The latest AI technology arriving at the top of conversations among students is ChatGPT — the powerful language model that has gained prominent attention in education. But, what exactly is ChatGPT?  What are the disadvantages and advantages in the context of a classroom? The AI tool is a well-improved chatbot that can generate human-like responses with an astounding capacity to understand the context of what is requested [1]. For example, you can ask ChatGPT to write a 500-word argumentative essay about banning single-use plastics–and it will generate just that. As such, this makes it an attractive tool among students and undoubtedly raises concern among our educators. A recent survey by BestColleges.com found that roughly 51% of college students resort to ChatGPT for complete or partial help on their assignments. However, we need to get the facts straight about the newest chatbot before making judgments. First, we will examine the pros that make ChatGPT a useful tool for student learning. 

Benefits of using ChatGPT in the classroom: 

One of the most attractive features of ChatGPT is instant feedback that personalizes student learning. Anyone can ask ChatGPT virtually anything including solving math problems and generating code with as precise detail as possible. That can complement students’ learning needs and preferences. Students can even utilize the relevant content from the tool to adjust their learning strategies accordingly. For example, students may often struggle with how to start their projects or scholarly endeavors. Using the tool can help students focus their research topics and have an outline of how to begin their writing [2]. 

With personalized learning comes another attractive benefit–accessibility.  Instead of hours searching on a topic, ChatGPT can provide resources in one place (including links to other sites, and even scholarly articles and studies). ChatGPT comes at no cost, and is accessible anytime and anywhere making it an excellent resource for online learning environments. Even though research on the impacts of ChatGPT in the classroom is still fairly understudied, there have been some indications of teachers utilizing the tool for positive learning experiences (and not only as a means to cheat)–as reported by the New York Times [3].

But, what about the disadvantages? 

Despite the attractive benefits and human-like responses, we need to be reminded that ChatGPT lacks emotional intelligence. It is still computer-generated and takes away from the authenticity of human interaction. This may strain the relationship between a student and their instructor and can impact the learning process. In fact, many schools have resorted to using AI tools that can capture if something was written by ChatGPT or any other AI tool–a striking irony. For example, many schools use a built-in AI detector via Turnitin, which itself is an online plagiarism detection software that helps educators prevent plagiarism and promote academic integrity. In addition, ChatGPT is limited in understanding and is not always able to provide accuracy to complex queries. This is significantly worsened by its biases that influence responses [1]. Therefore, students’ reliance on the tool can hinder their learning if not used carefully and cautiously.

What’s the verdict?

ChatGPT in the classroom has its advantages and disadvantages. The tool can provide personalized learning in an accessible format. However, it has its limitations including a lack of interaction with instructors and the tool’s limited knowledge. Future research should focus on developing models that address these limitations while ensuring proactive learning in educational settings. Overall, ChatGPT in education is not meant to replace educators but instead to aid teachers and students in improving the learning experience [3]. 

References:

1. Tlili, A., Shehata, B., Adarkwah, M.A. et al. What if the devil is my guardian angel: ChatGPT as a case study of using chatbots in education. Smart Learn. Environ. 2023;10:15. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40561-023-00237-x
2. Cooper, G. Examining Science Education in ChatGPT: An Exploratory Study of Generative Artificial Intelligence. J Sci Educ Technol. 2023. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-023-10039-y
3. Kevin R. ChatGPT, an AI language model, is being used in schools to assist teachers. New York Times [Internet]. 2023 Jan 12. [cited 2023 May 15]. Available from: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/12/technology/chatgpt-schools-teachers.html