Many students noted the chatbot’s intuitive interface and straightforward functionality, which made it accessible to those who may not be tech-savvy. This consensus highlights the effectiveness of ChatGPT as a tool that simplifies information acquisition and supports learning without the typical complexities associated with advanced technological tools.

Time efficiency using ChatGPT

In this sub-category, analysis of the student journals revealed the major time-saving benefits of using ChatGPT for various tasks. ChatGPT successfully eliminated the need for students to sift through numerous sources of information. By providing a straightforward way to understand a concept, grasp its implications, and gather information on complex dilemmas, ChatGPT demonstrated its efficiency in saving students’ time. Riad mentioned the significant time efficiency gained from using the tool, highlighting how it saved him considerable time: You can find out a lot about all sorts of things really quickly. The chat gives you detailed breakdowns and explanations, sorting everything into different arguments and topics; it saves you a lot of time.

Ali also referred to this point: I was not very familiar with the details of accreditation, including its benefits and challenges, but within minutes I was able to grasp its essence and understand the importance of the whole process.

The time efficiency extended not only to data retrieval and collection but also encompassed information synthesis, significantly reducing the amount of time usually required for comprehensive and coherent processing and reformulating of acquired data. Mai observed that the time saved was also because she didn’t need to search for data across multiple sources and combine it together:

The amount of time I save is insane. If I had to search for this stuff on the internet instead of using the chat, it would take me way longer to find an answer. And even after finding it, I’d have to summarize what I found and then rephrase it in my own words, which takes so much time.

Accessibility and availability of ChatGPT

A majority of the students noted that the tool’s immediate accessibility and availability significantly facilitated the personalization of learning approaches. This customization seamlessly interfaced with the unique scheduling needs of each learner, offering flexibility that in traditional learning settings is typically constrained by external factors or intermediaries. Hana highlighted ChatGPT’s anytime, anywhere accessibility through a simple interface, enabling quick and comprehensive responses without the wait for expert assistance: ChatGPT is available to use anytime, anywhere using a simple and convenient interface. This would allow you to get a quick and comprehensive response at any time of the day, without having to wait around for people or experts to help you out.

Lina similarly noted: It’s pretty great how available it is (as long as it’s not too busy…). Any question I have, I get an answer. It saved me a lot of Google searches and reading articles and stuff. I get a quick and clear answer to everything I ask and it’s all super fast.

ChatGPT Information credibility

This category involves instances where participants discuss the credibility, reliability, and trustworthiness of the information provided by ChatGPT. Analysis of the reflective journals showed that interaction with ChatGPT facilitated students’ ability to acquire fundamental knowledge, which could then be expanded upon through subsequent inquiries and verification. Nevertheless, as students proceeded in their tasks, particularly those that required articulating arguments and substantiating their stances on complex dilemmas, they acknowledged the limitations of relying solely on ChatGPT. These limitations focused primarily on concerns about the tool’s credibility in providing sufficiently authoritative information. In this regard, Ofri appreciated ChatGPT’s quick access to information but expressed concerns over its credibility and occasional inaccuracies, leading to unexpected disappointment:

I have found that ChatGPT has a lot of good points. It can quickly give you a lot of information on so many topics and you can really use that information. But I have also learned that this tool has its drawbacks. It is not always right, and it certainly doesn’t always give you things that are based on solid academic facts. Sometimes ChatGPT just makes things up. To be honest, realizing this was a bit of a shock to me.

Students also noted that they were often faced with an overwhelming amount of information, some of which was irrelevant or incorrect, requiring them to evaluate the information and determine its quality. Dalia noted that while ChatGPT provided extensive information initially, aiding in learning about the topic, it also required discernment to distinguish between accurate and less relevant information: In the first stage, the chat gave us a lot of information, which was great because it helped us learn more about the topic. But at the same time, we had to decide which information was really important and accurate and which wasn’t.

Students’ understanding of the limitations of relying solely on the information provided to justify arguments and articulate positions in dilemmas motivated them to examine and assess its reliability. They did so by asking specific questions and consulting established academic references. From the students’ point of view, this careful research and critical evaluation process not only provided them with the opportunity to refine their powers of critical thinking and analysis, it also equipped them with the capacity to critically evaluate the credibility of the information presented. Lina wrote:

I attempted to back up the info I found with academic sources, but then I figured out that the chat isn’t always reliable…. I went through each article that I got results from…to check where is it from, and whether the author actually existed or was just made up… After that, I did another check with other databases. This whole process made me super cautious and thorough in checking everything.

