101. The Transformative Power of AI

Folks, let’s face it. Our classrooms are going to look a little different this year. AI, specifically ChatGPT, is going to change the way we design learning experiences and assess student mastery. I’ll be honest, when I first explored the ChatGPT platform I was terrified. As I have dug deeper into the technology and its capabilities, I realized that while it does pose significant challenges — it also presents us with some pretty amazing opportunities.

In this series, we will explore what AI is capable of, its implications in the classroom, and how it can benefit both teachers and students. Let’s start by examining where we have been, where we are currently, and looking forward to where we are going. Whether this is a trip you wanted to go on or not, the AI train has left the station and it is time for all of us to jump on board.

From Card Catalogs to Artificial Intelligence

I belong to the micro-generation called Xennial. Xennials are considered to be a “bridge” between Generation X and the Millennials. This means that I grew up with both the analog and digital worlds. I used traditional forms of communication and technology (typewriters, cassette tapes, VHS, landlines, etc) during my childhood and digital technologies like computers, the internet, and cell phones in my adolescence.

For example, when I was in grade school and needed to research a topic I headed straight to the school library. I knew exactly where to find the information I needed — the card catalog. For those of you who have never had the pleasure of using a card catalog, it was a set of index cards that included information about the books in a collection — the author, title, subject, and call number. A typical card catalog would organize items by author, title, and subject and you would have to hunt for appropriate resources. It was a laborious and time-consuming process.

Then came the internet and search engines. Instead of searching through trays full of notecards, I could type my topic into a search box on my computer. This was my first exposure to AI. Search engines utilized algorithms to understand my searches and deliver relevant results in a much shorter time.

Since then, AI has slowly become integrated into my daily life. I interact with AI whenever I communicate with a ChatBot, choose a show or movie from my recommended list on NetFlix, or buy a recommended product on Amazon. Even as I am typing this article, AI is providing me with suggestions about how to improve it using a program called Grammarly.

AI in Education

Artificial Intelligence, at its most basic level, involves training a computer to “think” like a human. It is designed to mimic human perception, decision-making, and other processes. In the field of education, we already use AI to develop lesson plans, grade assessments, provide students with personalized support, and analyze trends in student data.

AI is a continually evolving field with ever-expanding capabilities. In November 2022, a new AI platform called ChatGPT was introduced to the world. Since that time, it has attracted over 100 million users and 2 billion monthly site visits. This form of technology is a game-changer — one that will transform the field of education.

It took the world by storm because it is capable of generating novel products that mimic human thought processes and language. It uses Natural Language Processing (NLP) to analyze, understand and produce “human” language. If you have ever used a ChatBot, you’ve been exposed to NLP — but ChatGPT is so much more.

ChatGPT

What makes ChatGPT unique is that it is generative. It produces a new and unique response each time it is used. It is pre-retrained on a massive dataset. It transforms the search results into a language that can be easily understood by the user. It generates new content based on patterns and examples it has learned from existing data sets during its training process.

The reaction to ChatGPT was, for many educators, sheer panic. Much of our job relies on students demonstrating their knowledge in authentic ways. Over time, many of us have shifted away from traditional multiple-choice style exams in favor of authentic assessments in which students demonstrate their knowledge through writing or by creating a unique product. These practices are now being called into question. ChatGPT is capable of generating unique products with just a few clicks of the keyboard.

What does this mean for the future of education? How can our past inform our future?

We have faced similar challenges before. When the calculator was first introduced it was viewed as the end of math education. Why would students learn how to add when they can just punch the numbers in and receive an accurate result? Turns out, students still had to learn arithmetic skills — and once they learn how to add, subtract, multiply, and divide calculators save them time allowing them to focus on mastering more complex calculations.

Google, Wikipedia, PhotoMath. All of these technologies have transformed the way that we teach. It was hard — but we adapted — and we became better teachers because of it.

This process is hard — and frustrating — but it is also normal and necessary. We learn. We adapt. We grow.

Buckle Up — It’s Going to be a Wild Ride

ChatGPT, along with other forms of AI, provides robust opportunities for both teachers and learners. However, it comes with a cost. Several ethical concerns must be addressed with the implementation of any new technology.

The next post in this series will address concerns about plagiarism, bias, and privacy concerns. Please drop any questions or concerns that you may have about this technology in the comment section below. I will do my best to address them in upcoming articles.

Be Well,
Cori

This article was originally posted of Medium. If you are a member of Medium, please give me a follow @https://medium.com/@corischwarzrock

Arendt-Bunds, A. (2023, July 27). 8 ways to use generative AI for student assessment. Faculty Club. https://faculty-club.com/teaching-with-technology/8-ways-to-use-generative-ai-for-student-assessment/

Jimenez, L., & Boser, U. (2023, July 18). Future of testing in education: Artificial intelligence. Center for American Progress. https://www.americanprogress.org/article/future-testing-education-artificial-intelligence/

Luckin, R. (2023, July 14). Yes, Ai could profoundly disrupt education. but maybe that’s not a bad thing | Rose LuckinRo. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/jul/14/ai-artificial-intelligence-disrupt-education-creativity-critical-thinking

Mah, C. (2023, February 26). How to use CHATGPT as an example machine. Cult of Pedagogy. https://www.cultofpedagogy.com/chatgpt-example-machine/

Miller, M. (2023). AI for Educators Learning Strategies, teacher efficiencies, and a vision for an artificial intelligence future. Dave Burgess Consulting.

Phillips, V. (2023, June 8). Intelligent classrooms: What AI means for the future of Education. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/vickiphillips/2023/06/07/intelligent-classrooms-what-ai-means-for-the-future-of-education/