AI in Education
The Basics of AI
Key Terms:
Artificial Intelligence (AI): a computer program or app that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence (e.g., analyzing data, identifying objects, predicting outcomes, gather information, etc.)
Generative AI: a type of AI that can create 'original' content, including text, images, and audio.
Chatbots: a type of AI tool that uses generative AI, natural language processing (NLP), and/or machine learning (ML) to imitate human interaction and respond to user inquiry.
Examples of AI tools we use everyday:
Google's Assistant
Bixby
Apple's Siri
Amazon's Alexa
Customer Service Chatbots
ChatGPT
Social Media Apps
Online Shopping Apps
What is ChatGPT?
In simple terms, ChatGPT is an Artificial Intelligence chatbot capable of generating humanlike texts from user prompts and/or questions. When given the correct prompt, it is capable of creating outlines, letters, poems, essays, stories, formulas, explanations, comparisons, etc.
Since its launch in 2022, ChatGPT has gotten better at creating 'original' content. This is due to the millions of inputs it receives daily and the amount of information it accesses to generate content. We are making ChatGPT 'smarter' every time we use it!
Link to ChatGPT: https://chat.openai.com/
How does it work?
ChatGPT 'feeds off' information from the internet, including Wikipedia articles and research papers from various sources. Then, by using a large language model that uses deep learning and natural language processing, it generates text based on the user's initial input.
What are it's implications and concerns for education?
Like any other tech tools, ChatGPT is meant to facilite learning NOT replace it. However, we have seen a rise of students using this tool to generate answers or even write entire essays. This poses a huge concern as it seems they are 'cheating' through the learning process.
Plagiarism & Ethics: While the use of ChatGPT might not be outright plagiarism, the text produced by this tool is a 'trail mix' of many other people's work and no credit is given. Maybe we can not properly define it as plagiarism, yet it should definitely be considered cheating and/or academic dishonesty.
Misinformation: ChatGPT may produce false, misleading or inaccurate information since it lacks the ability to think critically. It may also unknowingly spread a bias or conflicting response.
Is AI changing Education?
AI Can do your homework. Now what?
How Are We Going to Deal with Artificial Intelligence?!
Is AI Bad News for Education?
Should we let students use ChatGPT?
Challenges vs Opportunities
Challenges
Academic Dishonesty
Reliability of source information
Cultural change in work and school
Rapidly evolving, maybe too fast
Replace learning
May eliminate rigor/academic struggle
Opportunities
New tool, new opportunities
Student moderated use
Reduce busy work for teachers
Write emails
Write recommendation letters
Develop assignment prompts
Brainstorm/create lesson plan
Brainstorm ideas for differentiation
Summarize content
The options are limitless...
What is DoDEA's Stand on the use of ChatGPT?
There is no official specific policy on the use of ChatGPT or other Generative AI Tools within DoDEA. However, there are documents, policies and regulations that refer to the illicit use of technology. Please see below:
DoDEA Scholastic Integrity
Students are responsible for their own scholastic integrity by neither giving nor receiving assistance (written, oral, or otherwise) on tests, examinations, final evaluations, or class assignments that are to be graded as the work of an individual. Any suspicion or evidence of forging, cheating, or plagiarizing the work of others will be investigated. Any student who is in violation will receive no credit. There will be an appropriate consequence for the particular assignment, and a letter will be sent home to be signed by the parents and returned to the teacher. A copy of the letter will be filed in the student’s discipline folder for the period of the school year.
AHS Student Handbook
F. CHEATING AND/OR PLAGIARISM
Antilles High School expects all students to abide by ethical academic standards. Academic dishonesty including plagiarism, cheating, or copying the work of another, using technology for illicit purposes, or any unauthorized communication between students for the purpose of gaining advantage during an examination is strictly prohibited. These expectations apply to all school-related tests, quizzes, reports, class assignments, and projects, both in and out of class. In an online environment, plagiarism and cheating are one of the greatest concerns regarding student achievement. Whether intentional or not, the use of other people's work is a violation of the DoDEA's Antilles High School policy of Academic Integrity and can result in severe consequences.
Students are encouraged to work with their peers through the use of interactive technologies such as Instant Messaging, Discussion Boards, and DoDEA Student Google Applications as needed. However, note that any obvious signs of cheating or copying will result in an administrative referral and a zero for the assignment. Any suspicion or evidence of forging, cheating, or plagiarizing the work of others will be investigated. Any student who is in violation will receive disciplinary action from the administration.
Antilles High School has identified the following acts of cheating:
Peeking onto someone else's paper, computer screen or verbally telling someone answers.
Copying from a paper or technology device during a test (crib sheet).
Stealing an answer key, an examination or assignment material.
Plagiarism
Obtaining the questions or answers to a test prior to the test.
Forging signatures and documents.
Giving answers of an assignment to others.
Use of electronic device(s) or social media to copy or aid an in completing an assignment without prior approval from the teacher.
How can we 'fight' against ChatGPT in our classrooms?
Limit!
Establish expectations and limit its use.
It is important for teachers to clearly communicate to students and teachers their expectations regarding the use of AI. This can be done by setting policies and establishing consequences in their assignments and/or course syllabuses.