The students expressed unanimous agreement that the need to assess the information provided by the chat forced them to be critical and use evaluation skills. Not only was this a skill they needed to be able to put to good use. It also constituted a challenge in using ChatGPT, as Limor stated that, contrary to reducing critical thinking, proper use of ChatGPT can enhance it by prompting users to reconsider and verify information, despite the challenge:

It might seem that using ChatGPT would make you think less because, well, it’s like chatting to a robot. But actually, if you use it properly and really get into it, it adds a lot to your knowledge and makes you think more broadly and deeper. This is because it makes you think about things over and over again, and double-check the information… it wasn’t easy.

Challenges and barriers in Working with ChatGPT

This category encompasses the various obstacles, difficulties, and limitations encountered by participants while using ChatGPT, including technical issues, comprehension challenges, and frustration. The analysis suggests that despite the students’ widespread agreement on the advantages of using ChatGPT, such as its ease of use, constant availability, and user-friendliness, its accompanying challenges should also be considered. Among these challenges are hesitation in adopting new, cutting-edge technology, difficulties in learning how to use the tool, and language barriers. The language issue was particularly significant, as ChatGPT operates mainly in English, which is not the first language of many of the students. Shir faced difficulties with English translation but viewed it as an opportunity to improve language skills, eventually becoming more comfortable with the chat and reducing reliance on outside translation help:

One big problem I had was writing in English and then translating it to express what I wanted to say. But I decided to take it on as a challenge and use it as a chance to improve my reading and writing in English. Since we didn’t have to use English much, at first it felt like it took forever to understand or read stuff. But gradually, we got the hang of the chat and didn’t need as much help with translating from outside sources.

Some students noted that they also faced some technical issues, revealing the downside of depending exclusively on online tools for studying. For many students, this was their first time using AI including applications like ChatGPT that are built on large language models. As they continued to use it, however, they became more accustomed to it. Ali found initially accessing the GPT chat difficult and, despite its ease of use, experienced issues with site access due to high traffic and occasional freezing, hindering continuous use:

When I first tried the GPT chat for my task, it was a bit tough to get onto the site. But after a while, I noticed that even though the chat is easy to use, it’s got its problems. Sometimes, you can’t even get into the chat because too many people are trying to use it at the same time, and other times, it just freezes up, and you can’t keep using it.

Mastering ChatGPT-Prompting competency

This category involves instances where participants demonstrate proficiency in formulating effective prompts and questions to elicit accurate and relevant responses from ChatGPT. Analysis of the reflective journals revealed that this theme posed a notable challenge for the students, primarily due to their unfamiliarity with the tool. Indeed, they needed to learn how to use the chat effectively to elicit the correct responses and achieve their desired outcomes. Additionally, they encountered challenges in ensuring accuracy and setting the right parameters to establish a reliable and precise database. Despite these obstacles, the students recognized that their efforts to achieve accuracy and their practice of asking repetitive questions were instrumental in developing higher-order thinking skills and being able to organize and manage the required information proficiently. Liya related to this challenge by noted that dealing with inaccurate responses from the model involves clarifying questions with more details, considering alternative answers, and emphasizing the importance of verifying the information received:

Sometimes the model may give you wrong information or answers… to cope with getting answers that are not accurate, you should make your question clearer and add more details. Also think about using different choices of answers. And it is really important to always check the answers you’re getting.

Analysis of the reflective journals showed that systematic demonstration of these activities, along with comprehensive detailing of early learning stages and the cumulative nature of the tasks, provided students the chance to assess and revisit each step retrospectively. This reflective review allowed them to seek explanations for any aspects that were unclear, ask more questions and craft more targeted prompts, and gain a deeper understanding of the entire process. Rim, for example, explained: The chat lets us get information in a series, like being able to ask another question to get a better understanding or clear up something from the first questions we asked. This helped us keep track of everything by linking all our questions together.

Nir noted that the need to aim for accuracy by repeatedly refining the questions really helped in dealing with the assigned tasks effectively:

From my experience with ChatGPT, I have learned that if you want good answers, you have to be really clear about what you are asking. You need to know what you want to achieve with the chat. It is best to give specific instructions to obtain the exact info you need. Also, you should think carefully about the answers you get, making sure the facts are right, and using your own thinking to make wise decisions.

