AI in Education: Exploring its Application and Impact
Perspectives from Educators and Students
Recently, I attended several webinars organized by Phil Anthony, the head of Technology Enhanced Learning at the University of Kent. These webinars focused on Artificial Intelligence, specifically ChatGPT, and its applications in education. The webinars provided a balanced perspective as both academics and students shared their insights. The webiners proved that he hype surrounding ChatGPT and similar AI generative tools is enduring as we all strive to adapt and coexist with this groundbreaking text-based AI technology.
Two Key Takeaways from the Webinars on AI in Education
The workload on academics, and indeed all professionals in the education sector globally, is a significant concern. This issue was highlighted during the ‘Teaching with ChatGPT: Examples of Practice’ webinar. One of the speakers shared their experience of feeling overwhelmed by the demanding expectations placed on academics, including publishing a minimum of four research articles per academic year while juggling other responsibilities like teaching and grading.
To cope with the pressure and meet their department’s expectations, the speaker turned to ChatGPT as a valuable tool in producing academic research papers within tight timelines.
As a freelance researcher and blogger, I have gained valuable insights into the lives of academics and their daily challenges. This firsthand understanding has made me well aware of the demanding nature of their profession and the difficulties they encounter on a regular basis.
I began to contemplate whether it is now the opportune moment for individuals utilising AI in academia to openly share their experiences regarding how and why they benefit from AI. It is crucial to understand if AI has made a notable impact on their career progression, as well as on their teaching, learning, and publishing endeavors.
Having such clarity and openness can assist in developing safeguarding models, ethical frameworks, and strategies to enhance our original thinking and writing. It also encourages us to consider future advancements in knowledge building and fosters creativity in creating new ideas as human beings.
By taking such steps, we can help alleviate the burden on students. Presently, a major concern revolves around whether students are relying on ChatGPT to compose their essays, particularly in Social Science and Humanities Departments. This issue prompts inquiries about how we can identify or detect the utilization of AI in students’ assessments. Additionally, this ties into my second point, which pertains to the students’ perspective on the use of AI.
During the recent webinar titled ‘AI in Education: Unleashing Creativity and Collaboration,’ organized by the same individuals mentioned earlier, students voiced their concerns and insights regarding the use of AI, primarily in higher education settings.
One of the key concerns raised by students was the lack of clear guidance on how AI could impact academic integrity, as students might unknowingly commit academic offenses by relying on tools like ChatGPT. This concern has led many students to avoid using ChatGPT altogether to mitigate the risk of plagiarism.
In light of these concerns, the students also put forth recommendations. They emphasized the importance of educating both students and staff about the potential benefits of AI, as well as its potential for improper usage. For instance, they suggested a collaborative approach to AI, where staff could demonstrate how, when, and why AI could be used in a given project, fostering a better understanding among students and staff.
Moreover, the students highlighted the benefits of utilizing AI. They emphasized its positive impact on employability, as students could use AI for generating ideas and acquiring new skills beyond the confines of the university environment.
AI is an undeniable fixture in our lives, and most certainly we will continue to talk about it. Just as ChatGPT is open, we must also maintain an open mindset. Students have clear preferences, and the burden should not rest solely on their shoulders. It is our collective responsibility to approach the future of AI in a mature manner, working hand in hand. This entails monitoring, scrutinizing, and conducting AI endeavors within a robust legal framework.