DoDEA IT recently installed a filtering software called Lightspeed Filter to all school-issued Chromebooks. It is meant to block inappropriate and harmful sites, images, and videos, including ChatGPT and other AI online tools. However, students may still access ChatGPT in their phones and home/personal devices.
You can also use NetSupport within your classroom to monitor your student's computer activity. For more information, ask Ms. Aponte.
Embrace!
Make AI work for you.
Explore ChatGPT to see what it can and can't do. Take the power away from ChatGPT by testing your prompts and assignments and/or incorporating its use in the classroom in a 'supervised' manner. Here are a few suggestions:
Use ChatGPT to produce an outline for an essay. The real challenge is to feed it the correct prompt to get a useful result.
Feed the AI a prompt and analyze/grade its response. Take it a step further, and ask students to counterargue or look for flaws in ChatGPT's response.
Student-generated vs AI generated response - Ask students to identify the differences and/or conduct a comparison analysis.
Support an AI generated text with evidence from the text or from research.
Adapt!
Rethink your assignments or prompts.
Stay away from generic or traditional prompts or assignments. Instead, incorporate in your assignments learner-centered strategies that require students to use their critical thinking skills and personal experience. You can make students write their essays in class or use other assessment tools. Here are a few suggestions:
Argumentative Writing
Write a convincing letter to persuade someone of your argument.
Write a script for a commercial or promotion to 'sell' your idea or position.
Create a PSA or speech on a topic.
Informational Writing:
Design a pamphlet/brochure to answer a prompt or present an idea.
Graphic Essays with graphs, headlines, quotes, images, etc.
Narrative Writing:
Change the ending of a story.
Change character roles within a story.
Literary mashups - Integrating elements of storyline to another storylines (characters, setting, conflicts, etc.).
Reflection Questions:
What is the impact of artificial intelligence on how students learn and create?
Should the use of AI Tools such as ChatGPT be considered plagiarism?
To what extent can ChatGPT be used for education?
What are some of ChatGPT's challenges and/or threats for education?
Should assistive writing (generative AI) technology be banned in schools?
Academic Articles: ChatGPT & Education
Grassini, S. (2023). Shaping the Future of Education: Exploring the Potential and Consequences of AI and ChatGPT in Educational Settings. Education Sciences, 13(7), NA. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A759040534/GPS?u=antihs&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=9a4add6a
Loos, E., Gröpler, J., & Goudeau, M.-L. S. (2023). Using ChatGPT in Education: Human Reflection on ChatGPT's Self-Reflection. Societies, 13(8), NA. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A762548174/GPS?u=antihs&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=887cb836
Lo, C. K. (2023). What Is the Impact of ChatGPT on Education? A Rapid Review of the Literature. Education Sciences, 13(4), NA. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A751870904/GPS?u=antihs&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=65fec695
DoDEA Connects Articles on the Topic
Wall, A. (2023, April 12). How students can use chatbots for learning, not cheating. Teacher Leader Cafe. DoDEA Connects. https://dodea.sharepoint.com/SitePages/How-students-can-use-chatbots-for-learning-not-cheating.aspx
Wall, A. (2023, May 12). How teachers can use AI to create engaging lessons. Teacher Leader Cafe. DoDEA Connects. https://dodea.sharepoint.com/SitePages/How-teachers-can-use-AI-to-create-engaging-lessons.aspx
Different Perspectives on AI
Why AI is the Catalyst We Need to Change Education Forever
7 Ways Teachers Can Harness the Power of AI for Learning
How can teachers and students use ChatGPT and AI?
AI is Dangerous, but Not for the Reasons You Think
Khanmigo: 7 Ways Teachers Can Harness the Power of AI for Learning
Testing the limits of ChatGPT and discovering a dark side
References:
A.J. Juliani. (2023, January 8). 7 Ways Teachers Can Harness the Power of AI for Learning [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gd7HcJY8U2s
ChatGPT AI product review. (n.d.). Common Sense Media. https://www.commonsensemedia.org/ai-ratings/chatgpt
Grassini, S. (2023). Shaping the Future of Education: Exploring the Potential and Consequences of AI and ChatGPT in Educational Settings. Education Sciences, 13(7), NA. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A759040534/GPS?u=antihs&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=9a4add6a
Heimler's History Teachers. (2022, December 14). Teachers—How Are We Going to Deal with ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE?! [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvNm7aXYPJ8
Lo, C. K. (2023). What Is the Impact of ChatGPT on Education? A Rapid Review of the Literature. Education Sciences, 13(4), NA. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A751870904/GPS?u=antihs&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=65fec695
Loos, E., Gröpler, J., & Goudeau, M.-L. S. (2023). Using ChatGPT in Education: Human Reflection on ChatGPT's Self-Reflection. Societies, 13(8), NA. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/A762548174/GPS?u=antihs&sid=bookmark-GPS&xid=887cb836
McNealy, N. (2024, January 3). DoDEA implements Lightspeed Filter on Chromebooks in January. DoDEA Connects. https://dodea.sharepoint.com/SitePages/DoDEA-implements-Lightspeed-Filter-on-Chromebooks-in-January.aspx?csf=1&web=1&e=82Xpgi&cid=ac0e3123-9ab9-4ce9-91cf-590e592c6749