This qualitative study examined the process of introducing and using a pedagogical framework that integrates problem-based learning with the use of ChatGPT among undergraduate healthcare management students. The study also provided a qualitative exploration of their experiences using this technology and assessed how the use of ChatGPT can shift the focus from traditional digital literacy skills to advanced AI literacy skills. It demonstrated how the use of the ChatGPT platform can be managed to encourage the development of critical thinking and evaluation skills through active student engagement. These skills are considered critical for learning and working with AI platforms.

The analysis of students’ reflective journals indicated a perception of the platform as user-friendly. Minichiello et al. [ 54 ] expand the definition of “user experience” beyond mere interaction with user interfaces to include design, information presentation, technological features, and factors related to emotion, personal connection, and experience. Students described their experience with the platform positively, citing it as an incentive for ongoing engagement.

The analysis also showed that the platform’s efficiency was significantly influenced by its high availability and accessibility, which were key factors in its attractiveness to users. This attractiveness was further enhanced by its ease of use. A critical aspect of the platform’s effectiveness was its efficiency in providing key materials in a timely manner, drastically reducing the time required to retrieve information. Users particularly appreciated this aspect of the platform as it streamlined their access to information and significantly improved their learning efficiency. The platform’s ability to deliver relevant information quickly and efficiently was instrumental in its positive reception. In an academic environment where efficient time management and quick access to educational materials are essential, the platform’s ability to meet these needs effectively constituted a notable advantage.

However, students noted initial difficulties and obstacles in utilizing ChatGPT, primarily related to data credibility. These challenges, highlighted in the qualitative data, necessitated the application of critical thinking and conducting various checks to verify the information received. This concern over the credibility of information from AI tools aligns with observations by Mohamad-Hani et al. [ 55 ], who reported similar credibility issues with ChatGPT data among healthcare professionals.

Another significant challenge for the students focused on how to retrieve relevant and accurate information. To this end, they had to refine their question formulation to extract the most relevant and accurate data from the tool. Such challenges have increasingly become a focus of academic attention due to the emerging recognition of the importance of developing prompting skills for effective interaction with platforms such as ChatGPT and other AI tools [ 19 , 20 ].

In terms of digital literacy skills, the findings of this study suggest that basic literacy skills such as locating, retrieving, synthesizing, and summarizing information may become less important as AI systems improve. Yet students still must be trained to evaluate and think critically about AI tools and what they can accomplish, especially since AI technologies like ChatGPT are not always completely trustworthy. Therefore, students need to learn how to evaluate the information these tools provide. These findings also offer some support for the notion that while digital literacy is undeniably recognized as crucial for the 21st century, especially in the healthcare arena [ 36 , 45 ], the definition of digital literacy is changing as technological tools develop. For decades, education focused on developing basic skills. Over time, however, there was a shift toward the cultivation of more complex skills involving information evaluation, synthesis, and assessment [ 56 , 57 ]. Yet as AI continues to penetrate everyday life, there has been a noticeable evolution in the forms of literacy required.

This evolution marks a transition from traditional data digital literacy, which emphasizes a basic understanding and processing of information, to AI digital literacy, which goes beyond mere data consumption to include using digital tools skillfully, understanding the nature of digital content, and effectively navigating the complex digital landscape. This shift reflects the changing demands of a technology-driven society, in which digital literacy is becoming increasingly essential for both personal and professional development [ 58 ]. As AI becomes integrated into different dimensions of work and daily life, especially in the healthcare industry, AI digital literacy will continue to evolve to meet the new demands. This will require a different set of skills, including prompting skills that allow users to better interact with AI tools [ 19 , 20 ].

These results highlight the importance of rethinking the educational use of AI tools such as ChatGPT, potentially leading to changes in future learning curricula. Without the ability to use digital tools, students are liable to fall behind when it comes to adapting to new technologies, thus limiting their ability to learn key skills. Therefore, AI tools must be taught and used in a way that supports students’ holistic learning. These findings align with those of other researchers who focus on the use of the AI platform in education [ 40 , 42 , 43 ]. Such an approach will ensure that students are prepared for the evolving challenges and opportunities of our increasingly digital world. This is especially important in the medical education field, as AI is increasingly being used in different ways to improve the accuracy of disease diagnosis, treatment strategies, and prediction of patient outcomes [ 9 , 10 , 25 , 27 ].

