How AI and ChatGPT is affecting education

 

collage illustration
Illustration by Maya Hernandez
I've been doing a lot of thinking lately about the impact AI is having on education, especially now that so many teachers are panicked about ChatGPT. But we're teachers, not police officers, and its unproductive to spend all of our time, energy, and money trying to prevent kids from cheating. AI isn't a way to avoid learning, it's a tool for accelerating learning.

In my latest newsletter, I share some reflections, action items, and resources on how to manage AI in constructive ways, including:

  • If a bot can complete an assignment, is it really a good assignment to begin with?
  • How to create uncheatable assessments (spoiler: use authentic projects)
  • Design thinking tools to develop staff or student projects

Read and subscribe to the newsletter for free. I'd love to hear what you think.


3 replies

January 08, 2023

Thanks for sharing your thinking Michael in your newsletter and here. You’ve certainly added to my thinking. I’m glad that folks in this Community are also sharing their thoughts on ChatGPT and AI in a couple of posts here and here.

I liked your references to disruptive technology such as Instagram, the Internet and iPhone cameras (as a former photo teacher). The changes in photography came in fast and certainly provided more equity and inclusion to that art.

Your questions are also excellent: “What are we here to do? What do we really need to assess? What do we mean by ‘learning?’” 

March 21, 2023

I agree, if a bot can complete the assignment, then it probably isn't a good assignment.

I just heard at a conference someone say that when search engines came out, schools were saying the same thing that they are with AI.

We have to change how we teach, and what kind of assignments we create to minimize students taking advantage of such tools. It's going to happen with or without us on board. We can block it at school, but they can access its at home.

I personally think this is an exciting time. I am excited about the challenges, I'm excited by the possiblilites. I am looking forward to how others are using in their classrooms as we move into this new world.

March 24, 2023

Great post Michael and totally agree!

The genie is out of the bottle and not going back so how do we leverage AI to help our students to become....

  • Critical and independent thinkers
  • Better writers

If having a paper is the end goal, are we teaching anything? The process is important with checkpoints along the way that develop the end product with appropriate and accurate content.

Thanks for your thoughtful post!

This post contains content from YouTube.

If you choose to view this content, YouTube may collect and process certain personal data. You can view YouTube’s <a href="https://www.youtube.com/t/privacy" target="_blank">privacy policy here<span class="a11y">(opens in new window)</span>.</a>

This post contains content from YouTube.

You have rejected content from YouTube. If you want to change your consent, press the button below.