Self Development Academy Many schools and educators are facing the dilemma of how to handle ChatGPT and other AI tools. ChatGPT is an Artificial Intelligence (AI) model that interacts in a conversational way. It can answer test questions, summarize texts, and write poetry and songs, among many other things. AI is here to stay, and as parents and educators, we must continually assess our stance on models like ChatGPT in order to uphold student integrity, promote cutting-edge performance, and truly value learning. So, is ChatGPT good or bad? Academic honesty is critical when using technology and general tips for tech-savvy students. Let’s explore how we should approach ChatGPT.
NOT A TEACHER ChatGPT
is not a teacher, it’s not an academic source, and it’s not even like Wikipedia, which is a one-stop shop for general information. In fact, it’s proven to have a high rate of completely incorrect answers (The Verge). Some people might think of ChatGPT as Google on steroids, but it is not. On the contrary, ChatGPT is a language processing tool that basically takes in training data and formulates answers or responses to a user’s questions or requests. It can’t access search engines or the most current information like Google can. If a quick Google search results in dubious links and inaccurate information — as it does — then ChatGPT is even less reliable than that
STRUGGLE MATTERS
Who hasn’t cried at the dining room table with seemingly impossible math homework in front of them? It’s not fun, and it feels pointless at the time. Not only is it a rite of passage — did you even take trigonometry if you didn’t ball your fists in frustration every once in a while — it’s also part of the learning process. We learn when we try and fail. Learning should not come easy. It can’t be handed to you. We must experience curiosity, ask questions, be confused, dig for answers, and chase understanding.
When it comes to learning material, you can’t beat good old-fashioned notetaking. Notetaking promotes cognition, has linguistic benefits, and is a cornerstone of teaching. Of course, using ChatGPT to write a report or speech is not only cheating students out of the opportunity to learn, but it’s downright cheating.
But don’t throw it out. With all of that in mind, don’t throw ChatGPT out. As mentioned, AI is here to stay. ChatGPT came out in November 2022. There will be many iterations, improvements, changes, etc. to come. It’s a good idea to explore the technology — after all, it is free and available to anyone!
For entertainment, ask it to write a bit about your best friend’s favorite animal in the tone of a despised comedian. Or present a real problem you have — like getting a three-year-old to eat vegetables — and ask it to give you a step-by-step guide to fix it. Maybe there will be some valuable ideas, to be taken with a grain of salt.
Play around with it. Ask it to summarize your favorite novel, and see how accurate it is. Test it by giving it a complex math problem to answer and see if it’s correct. Ask it to write a ballad incorporating your favorite foods and see how cheesy it ends up being.
ChatGPT can be a fun tool, a source of entertainment, and an exciting component of AI. It is not, however, a replacement for teaching or learning.
If you’re looking for a school that understands the challenges and benefits of learning in a technological world, check us out. Self Development Academy is recognized as one of the best K-8 charter schools nationwide. We have campuses in Phoenix and Mesa. We can’t wait to hear from you.
For more information and to schedule a tour, please contact the Front Office at (480) 641-2640. Self Development Academy has been proudly serving Mesa for over three decades.