ChatGPT, an AI-driven automated chatbot platform that helps students and teachers with various tasks, has been recently banned in over 200 league schools. This news surprised many educators who were already wary of the technology’s potential to aid students in cheating or to plagiarize their assignments. In this post, we will explore why some schools have chosen to forgo using ChatGPT’s’ services and what impact this decision could have on student learning and the classroom environment if implemented nationwide.
ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence chatbot introduced in November, has been banned by many of the nation’s largest school districts due to anxieties that students may employ it to commit plagiarism and cheating.
Teachers and professors worry that the ease students can use technology to create written pieces might lead to shortcuts on essays, tests, and other assignments. Some also fear that since the content is produced a certain way, it could bypass any software applications for identifying plagiarised material.
Because AI technology will surely be a part of future children’s and young adults” lives, educational authorities agree that it should also be incorporated into our classrooms sooner rather than banning it. Experts in ed-tech preach that education must catch up on reality: with AI being here to stay, proper.
Richard Culatta, CEO of the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) nonprofit, commented that individuals must have the same access to understanding and support with technology enhancement to ensure equity within organizations and businesses.
Richard says:
“Everyone is talking about cheating. If you’re worried about that, your assessments probably aren’t that good to begin with,”
“Kids in school today are going into jobs where not everyone they work with is human.”
What Is ChatGPT?
ChatGPT is a website that allows users to benefit from its powerful Generative Pre-trained Transformer and get fast, comprehensive responses to any questions about any topic. All the answers will come back in full paragraphs.
A spokesperson for OpenAI, the San Francisco-based software company that owns this tool, says:
“Made ChatGPT available as a research preview to learn from real-world use, which we believe is a critical part of developing and deploying capable, safe AI systems.”
ChatGPT stands out from other AI chatbots due to its impressive memory and ability to respond correctly. It remembers the history of interactions, lets users make small corrections, and can reject inappropriate requests. All these qualities are what make ChatGPT an impressive AI chatbot.
The company is upfront about some of the technologies flaws.
OpenAI’s chatbot may contain incorrect data, dangerous instructions, or single-sided content. Additionally, its understanding of the world and events after 2021 is limited.
USA TODAY recently questioned the chatbot: “What are the reasons behind prohibiting ChatGPT from being used by schools?” The answer to this query investigates why schools have chosen to block ChatGPT.
Why Are Schools Banning ChatGPT?
School personnel has been worried about students utilizing websites such as Wikipedia and SparkNotes to acquire facts rather than conducting research or going through their reading assignments.
According to Richard Culatta from EDC, teaching with AI is essential if we want to prepare for the future adequately. To assist with this process, Culatta’s organization offers training that enables teachers to utilize AI in classrooms properly. These lessons will help kids learn proper grammar and how to write correctly.
LAUSD, in December, to protect against academic dishonesty, temporarily blocked access to ChatGPT and the OpenAI website while assessing the associated risks and benefits. According to spokesperson Shannon Hebert, the school district plans for increased training surrounding this as part of its plan.
As digital tools become increasingly common, we must learn to use them responsibly. Schools are right to be concerned about cheating and plagiarizing, but they should also teach students how to use these tools ethically. What do you think? Should schools ban ChatGPT or other AI tools? Or should they teach students how to use them responsibly?
Source: www.usatoday.com
