What ChatGPT Is and What It Is Not

This lesson gives students a practical, accurate mental model of what ChatGPT is: a conversational AI system that generates responses based on patterns in language, instructions, and context. Students learn why it can be useful for studying, brainstorming, explanation, and practice while also understanding that it is not a human tutor, source of truth, citation engine, or substitute for their own thinking.

The lesson frames responsible use around judgment: students should treat ChatGPT as a study assistant that can help them ask better questions, test understanding, and improve drafts within course rules. They should not treat it as an authority, a ghostwriter, or a shortcut around learning.