Match the Tool to the Learning Task

Throughout this module, you will complete hands-on activities that involve interacting with artificial intelligence (AI). You will need access to an AI tool for some of those activities, but you do not need to use the same tool every time.

You do not need to purchase an AI subscription. Merced College students have access to AI tools using their College credentials, and the activities in this module do not require paid AI features.

Start with What You Are Trying to Learn

Different AI tools are designed to do different things. Before choosing one, ask:

What am I trying to understand, practice, create, or examine—and what kind of AI support would actually help me learn it?

AI Tools Available to Merced College Students

Google Gemini

Gemini is a general-purpose AI assistant that can respond to questions, explain concepts, brainstorm ideas, generate examples, create practice questions, and participate in back-and-forth conversations.

Access: Access Gemini through your Merced College Google account using your College credentials.

Consider Gemini when you want to: explore an idea, ask follow-up questions, brainstorm, practice a concept, compare possibilities, or get another explanation of something you are learning.

Nectir.AI

Nectir.AI provides AI-supported learning experiences connected to Canvas. Your instructor may create an AI assistant with particular instructions, course information, or a specific learning purpose.

Access: Nectir.AI may be available through Canvas or through Merced College access provided for your course or activity.

Consider Nectir.AI when you want to: interact with an AI assistant your instructor has designed for a particular course, topic, activity, or learning goal.

Google NotebookLM

NotebookLM is designed to work with a collection of sources. Instead of beginning primarily with the AI model's general knowledge, you can provide materials and ask questions, create study resources, compare ideas, and explore information based on those sources.

Access: Access NotebookLM through your Merced College Google account using your College credentials.

Consider NotebookLM when you want to: study from a set of permitted course materials, examine relationships among sources, review key ideas, ask questions about documents, or create source-grounded study materials.

One Tool Does Not Have to Do Everything

You might use a conversational AI tool to brainstorm questions, NotebookLM to work from a set of sources, or a Nectir assistant because your instructor designed it for a particular learning activity. Choosing an AI tool is part of deciding how AI should support the learning task.

What About Other AI Tools?

You may already use tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, Claude, or another AI assistant. For the practice activities in this module, you may be able to use another tool when the activity does not require a particular College-supported environment.

Using a tool for practice in this module does not mean that the same tool or type of AI assistance is permitted for assignments in your other courses. Always follow your instructor's directions.

Choose Based on the Task

Instead of looking for one “best” AI tool, consider questions such as:

Purpose: What am I trying to learn or accomplish?
Sources: Do I want AI to work from specific materials, or am I exploring a more general question?
Interaction: Do I need a conversation, source-based study support, or an instructor-designed learning assistant?
Access: Can I use the tool without purchasing a subscription?
Privacy: What information would I need to provide to the tool?
Course expectations: Has my instructor given directions about which AI tools or types of assistance I may use?

Before You Share Information with AI

Think about what you are giving the AI tool, not just what you want it to give you.

Do not enter passwords, student identification numbers, private or personally identifiable information about yourself or another person, or other sensitive information into an AI tool.

Be thoughtful about course materials too. A reading, assignment, instructor-created resource, class discussion, or another student's work should not automatically be uploaded to an external AI service simply because the tool allows file uploads. Follow your instructor's directions and use materials you are permitted to use.

Choose a Starting Point

If you are unsure where to begin, choose an AI tool that allows a basic conversation so you can complete the first activities. You can use a different tool later when another tool better fits the learning task.

For now, make sure you can access an AI tool and then continue to the next activity.

The Tool Is Only Part of the Decision

Different AI tools have different strengths, limitations, sources, features, and ways of handling information. Learning to choose among them is part of AI literacy.

Don't ask only, “Which AI should I use?” Ask, “What am I trying to learn, and what kind of support would actually help?”