A Transmedia Campaign for Social Good
Think
Before You
Prompt
AI is not the problem.
The reflex is.
Tools like ChatGPT and Gemini are no longer just support tools. They are becoming the first step in academic tasks. Instead of interpreting questions or struggling with material, students increasingly generate answers immediately, shifting thinking from an active process to an outsourced one.
Research shows that repeated micro level reliance can gradually weaken critical thinking, affecting how individuals interpret, question, and produce knowledge. The personification of AI as something that "thinks" shapes user perception and reinforces reliance.
of students use AI for homework
use it as their first step
feel less creative after
is all we ask you to pause
Perfect is not the same as real.
Critical reflection is a powerful tool for learning and growth. It enables individuals to engage in meaningful self evaluation and personal development, leading to better decision making and enhanced self awareness.
By analyzing what went well and what could have been improved, we can learn valuable lessons that inform our future behaviors.
I think critical reflection reflection* is when you actually stop and look back at what happened. Not just what you did, but why.
Like last semester I kept choosing the easy topics because I was scared of failing. I didn't realize that until I [sat down and really thought about it] wrote it out.
One student.
One night.
One choice.
The Pressure
"Okay, okay, I just need this done."
11:47 PM. Mariam sits in a dark room, tired and stressed. Her laptop screen glows with an assignment title: 'Critical Reflection Essay, Due Tomorrow 9 AM'. She feels the pressure of a looming deadline.
Meaning: Beginning of cognitive engagement
The Shortcut
"No time for this."
A close up of the screen as Mariam scrolls fast through the instructions. Instead of reading carefully, she highlights the entire question and copies it. She feels she has 'no time' to actually think.
Meaning: Thinking is cut off before it develops
The Outsourcing
"Please just make it good enough."
Mariam opens an AI tool and pastes the question. She clicks 'Enter' without adding any of her own ideas. As the AI starts generating, she whispers to herself, hoping for a quick fix.
Meaning: Speed replaces meaning making
The Instant Result
"Done... finally."
The empty document suddenly fills with perfect paragraphs, no mistakes, no corrections. The essay appears instantly. Mariam smiles, but the absence of edits underlines that no real learning occurred.
Meaning: No thinking equals no process
The Realization
"Huh."
Mariam opens the Version History. It shows only one entry: the instant the AI pasted the text. No earlier drafts, no changes. The timeline is empty because there was no real effort behind the work.
Meaning: Forces self recognition
The Choice to Think
"Wait... what do I actually think about this?"
The scene loops back to a blank page. Mariam pauses before clicking the AI tab. She stops and asks herself the question. Then she moves away from AI and starts typing her own messy first sentence, with mistakes.
Meaning: The habit begins to break
Be honest with yourself.
You get an assignment due tomorrow. What's your first move?
One story. Four platforms.
Each platform contributes a different layer to the storyworld rather than repeating the same content.
TikTok
Shows the behaviorShort, fast videos showing real student behavior. Opening an assignment and immediately using AI instead of thinking.
Reels, stories, and posts showing simple comparisons. Thinking first vs. using AI instantly. Keeps the message visible in daily scrolling.
Website
Explains the issueA deeper space for exploration. Students can read examples, understand how AI affects thinking, writing, and creativity.
Podcast
Adds human experienceReal student voices sharing experiences and opinions about using AI in school. Builds emotional connection and reflection.
Think first.
Then use AI.
This campaign does not ask you to stop using AI. It asks you to give yourself a moment, even a few seconds, to attempt your own thinking first.
"If you skip thinking, you skip learning."