The Role of ChatGPT and AI Tools in the Modern Classroom

This evening I will be working alongside the Manitoba School Libraries Association (MSLA) in a panel discussion on ChatGPT and AI.

Discover the benefits and challenges of using ChatGPT and other AI tools in the classroom, including how they can enhance student engagement, facilitate personalized learning, and address challenges such as differentiated instruction and virtual learning. Our panel will share their insights on strategies for mitigating the risks of plagiarism and how to encourage critical thinking when using AI-generated content. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn about the cutting-edge technology transforming education.

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/the-role-of-chatgpt-and-ai-tools-in-the-modern-classroom-tickets-565584808387

In preparation for this evening’s discussion, the following are some of the reflection questions that were posed:

1. Have you tried Chat GPT for yourself? For what purpose?
   • I have been using ChatGPT almost daily since early/mid-December of 2022. My usage has been wide-spread and includes a lot of experimentation to better understand the program: what types of results it can provide, query wording, different voice lenses, etc.
   • From a practical standpoint, my use includes: drafting templates for generalized correspondence (letters, news bulletins, social media posts), creating schedules for upcoming trips, personalized bedtime stories for my children, and workout plans.
2. Does AI generated content signal the end of original, critical and deep thought? 
   • AI will impact original, critical, and deep thought in a similar way that tools (new and old) such as the printed word, search engines, spellcheck impacted human thought.
3. What are the potential ethical concerns associated with students using ChatGPT for academic purposes?
   • In comparison to websites that can provide more of a “paper trail” when it comes to author, sources, recent updates, IP addresses, etc, ChatGPT is pulling from a dataset that we don’t have access to. This makes it much more difficult for users to validate information and provide references in a manner that can be revisited by other stakeholders (group members, teachers, etc).
   • Without an identifiable “author” there can be student assumption that the provided information is without bias; which is inaccurate.
4. How do our ideas around plagiarism and naming our sources of information need to shift to accommodate AI generated information? How can educators ensure that students are using ChatGPT in an ethical and responsible manner?
   • At current time, AI-generated content does not fall under the Copyright Act.
   • Recommendations that I have seen online indicate that it can be helpful to get students used to the practice of including ChatGPT as an output of research communication but not as a verified source of information.
   • An example using APA style may look like: (ChatGPT, personal communication, February 16, 2023)
5. How might the use of ChatGPT perpetuate or amplify biases and inequalities in the education system?
   • My initial thought goes to access. Schools that are able to provide ample access to devices and reliable open internet will have an advantage over those who don’t. Students with access to a personal device and their own data plans will have an advantage over those who don’t. Those who can afford to pay to access premium features will have an advantage
6. What are the potential consequences of students relying on ChatGPT for academic success, and how can these consequences be mitigated?
   • Educators have a responsibility to model the use of ChatGPT as a starting tool to provide a framework for research. The content shared needs to be utilized in a manner that ties into further literacy skills such as online validation, identification of bias, copyright, etc.
   • There should also be open discussion on the capabilities and limitations of the program; some of which are identified by OpenAI itself: “…use of our Services may in some situations result in incorrect Output that does not accurately reflect real people, places, or facts. You should evaluate the accuracy of any Output as appropriate for your use case, including by using human review of the Output.”
   • An accessible activity to model this includes asking ChatGPT to draft a paragraph on a local topic that is well-known to your students such as: “write an introductory paragraph about [your school] in [your location]”. Have them evaluate the output for accuracy: what was correct, what was incorrect, what was not included, what is the overall tone, etc.
7. How might Chat GPT impact the role of teachers in the education system?
   • Educational programming should be reflective of the world that students live in and the reality is that AI-assisted content creation is becoming increasingly common.
   • Teachers need to be willing to adapt their practices to keep up-to-date with the realities of their environment and, in the event that practices related to content acquisition or assessment would be negatively impacted by the existence of AI then it is time to reevaulate how appropriate that practice still is
8. How do we factor in our responsibility to protect student privacy and data in all of this? (Chat GPT stores all information…security?)
   • The first responsibility of educators and caregivers is awareness. As an avid user of TOSDR to help me break down the jargon to terms of service (TOS) agreements and privacy policies, I want to note that ChatGPT/Open AI has not yet been summarized on their platform. However, my review of their TOS and privacy policy brought up very similar policies compared to the widely used Google-domain.

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If you are interested in learning more from me, check out these previous posts about AI in education (many, if not all, include links to further resources):

• Technology NOW – Don’t Wait for the Future
• Assessment in the Age of AI
• What is Chat GPT? What Educators Should Know
• Microsoft Designer
• Dall E 2

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I would also recommend the following resources:

• John Spencer’s AI in Education Hub (e-books, videos, blog posts, and more)
• 105 Fun AI Tools You’ve Never Heard Of (curated list from Synthesia)
• Twitter Thread by Dr. Alec Couros on the way AI is being used in education