In the rapidly evolving landscape of educational technology, artificial intelligence (AI) research tools are increasingly becoming a pivotal resource for educators. In an article published by Michael Gaskell on Tech & Learning, titled "3 Useful AI Research Tools for Educators," a concise overview is provided on how these tools can be leveraged to streamline the research process for both teachers and students alike. Highlighting the transition from traditional research struggles to the current AI-enhanced capabilities, Gaskell emphasizes the significance of adapting to new research methodologies facilitated by AI.

The article introduces three innovative AI research tools that offer unique advantages to educators: Perplexity, Consensus, and Elicit. Each tool is designed to assist in the extraction of research findings from a myriad of sources, ranging from scholarly journals to informal online discussions, thereby enriching the educational content with evidence-based information.

Perplexity, endorsed by Jeff Bezos, is lauded for its ability to generate comprehensive outlines and gather supporting details from various sources in response to user queries. It provides citations and sources in a user-friendly format, making it easier for educators to trace the origin of the information. The tool’s broad spectrum of sources, from formal academic journals to casual online forums, encourages users to critically evaluate the reliability of the information. Perplexity’s accessible interface, coupled with its mobile app and Chrome extension, enhances its utility for research endeavors.

Consensus stands out for its focus on analyzing peer-reviewed scientific research. It offers a succinct overview of research evidence, systematically arranged from the most to the least relevant findings. This tool simplifies the citation process by providing references in APA, MLA, and other formats, facilitating the incorporation of scholarly evidence into bibliographies. Consensus ensures that all findings are directly linked to actual studies, underscoring the credibility of the sourced information.

Elicit, like Consensus, specializes in parsing scholarly journal results, offering a blend of features from both Perplexity and Consensus. It provides paragraph responses to queries with footnoted supporting research, although it lacks a direct mechanism for generating APA- or MLA-cited references. Despite this, Elicit’s simplicity and user-friendly design make it a valuable tool for educators seeking to integrate scholarly evidence into their teaching materials.

Gaskell appreciates the unique links generated by these tools for later access to research evidence, highlighting the convenience of not having to restart the research process or worry about losing citation evidence. This aspect of AI research tools underscores their potential to significantly enhance the efficiency and depth of research conducted by educators.

In conclusion, the article "3 Useful AI Research Tools for Educators" by Michael Gaskell provides a timely exploration of how AI can revolutionize the way educators approach research. By offering detailed insights into the features and benefits of Perplexity, Consensus, and Elicit, Gaskell underscores the importance of integrating these tools into educational practices to harness the full potential of AI in research.

Source: [Tech & Learning](https://www.techlearning.com/)