The rise of Chat GPT: What educators need to do to ensure students don’t become complacent

By Rohini R Rao, PhD, Associate Professor, Department of Data Science and Computer Applications, Manipal Institute of Technology, Manipal

In recent years, the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought about revolutionary changes in various aspects of our lives, including the field of education. One notable advancement in this domain is the emergence of ChatGPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer), an AI-powered tool capable of engaging in human-like conversations. Unlike previous AI models that were trained for specific tasks, ChatGPT is built upon foundational large language models (LLMs) like GPT-3.5 and GPT-4. These LLMs specialize in question-answering, natural language inferencing, and text classification, utilizing statistical and probabilistic techniques on extensive training datasets.

ChatGPT, being a generative AI, takes simple prompts from users and generates new content based on contextual understanding. Trained on billions of words from diverse internet sources such as books, articles, Wikipedia, and incorporating human feedback, ChatGPT has the ability to assist and interact with users effectively. AI chatbots hold great potential for enhancing student learning and facilitating knowledge acquisition.

However, with the increasing popularity of ChatGPT, educators face the crucial task of ensuring that students utilize this powerful tool in positive and responsible ways without compromising the integrity of educational institutions. By comprehending the structure and benefits of ChatGPT, educators can take proactive measures to guide students toward effective utilization while upholding academic integrity.

 ChatGPT disrupts education

ChatGPT has transformed education, providing valuable benefits and challenges. Its conversational abilities benefit educators and students, aiding in lesson planning, personalized instruction, and knowledge acquisition. However, the risk of student misuses, such as excessive reliance and cheating, raises concerns about hindering critical thinking and learning outcomes. The AI chatbots can sometimes generate incorrect or biased information which is also a potential issue. OpenAI is actively improving the system’s behavior and implementing safeguards.

 ChatGPT and Blooms Taxonomy

Bloom’s Taxonomy is widely embraced by educators worldwide as a framework for teaching and learning. It encompasses six stages of cognitive learning: remembering, understanding, applying, analyzing, evaluating, and creating. Assessments are designed to measure student’s progress across these stages. However, the integration of ChatGPT raises concerns about potential cheating during assessments. ChatGPT is better suited for lower-level cognitive skills, such as recall and comprehension, while lacking the ability to address higher-order thinking. This misuse can hinder accurate assessment of students’ abilities and impede their progression to advanced levels of learning.

ChatGPT for Education

To address the presence of ChatGPT in education, institutions must adopt policies on AI-generated content. AI Chatbots cannot be eliminated from education, instead, educators should incorporate ChatGPT in moderation, emphasizing its role as a text-generation tool, not a knowledge source. Students need to understand the impact of AI-generated content on academic integrity. Proctored exams without internet access should be a major part of the student evaluation.  Assignments can clarify the educator’s stance on AI content, allowing them to ban or regulate its use based on the assessment. Teachers may permit initial AI-generated drafts, followed by student review and revision. Encouraging proper citation prevents misinformation. Educators can be trained to identify AI-generated content, and tools like GPTZero help detect it. Ultimately, ChatGPT should not hinder creativity, critical thinking, or problem-solving. Effective assessment and fostering of academic integrity remain essential for educators.

ChatGPT offers valuable support for explaining concepts, generating code, providing feedback, and recommending resources. To ensure its optimal use, educators should focus on integrating ChatGPT into innovative activities that target the lower stages of Bloom’s taxonomy, such as remembering and understanding. Assessments need to be redesigned, emphasizing experiential learning, group discussions, and projects that cannot be accomplished using AI tools. Educational institutions should establish policies on AI-generated content, promote academic integrity, and leverage AI technologies when relevant. By incorporating ChatGPT into the teaching-learning process, educators can significantly enhance students’ learning experiences and support their proficiency in their respective fields.