In the age of rapid technological advancements, we’re faced with a crucial question: What role should Artificial Intelligence (AI) play in the classroom? As AI applications like ChatGPT become more prevalent, it’s vital for educators and students alike to consider the potential implications on academic inquiry and learning.
While there are undeniable benefits to harnessing the power of AI, there are also significant concerns surrounding its use in academic settings.
New Technologies Always Face Criticism Before We Integrate Them Into Our Lives
I remember how shocked people were when schools allowed calculators in math classes beginning in elementary school. This was viewed as the end of understanding mathematical concepts and number sense in general. “Did it happen? No.”
There was more uproar when “spell check” became available. I suspect those who had trouble spelling before spell checkers were common still have trouble spelling today. For some of us, autocorrection of misspelled words reinforced the need to proofread so that the substituted word didn’t alter our hoped-for meaning. It seems each new thing leads to another.
AI Is A Powerful Tool That Warrants Careful Consideration
The primary concern is that AI applications like ChatGPT may encourage complacency, hindering students’ ability to develop essential skills such as writing, critical thinking, and argument formulation allowing a machine to do the thinking for us. On the other hand, when used responsibly, AI can serve as a valuable idea-generating tool, streamlining research processes and empowering students who may struggle with the blank page.
As we navigate this new terrain, it’s important to acknowledge both the benefits and potential pitfalls of using AI in education. Educators play a crucial role in guiding students towards responsible use, ensuring that technology complements the learning process rather than replacing it.
By fostering digital literacy and cultivating an environment that values authenticity and originality, we can help students harness the power of AI while preserving the integrity of their education.
The Good: AI as an Idea-Generating Tool
I recently tested ChatGPT’s ability to help a student start building a list of medium-sized colleges with specific majors in a defined area of the country. It gave me a reasonable start, although some of the colleges mentioned were larger than I specified.
I also asked ChatGPT to list resources for writing a paper about Napoleon. It provided a wide array of options that could be used by a student to begin a research paper, saving time in discovering sources. When used as an idea-generating or brainstorming tool, AI can spur students to faster and more accurate planning, as well as help those intimidated by the blank page go further than they might have otherwise.
Used in these ways, I believe that AI is a great tool for both personal and academic tasks.
The Bad: The Temptation to Rely Solely on AI
The temptation to let ChatGPT or similar programs like Bard or Ernie Bot write entire essays or research papers and claim them as original work may be too much for most people. Instead of learning to write and formulate arguments or thoughts, they can let an anonymous ghost-writer (aka ChatGPT) write for them.
When this happens, the skill of learning is moot. Any teacher or trusted advisor feedback would be lost on the writer because it wasn’t their work being corrected, increasing the odds that a student would likely make more mistakes than expected when they had to perform similarly without an AI support buddy.
I also tested Jasper, a paid AI tool that allows the tool to write your complete document after entering some basic directions. I was deeply concerned by the results. If a student submitted a document by Jasper to me, I could not tell that it was written by an AI tool unless I had previously been privy to the student’s voice and style.
This potential level of deception is scary indeed. Used in these ways, AI tools could have a powerful, potentially negative impact on academic inquiry and initiative.
The Ugly: The Ethical Dilemma of AI Use
Students face an ethical dilemma: submit something written by a chatbot or explore an issue and form real, defensible positions. The rabbit holes of inquiry followed when doing research can often open new areas of interest and enhance your appreciation for and understanding of a topic. You can never fully know what will inflame your passion for a particular subject. Therefore, using a tool that gives you the answers but limits further investigation is detrimental to acquiring a broad base of knowledge of a subject.
In short, AI stifles creativity and discernment. Today’s kids seek instant gratification. Many want the answers handed to them immediately, and they lack the curiosity and will to dig deeper.
Is this a failure of moral development or simply a symptom of immaturity?
I do not pretend to have the answer, although I suspect it is a bit of both. We must accept that some people will take it every time if there is an easy way to accomplish something. Cheating is rampant in our middle and high schools, and students often put much more effort into figuring out ways to cheat than they would spend simply learning the material. I have no reason to suspect these habits don’t extend to colleges.
The Bottom Line: Balancing Innovation And Traditional Academic Values
As colleges struggle to develop rules for ChatGPT use, we must recognize that guidelines may come too late for current students or applicants. To its credit, Georgia Tech has clear guidelines on its website for using ChatGPT.
In other words, they allow applicants to use available tools but encourage students to add their spirit to the final document.
As I see it, ChatGPT is an instrument that, if used correctly, can enhance learning and accelerate inquiry into a subject matter. Schools at all levels should train students to use this tool correctly and seize this opportunity to teach values and honesty. Turning in work you did not generate is against the rules because you cheat not only the students doing the hard work of learning but also yourself by forgoing the chance to see what you can do.
There are no shortcuts to an education, just as no shortcuts to any worthwhile endeavor. The grade is not as important as the experience of stretching your mind, discovering your interests, and digging into uncharted waters. Innovation and discovery come from these endeavors.
Embrace AI with Integrity
As ChatGPT and other AI tools continue to shape the academic landscape, let’s strive to use them responsibly and ethically. By embracing these tools while preserving the values of honesty, creativity, and critical thinking, we can usher in a new era of innovation without compromising the quality of our education. Let’s work together to strike a balance between technological advancements and traditional academic values, reach out for support!
