Chat GPT just turned one year old on Nov. 30, and AI has become an increasingly popular topic of conversation. The field of education has encountered various challenges, but also potential benefits of using AI.
The most popular program, ChatGPT, being a generative language model, provides information and feedback within seconds. This raises concern in education, as some students have diverted to using these programs in unethical ways as a shortcut for learning. Teachers like Computer Science and Engineering teacher Cory Culbertson are wondering about the future impact of this technology.
“We’re now at a new threshold where it’s [AI] not just accessing and organizing facts, it’s being able to assemble them into a coherent structure,” Culbertson said. “And I think we’re going to see education move beyond that as well to other higher level skills.”
Culbertson believes that current versions mark just the beginning of what AI will become. As time goes on these tools will become more powerful and useful. He envisions a future where AI plays a more significant role in education, changing the way students learn and interact with information.
“I think we’re going to have to see how assessments and assignments evolve,” Culbertson said.
“We’re going to be expecting students to do things that go beyond simply just writing, answering something, or even generating something that can be created by AI.”
Culbertson expects there to be initial fear and concern with AI, but believes AI’s potential benefits will become more known. Indeed, students are already exploring strategic uses of AI.
“When I’m stuck with coming up with ideas or researching I’ve found AI can be a great tool to help with idea generation,” senior Miles Kirin said. “Obviously I make the ideas my own but using AI to get the gears spinning can really jumpstart my research.”
Kirin has used AI in an ethical way for various different research projects, including a recent research project in Economics. While the generated ideas serve as a starting point, Kirin emphasized the importance of personalization and shaping these concepts to align with his own research objectives.
Senior Ben Carnahan has begun incorporating AI tools into his learning inquiries because Google sometimes does not provide in-depth information with initial searches. Moreover, sponsored content often floats to the top of the search returns. Generative language models, such as Bard, provide in-depth information, including links to source material, within seconds, which is why students have diverted to using them.
“It gives me an easier way to access information quicker on the web,” Carnahan said.
AI Updates continue to emerge from technology giants.
It remains to be seen how AI will reshape the learning process.
“Fundamentally, education is about changing our own brain,” Culbertson said. “And if we resort to shortcuts that don’t change our brain, then we’re not really being educated.”
