How teachers are leveraging ChatGPT and revolutionizing education

We all know ChatGPT can be a priceless asset for students, presenting a dynamic pathway to amplify learning. Its capability to furnish immediate and precise answers to inquiries nurtures an inclination for self-directed discovery. Students can immerse themselves in intricate topics, benefiting from clarifications and direction. Furthermore, ChatGPT contributes to honing communication proficiencies through lifelike interaction simulations.

It aids in idea generation, shaping essays, and tackling challenges. Yet, a prudent stance is required to prevent eclipsing critical thinking. ChatGPT transforms into a versatile companion, nurturing curiosity and cultivating an active approach to acquiring knowledge when appropriately utilized. This, in turn, empowers students for triumphs not only in academic realms but also in broader life pursuits.

Not just students but teachers in schools are also leveraging ChatGPT to change the way they interact with students.

How ChatGPT helped a social studies teacher

This academic year, Peter Paccone, a social studies instructor based in San Marino, California, was interviewed by TIME. The teacher is introducing a novel educational assistant into his classroom – ChatGPT. Intending to allot more time for delving into complex concepts, such as the repercussions of the inaugural industrial revolution, he envisions delegating certain elementary subjects, like the mechanical intricacies of a cotton gin, to this chatbot.

By doing so, the teacher aims to optimize the classroom experience for his high school students, ensuring a balanced focus on both straightforward explanations and thought-provoking analyses.

During a virtual workshop he orchestrated in May, attended by over 40 educators, Paccone conveyed his insights. As artificial intelligence teeters on the edge of transforming various facets of our societal landscape—ranging from healthcare to warfare—it’s unsurprising that education springs to the forefront of contemplation. In response to queries posed in digital forums, the ChatGPT chatbot demonstrates its prowess by crafting responses that emulate essay-like compositions.

While students and educators gear up for a fresh academic term, they concurrently confront the ramifications of AI on learning, assignments, and academic integrity. Paccone is just one example among numerous high school instructors exploring the integration of ChatGPT within their teaching environments. However, the tool engenders as much apprehension within the educational community as it does enthusiasm, encapsulating both the potential benefits and concerns that AI’s influence brings forth.

Also Read: How ChatGPT can improve content writers, not replace them

Teachers were panicking seeing ChatGPT swift growth

Earlier this year, the surge in popularity of OpenAI.com, the platform behind ChatGPT, propelled it into the ranks of the world’s top 50 visited websites. Amid this rise, prominent educational districts, ranging from New York City to Los Angeles, temporarily prohibited its adoption within classrooms.

This was to allow time for the formulation of comprehensive policies addressing its usage. Meanwhile, educators eager to unlock the positive potential of this technology found their haven in online communities like “chatGPT for teachers,” boasting around 300,000 members, and “The AI Classroom,” with an impressive membership of over 20,000 individuals.

A significant portion of educators are gripped by a sense of unease, perceiving ChatGPT primarily as a mechanism for cheating—an instrument that students might exploit for plagiarism.

Yet, Paccone and a steadily expanding contingent of instructors contend that barring AI from their classrooms is an impractical endeavor. Echoing this sentiment, Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers, a prominent teachers union, perceives the apprehension surrounding AI as reminiscent of past concerns raised by the introduction of the Internet and graphing calculators.

Weingarten likens ChatGPT’s significance to English and writing to that of calculators to math. From this perspective, educators are confronted with a binary choice: either impart responsible utilization of ChatGPT to their students or anticipate its potential misuse.

Teachers are still concerned about ChatGPT’s misuse

Amidst the deliberation among teachers regarding the incorporation of AI into their classrooms for the upcoming year, they are simultaneously gaining insight into the methods through which misuse can manifest.

Numerous educators, who were interviewed by TIME for this narrative, contend that the key to sparking students’ interest lies in the proactive integration of ChatGPT within the classroom. A survey conducted by the Walton Family Foundation and published on July 18 revealed that 73% of surveyed teachers were familiar with ChatGPT. Of these, 33% employed it as a resource to generate inventive concepts for their classes.

Some of these imaginative concepts are currently being put into action at Peninsula High School, situated in Gig Harbor, approximately an hour away from Seattle. A student employed ChatGPT to compose a rap infused with the essence of Kanye West, elucidating the concepts of vectors and trigonometry. Similarly, geometry students harnessed the program to craft mathematical proofs fashioned as rap lyrics, leading to a classroom contest where they performed their creations.

Certainly, ChatGPT’s accuracy isn’t flawless; however, educators are discovering that this imperfection offers a unique method to captivate students. Among these strategies is having students fact-check essays formulated by the program in response to their inquiries. This approach serves a dual purpose: evaluating the students’ comprehension of the subject matter and unveiling the pitfalls associated with depending on AI for intricate tasks.

Can ChatGPT replace the human touch?

Although a consensus among educators appears to reject a complete prohibition of ChatGPT within classrooms, there exists a divergence of opinions regarding the extent to which it will impact the educational landscape.

Legitimate apprehensions arise about relinquishing excessive instruction to the program. Figures like Weingarten from the teachers’ union, along with others, express apprehensions that this approach could exacerbate educational disparities, exacerbating the schism between students whose families possess the means for high-speed internet access, facilitating ChatGPT utilization, and those who lack such resources. Additionally, concerns stem from potential biases within the data that AI relies on to formulate responses to user prompts.

Navigating the incorporation of this technology in a manner that fosters students’ critical thinking abilities, all while preserving the significant human interactions that stem from teacher-to-student engagement, presents a substantial task. This challenge becomes even more pressing, particularly for those students who disengaged during the sudden transition from in-person to virtual learning during the pandemic.

When it comes to gaining knowledge, human connections might be unparalleled. For numerous teachers, the prospect of embracing ChatGPT within the classroom is not synonymous with dreading the impending extent of disruption. The conviction lies in the irreplaceable value of human relationships regarding education.