Artificial intelligence has always been a part of our daily lives. We may not notice that personalized show recommendations, traffic map updates, and TikTok’s algorithm all use AI. Since the release of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, mixed opinions have surrounded all AI use in academic settings.
There are various ways students and teachers can use AI to guide and enhance learning. As a society, we should be in more open discussion and encourage safe AI use instead of shunning it.
According to an article by The New York Times, an artificial intelligence-powered program called BakPax has turned algebra teacher Jennifer Turner’s classroom from drowsy to lively. It helps lighten the load on the teacher by reading confusing handwriting and grading. Turner is able to prepare and use class time solely for interactive learning.
Turner said, “Students are excited to be in my room, they’re telling me they love math, and those are things that I don’t normally hear.”
As a student myself, I’ve had many essays to write; AI cuts out my “brain fart” moments. Tools like ChatGPT have helped me a lot to get around mind blocks because of their human-like interactiveness.
In the same way that a teacher might guide you toward an answer without telling it to you, ChatGPT can interact with you to guide you in the right direction. I use AI when I cannot convert thoughts and ideas into clean sentences or create an outline if I don’t know where to start.
AI can personalize learning through its algorithm and machine learning; for example, ChatGPT can remember previous conversations with you and recognize learning patterns. Sometimes when you can’t get a hold of your teacher to answer more personal questions, it can act as a guiding tool.
You can continue to ask more questions that sometimes traditional search engines might not be able to answer. There have been many times when I was in pre-calculus, and now in calculus, where I’ve needed help at odd hours, in order to finish homework problems and understand hard concepts. If I’m not satisfied with the answer or am still confused, I can repeatedly ask for a better explanation.
On the flip side, critics believe that AI tools such as ChatGPT can be a detriment to learning and academic spaces. Many suggest banning such tools, because they can lead to cheating, plagiarism, lack of creativity, and resolve. The problem starts when individuals use ChatGPT without the intention of learning and understanding.
I’ve seen a few people who genuinely copy and paste everything ChatGPT gives them. There are times when I find myself stumped or impatient; I can’t work towards a solution since ChatGPT has always been there to instantly gratify me with an answer.
The convenience of AI tools may also encourage those who are heavily reliant on them to procrastinate and abandon good habits such as time management, organization, and accountability. Schools and other spaces should be educating and communicating more on how people should use these tools, rather than vaguely labeling AI as immoral or dishonest.
