How will ChatGPT change teaching and learning?
Technology has evolved education in so many ways over the years. It has given students and teachers greater access to resources, but it has also increased inequalities and distractions in the classroom. Whether good or bad, technology in the classroom is here to stay and more and more technology is being introduced.
OpenAI, an artificial intelligence research and development company, introduced ChatGPT to the public in 2022. ChatGPT is a free tool that anyone with a device and the internet can use, making it widely accessible, especially for students who are all digital natives at this point.
So how will ChatGPT change education, teaching and the future of schools? Keep reading for everything you need to know.
Related: How conversational AI is shaping the future of the education industry
What is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is an AI computer program which uses its intelligence to receive, analyze and produce a response that mimics natural human language.
The program uses a transformer-based neural network with a huge database that the AI uses to analyze the information entered and create a response. When a human user enters questions or commands into ChatGPT, the AI processes the text and generates the answer based on the neural network data.
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ChatGPT can have thorough conversations, admit mistakes and even write essays. While it can be a valuable resource due to its in-depth knowledge, many in education wonder how ChatGPT will impact the ethics, effort, credibility and overall future of learning and teaching.
Related: What is Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Here are the benefits, uses and more
How can teachers use ChatGPT?
1. Additional resource
Think ChatGPT like Google without having to search for answers. For example, if a teacher is teaching a class about the Revolutionary War and there is a class discussion about why the war started, Google returns thousands of results for students to search.
However, ChatGPT would provide a quick, concise, and clear answer for students to read in real time. ChatGPT can supplement discussions and provide teachers with real-time answers.
2. Reviews
ChatGPT can make assessments. Teachers can enter information into the AI program and provide context, and ChatGPT will output a result. While it may take some tweaking, it can be a good starting point for educators to create assessments from scratch.
3. Grammar and Writing
In the age of social media and text language, grammar and writing It can be difficult for teachers to come across to students. ChatGPT provides instant feedback for students, which can help them improve their writing skills.
While AI should not replace a teacher’s lessons, it can serve as a practice tool for teachers to use in the classroom and a way to mix it up and offer students something new.
4. Automation
Automation is everywhere and can help teachers streamline one of their most time-consuming tasks: grading. ChatGPT can grade and provide feedback on assignments, giving teachers more time to create engaging lesson plans and pay more attention to students.
Related: Artificial intelligence can be a game-changer for education, here are 5 reasons why
How can students use ChatGPT?
1. Help with homework
ChatGPT is another resource that students can use to get answers quickly. You’ve probably seen students press the iPhone button and say, “Hey Siri….” Siri answers right away. ChatGPT is the same concept. For quick answers that they don’t have to search through, ChatGPT can be great for homework.
2. Writing skills
There are several writing aid tools such as NoRedInk and Grammarly. ChatGPT works in a similar way. A student can type in a sentence and ask ChatGPT to correct it so they can see how it can be improved.
3. Feedback
Since ChatGPT is equipped with data analysis, a student can write an essay in the text box and ask ChatGPT for feedback.
This gives the student time to make their own corrections before handing in the assignment. A student can also enter a test into ChatGPT and the AI can identify which areas the student needs to work on.
4. Research
ChatGPT is highly intelligent and equipped with huge resources. That said, the database consists of Internet sources, some of which are inevitably inaccurate.
This means that students should use ChatGPT as a Wikipedia-type resource. It can be a great way to build general knowledge and serve as a starting point, but it can’t really be used as a citable source.
What are the pros and cons of ChatGPT in the classroom?
Some teachers believe this artificial intelligence is chasing their jobs. Still, others are embracing it as an assessment tool and another way to teach kids about technology. Look at the pros and cons of ChatGPT in education.
Advantages
The benefits of using ChatGPT in education are as follows:
- Quick access to information: ChatGPT offers a wide range of topics in real time.
- Personalized Learning: Students can tailor questions to their interests and even ask follow-up questions so that ChatGPT digs deeper into that interest.
- Additional Resource: With a quick search of the database, ChatGPT allows educators to have a wealth of information at their fingertips.
- Practice language: Students can practice, get feedback and ask for help from the AI program.
- Accessibility: Teachers need to maintain a work-life balance, which means they can’t answer emails all night. Students can contact ChatGPT 24/7 for information, especially when their teacher is not available.
Related: The new world of AI-based adaptive education
cons
The Disadvantages of Using ChatGPT in education include:
- Accuracy Limitations: ChatGPT is not 100% accurate because the data is taken from the internet.
- Lack of context: ChatGPT is intelligent, but can misunderstand context, leading to incorrect output.
- Lack of Critical Thinking: One of the most valuable things students can develop is critical thinking. When the answers are always within reach, they don’t have to think for themselves.
- Lack of original thought: ChatGPT can produce entire essays. If a student lets ChatGPT write their essay for them, it’s not just a lack of original thought; it’s plagiarism. This is one of the biggest issues surrounding ChatGPT, and plagiarism checkers are doing their best to catch up.
- Possible Bias: ChatGPT is trained in data, and if that data is biased, so is the machine.
- Technology dependence: we’ve seen it happen: students (and some teachers) can’t live without their phones. The more technology is introduced, the more dependent people become. With such an easy search function, it can become a habit to use ChatCPT as a tool instead of a tool.
Related: Princeton Student Builds ChatGPT Detection App To Fight AI Plagiarism
The future of ChatGPT in education
ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence that does have the power to change education. The industry has yet to discover whether it is better or worse.
While it can be a valuable resource for teachers and students, it can also be an easy way to plagiarize and create an over-reliance on technology.
Hopefully, as teachers and students learn more about ChatGPT, the good things outweigh the bad, and AI helps improve education every day.
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