Key points:
- Educators are worried about AI tools enabling plagiarism and cheating
- Banning ChatGPT prevents students and educators from using AI in new ways
With the rising popularity of ChatGPT, many educators and administrators have trepidation toward the new technology, seeing it as a threat both to students and schools. Many teachers and educational institutions have even gone as far as to ban ChatGPT due to concerns of cheating and academic integrity. But the reality is that AI is here to stay, and its abilities will only increase with time. Rather than banning the tool, it’s important that educators work to understand and embrace this new technology for all it has to offer.
While there are legitimate concerns about ChatGPT and cheating, let’s not forget that educators had similar worries about the use of the internet in classrooms just 20 years ago. And now, doing a Google search is just a basic tool for students to put together an essay. Still, many are quick to point out that AI’s capabilities are different and, in many ways, that is true.
Because it’s designed to respond to queries in conversational, human-like ways, ChatGPT has instilled fears that plagiarism and cheating are easier than ever before. But with the rise of AI, we have also seen a rise in great AI detection tools that can help distinguish between AI and human-generated content that can mitigate the concerns over cheating. Similar to AI tools themselves, these detection tools will only grow stronger and more reliable over time.
While it’s important to stay cognizant of the challenges these tools present, banning them will only result in missed opportunities for growth among educators, students, and curriculums at large. Instead, educators should consider the many ways they can leverage ChatGPT and AI to foster creativity and critical thinking among their students. As teachers integrate it into classrooms, they will see how useful, exciting, and compelling it can be to students and educators alike.
Here are four ways that educators can use AI to inspire their students:
1. Research
Perhaps one of the most practical and straightforward uses, ChatGPT can be used by students to assist in developing their research skills. Research is an essential part of academic writing, yet it can often be a challenging and time-consuming process, especially for younger students. By using ChatGPT as a resource for academic research, students can access a wealth of information on a particular topic, from scholarly articles to news sources, which can help them develop a more comprehensive understanding of their subject matter and produce higher-quality work.
2. Writing Prompts
Both students and teachers can use ChatGPT for creative writing prompts. These prompts can jumpstart the creative process, providing inspiration and ideas for new and exciting writing projects. Whether utilized by teachers lacking inspiration or students practicing their skills independently, ChatGPT can provide a wide range of prompts that cater to specific interests and needs and help teachers instruct different writing styles. It’s also important to remember that AI tools allow for immediate feedback – as students are developing their own writing, they can get real-time feedback from the platform when their teachers may not be available to help.
3. Brainstorming
ChatGPT can help students generate new and innovative ideas in the brainstorming process. By asking the right questions, students can instantly discover a wealth of information on a particular topic – from historical events and literature, to current issues – which they can use to fuel their own creative ideas and projects.
4. Critical Thinking
Critiquing each response that ChatGPT provides will be an essential step in students’ use of the platform. In this process, students will inherently build their critical thinking skills, which are essential for success in both academic and professional settings. Teachers can also turn this process into an assignment in and of itself, challenging students to produce a better product than what ChatGPT offers them. By using AI as a tool for critical thinking, students can engage in thought-provoking conversations and debates on a variety of topics. Whether they are analyzing literary works or discussing current events, ChatGPT can provide information and insights that can help students develop their critical thinking skills.
With all of the incredible benefits of ChatGPT, it’s important to remember that the platform is still in developmental phases, and companies are in the process of creating their own policies to account for the tool. As it is further integrated into classrooms, it will be increasingly important that teachers receive training in AI — both on the basics of how it works and how to use the information it provides.
As the growing public interest in ChatGPT has shown, AI presents an exciting new frontier in technology, and it’s not going anywhere. It has become increasingly clear that AI will be an integral part of the future of education, whether it’s widely accepted in the near future or in years to come. Rather than banning or discouraging its use, we need to focus on how to leverage the tool for good. Both educators and students should be encouraged to try it out and test its impact on student progression. It’s important that we all understand the various challenges it presents while ultimately embracing it for the plethora of opportunities that it has to offer.
Related:
5 things to know about ChatGPT in education
Can technology help schools prevent AI-based cheating?
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