Have you ever used AI? Whether you have or have not, you’ve almost definitely heard the name ChatGPT. This is likely due to AI’s ability to solve problems humans find difficult or nearly impossible.
AI is a technology; like other technologies, it is not going away anytime soon. The real question is, how is it affecting students? According to a survey conducted by Intelligent.com and SurveyMonkey, “Almost a third of college students (30%) have used free artificial intelligence (AI) tool ChatGPT for schoolwork this past academic year.” Students as a whole, are using chatbots. But more importantly, how are the chatbots being used? We don’t have much information on how they are being used. Still, according to The Walton Family Foundation, which funds research and platforms that use AI to develop tools for educators and students, 73% of teachers said the tool “can help students learn more.” However, though this does not directly correlate to how chatbots are used, it shows how they could be used.
ChatGPT and other AI chatbots can also help teachers, aid students, and much more. AI, like ChatGPT, can generate a study guide in seconds, explain unclear instructions, and much more. As long as teachers and students know how to use the tool it can make a fantastic assistant and help the learning process. According to The Future Is Here: How Artificial Intelligence Can Improve Your Studies, “AI makes it possible to develop a truly individualized approach. It can quickly analyze students’ learning styles and preferences and create a detailed, personalized academic plan.” We contacted Mrs. Scott, an English teacher at The Woodlands College Park High School, who said, “I think that it can be beneficial if used correctly, but I think that it requires a level of maturity to be able to use it correctly and not to just take it [AI] and see it as an opportunity to cut corners.” AI is a tool; like tools, it should be used correctly for good results. However, unlike a tool, it is complex and should be treated as such.
Whether you’re a fan of AI or not, it is not going away and will only get better. Rather than fight AI, it may be worth the time, and the effort, not to cheat, but use AI as a tool.
