Three years ago, I was in my final year studying Computer Science. Life revolved around coursework projects, caffeine, and the looming weight of my dissertation. Around that same time, ChatGPT had just launched — and it felt like everyone in education was scrambling to make sense of it.
Students were curious, tutors were cautious, and no one was entirely sure what counted as “using it responsibly.” I remember experimenting with ChatGPT to help structure ideas or find starting points for research, but it often jumped straight into giving full answers. That made me hesitant. I didn’t want to rely on something that felt like a shortcut, but at the same time, I could see its potential as a genuine learning tool if used the right way.
Looking back now, I can see exactly what I needed — something like Study Mode.
The gap Study Mode fills
When ChatGPT first arrived, it was incredible for generating information quickly. However, that speed was also its problem. It would answer questions instantly, what I really needed was help understanding how to think through a problem.
If I asked it to help with a programming concept, for example, it would give me a perfect explanation but skip the process of reasoning that actually helps you learn. I wanted it to question me and check whether I’d understood before explaining.
That’s exactly the space Study Mode now occupies.
What is Study Mode?
Study Mode is a new way of using ChatGPT that turns it from a source of instant answers into something closer to a personal tutor.
Instead of just replying with information, Study Mode guides you through problems step by step. It asks questions, checks your understanding, and adjusts the depth of its explanations as you go. It’s designed to encourage active learning — helping you think through material rather than just copying it.
Some of the ways it stands out:
- It guides by questioning. Study Mode asks short, Socratic-style questions that lead you to the answer instead of providing it straight away.
- It scaffolds explanations. It breaks complex topics into smaller chunks and only adds detail when you’re ready.
- It checks understanding. Quick quizzes and open-ended questions appear naturally in conversation.
- It personalises your learning. If you’ve enabled ChatGPT’s memory, it can remember what you’ve studied and your level of understanding, tailoring its approach over time.
- It gives you control. You can switch Study Mode off anytime mid-chat if you just need a direct answer.
In short, it feels less like talking to an all-knowing assistant and more like learning with a patient, 24/7 tutor who matches your pace.
Seeing the difference first-hand
Trying Study Mode for the first time was quite striking. I was expecting something similar to the ChatGPT I’d used before, fast and to the point, but this version slowed things down in a good way.
The first thing I noticed was how it immediately started asking me questions. It wanted to know what level I was at, which part of a topic I was struggling with, and what I’d already covered. That simple shift, from answering to asking, makes a huge difference.
As someone who’s always been a practical learner, I found this approach refreshing. It reminded me of those one-to-one conversations I’d have in small college classes, where a tutor would guide you through the logic towards an answer instead of handing it to you directly. In voice mode, it becomes even more natural. Speaking to it out loud feels even less like querying a machine and more like thinking out loud with a study partner who actually responds intelligently.
When I tried using it to learn a topic, it didn’t rush me. It checked whether I understood each concept before moving on and adjusted how it explained things based on my responses. For me, that’s the biggest win: it keeps learning interactive instead of passive.
Why this matters for learning
Study Mode represents a shift in how students and educators can use AI. Rather than positioning ChatGPT as a quick-answer tool, it reframes it as a study companion that supports deeper understanding.
From a learning science perspective, this approach encourages:
- Retrieval practice – getting students to recall knowledge actively, which strengthens memory.
- Scaffolding – structuring learning in gradual, supportive steps.
- Metacognition – helping students reflect on how they’re learning, not just what they’re learning.
It’s an important move because one of the biggest challenges with generative AI in education has always been ensuring that students remain engaged thinkers, not passive consumers. When used well, Study Mode keeps students in control. It encourages them to explain, reason, and reflect.
Where it fits in education
Since joining Jisc, I’ve had the chance to look at AI in education from another angle — not as a student trying to pass exams, but as someone thinking about how tools like this can enhance teaching and learning at scale.
Study Mode has real potential to fit into different points of the learning journey. For example:
- Pre-lecture preparation – Students can use it to get a guided introduction to a topic, with built-in checks that activate prior knowledge.
- Seminar support – Lecturers could set Study Mode conversations as preparatory tasks — encouraging students to reason through key ideas before class.
- Revision and reflection – It’s a great way for students to test their understanding and identify gaps ahead of assessments.
- Accessibility and inclusion – Because it adapts explanations to different reading levels and can communicate in multiple languages, it offers more equitable access to learning support.
When used thoughtfully, it can complement human teaching. It can help students come to class more prepared and more confident, giving staff more space to focus on discussion, critical thinking, and feedback.
Responsible use and opportunities for educators
The real opportunity here is helping students learn how to use AI as a learning partner, not a content generator.
Educators could encourage students to use Study Mode for:
- Exploring a concept before a seminar
- Rehearsing problem-solving steps
- Testing understanding after a lecture
- Reflecting on how they learn best
By prompting students to be explicit about their level, goals, and areas of uncertainty, Study Mode makes learning more intentional. It also provides a valuable model of what effective questioning looks like — something students can then carry into their own study habits.
What’s next for Study Mode
Right now, Study Mode is still evolving. OpenAI has indicated that this is just the first step in a broader learning roadmap. The current version runs on special system instructions tuned with input from educators and learning-science experts, but future updates could go further.
Some of the features being explored include:
- Visual learning tools – clearer diagrams and visualisations for complex subjects.
- Goal-setting and progress tracking – letting students define learning objectives and follow their progress across different chats.
- Deeper personalisation – maintaining continuity across sessions to build a longer-term learning profile.
When these arrive, Study Mode could grow into something that supports structured learning over weeks or months — bridging the gap between one-off AI sessions and ongoing academic development.
Looking back — and ahead
If Study Mode had existed when I was at university, I think I would’ve used ChatGPT with far more confidence. Instead of worrying whether I was “cheating,” I’d have seen it as a genuine study aid — one that helps you build understanding rather than bypass it.
Now, as someone working in digital education, it’s exciting to see that shift happening. Tools like Study Mode show that AI in education doesn’t have to be about shortcuts or automation; it can be about amplifying good learning practices.
Study Mode isn’t perfect — but it’s a big step in the right direction. It reintroduces the human elements of questioning, reflection, and pacing into a digital learning environment. It’s not here to replace teaching or human interaction; it’s here to make independent study more effective and empowering.
As someone who’s been on both sides of the student–educator experience, that’s what excites me most. Study Mode takes the best of what makes learning meaningful — curiosity, dialogue, reflection — and brings it into a space that’s accessible to everyone, anytime.
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Get in touch with the team directly at AI@jisc.ac.uk