What role should Generative AI play in the classroom?
It’s a question everyone seems to have an opinion on, but what’s the optimal balance? It’s clear at this point that generative AI is here to stay. The question isn’t about whether it will be used in schools but how. Some schools have tried to outright ban its use, but that’s simply not a solution but rather a denial of reality. What is the best solution then? According to a UNESCO survey from September of 450 schools globally, only 7% of schools have a policy in place regarding generative AI. (Forbes) That leaves a whopping majority who entered the 2023/2024 school year without any clear indication of how best to handle the use of generative AI.
I’ll start by saying that it is too early for any right or wrong ideas about how exactly to implement AI into the classroom, but schools should at a minimum be considering how and when it is appropriate to use it at various levels of education. The institutions that want to ignore it are likely the most at risk of encountering students who use it in an inappropriate manner. When there are no guidelines or even discussion around the use of generative AI, students are at their discretion to use it how they want. While many students might abstain from using it due to the ambiguity around what is allowed and what isn’t, schools should assume almost 100% of students will use it in some manner. (Forbes)
Schools also cannot rely on traditional methods for catching plagiarism such as Turnitin that allows teachers to upload student essays and identify instances of cheating. Although the error rate is low, there is still at least a one percent chance that tools developed to identify when generative AI is used identify cheating in error. New methods therefore must be used to instruct on how to use generative AI rather than simply punish those who utilize it. (WSJ)
I decided to ask ChatGPT 3.5 how it thought students could best utilize generative AI in schools and here are the three I found most compelling:
“Problem-Solving and Simulations: Engage with AI-generated simulations or models to understand complex concepts in subjects like science or mathematics. Use these simulations as hands-on learning experiences to deepen your understanding.
“Critical Thinking and Evaluation: While using AI-generated content, critically evaluate its accuracy, relevance, and potential biases. Use it as a starting point for further research and analysis, honing your critical thinking skills.
“Content Creation and Assistance: Use generative AI tools to create study materials, summaries, or flashcards based on course content. Additionally, AI-powered assistants or chatbots can help answer questions and provide explanations in real-time.” (Chat GPT 3.5 Prompt on 11/15/2023: “how can students best utilize generative ai in school”)
While the above examples are not perfect solutions or ideas, they can be used as a guide or starting point to begin to integrate it into the curriculum and set guidelines for its usage.
A WSJ article on how teachers can utilize generative AI in the classroom sites several examples of how the tool can be used to student’s advantage. One example is to have students ask Chat GPT or an equivalent to write a two-page essay on a topic that they are knowledgeable about. After reviewing the essay, students are asked to identify factual errors and site sources that prove their differences with Chat GPT. This example not only teaches students how to use generative AI and understand its power, but also highlights its shortcomings and teaches students to look at generative AI tools with a critical eye.
The WSJ article also cites that employers will expect students to be versed in generative AI tools so introducing it to the core curriculum will not only enhance student learning but also better prepare them for their future employment. Like in the example above, students should learn the power of generative AI and how they could utilize it to their advantage, especially in the workplace but through practice and instruction, they will enter the workplace better prepared to understand its limitations as well.
There is no easy solution to this new world we live in. Everyone is faced with a new frontier. It’s simply a matter of how education systems choose to tackle this new, pervasive, easy to use technology that is the question. It’s here to stay and those that deny it or avoid it will end up harming their students more than helping them. Now’s the time for schools to start seriously talking about how to integrate it and set clear guidelines before it’s too late.
WSJ: https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/teachers-ai-classroom-schools-678d7d84?mod=ai_more_article_pos12