Given that AI technology is still developing and is anticipated to advance and become more widely used [ 21 , 22 ], the need to adapt and acquire new literacy skills is growing. As AI evolves, reliance on traditional basic skills may decline over time, underscoring the importance of learning how to effectively utilize and interact with emerging technologies. Learning to engage with AI tools such as ChatGPT from an early stage in their education can greatly enhance students’ learning experiences. This early exposure will not only provide them with a deeper understanding of these tools. It will also boost their motivation to learn how to use them more effectively, thus highlighting the importance of training students to handle such technologies proficiently. Equally important is the need to guide students through these learning processes to ensure they acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to navigate and utilize AI tools successfully in their educational journey [ 11 ].

Limitations and future research directions

This study utilized a pedagogical framework that integrates problem-based learning with the use of ChatGPT. While the researcher focused on the pedagogical aspect, future research is warranted to compare this digitally supported activity to a non-digital equivalent and examine the impact on students’ literacy and skills. Such a comparison would make it possible to assess what the digital instrument contributes to skill development and to identify any challenges encountered.

The use of this tool across different teaching methods could also be explored to determine whether it is particularly effective for certain types of tasks or requirements. The current study focused on health management. Implementation of this teaching approach in other academic areas should be examined to assess its effectiveness in acquiring competencies in different arenas. The findings of this study highlight the need for further research into the use of AI in learning environments that focus on goal-oriented pedagogy. Such research can help in developing educational strategies that promote the skills essential for lifelong learning.

Conclusions and recommendations

In conclusion, revisiting the research questions in the context of our findings highlights the transformative potential of integrating ChatGPT with problem-based learning in healthcare management education. This study underscores how such integration not only shifts the focus from traditional digital literacy to advanced AI literacy skills but also enhances critical thinking and evaluation capabilities among students. These competencies are indispensable as AI continues to reshape the landscape of healthcare and medical education. AI is emerging as a transformative force that will fundamentally change the global landscape. Although we are still in the early stages of integrating and understanding AI capabilities, its potential to shape our future is clear. Adapting to this digital transformation, especially in healthcare, is crucial [ 4 , 6 ].

Integrating AI into healthcare systems poses significant challenges and raises many unanswered questions [ 9 , 10 ]. These issues require careful consideration and strategic planning to maximize benefits while addressing implementation complexities. The extent and impact of these transformations on the health system and its workforce remain uncertain. However, it is crucial to prepare for these changes at both individual and organizational levels. Educational institutions must update their teaching methods to meet digital demands, recognizing the critical role of educators in developing effective support strategies.

To enable healthcare professionals to integrate AI tools effectively, these tools should be introduced early in education, such as during undergraduate studies or initial professional training [ 9 , 32 , 33 ]. Hands-on experience allows learners to build confidence and understand the tools’ limitations. Additionally, AI tools and especially LLMs such as GPT and their applications, including platforms like ChatGPT, can serve as user-friendly and efficient learning aids, as demonstrated in this research. In addition, researchers should strive to develop innovative pedagogical methods for integrating these tools into different curricula, as exemplified here by the effective use of dilemma-based learning enhanced by ChatGPT. These studies should focus on determining which skills will become redundant and on highlighting essential competencies needed for AI literacy, including prompting, evaluation skills, and critical thinking, all of which are essential for effectively integrating AI and LLMs into medical education and daily practice. Participants in such studies have noted that the acquisition of such skills, particularly in the area of effective prompting, significantly improves the quality of AI responses. Similar to learning a new language, learning to use AI requires precise phrasing and an in-depth understanding of context. Not only will AI skills improve student engagement and comprehension, they will also encourage critical thinking, leading to better educational outcomes. Students who formulate well-structured search queries obtain more accurate responses from AI, which are critical to improving healthcare and learning outcomes.

It is therefore imperative that academia and higher education institutions, including medical education institutions, adopt methods for effectively guiding and training students in using AI. This approach is essential to address the evolving global educational landscape and to embrace the shift in roles. Educators should move from being primarily providers of knowledge to being facilitators of cultural understanding and skill development. Such a shift is essential to promote the transformative evolution of the role of educators in the modern educational context.

Availability of data and materials

Data are available upon request from the Corresponding author.

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Naamati-Schneider, L. Enhancing AI competence in health management: students’ experiences with ChatGPT as a learning Tool. BMC Med Educ 24 , 598 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05595-9

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