ChatGPT to Forever Change Writing at Homestead - The Highlander
The advent of AI technology has revolutionized various industries such as healthcare, finance, manufacturing, and education. One of the AI-powered tools that have recently gained immense popularity among students is ChatGPT. This website allows users to generate entire essays from a short prompt in a matter of seconds. However, the use of ChatGPT in Homestead has resulted in cheating incidents that have forced the school to implement new policies to curb academic dishonesty.
The Rise of ChatGPT
ChatGPT, an acronym for Generative Pre-trained Transformer, was launched in November 2022, and within a few months of its release, it became immensely popular among high school students. While some students used it for studying purposes, others utilized it to generate essays, especially for English and language classes.
The tool uses machine learning algorithms to complete tasks based on natural language processing. Users only need to enter a short prompt to generate essays automatically. The tool is highly efficient, and students can generate essays in no time, making it ideal for students with a busy schedule or those who are not good at writing essays.
The Cheating Incident and New Policies
However, the use of ChatGPT in Homestead led to academic dishonesty when some students used the tool to write AP essays and submitted them as their own. Initially, it was challenging to monitor who wrote the essays and who copy-pasted from ChatGPT. But, teachers discovered the misconduct and decided to implement new policies to curb cheating.
According to Eric Bauer, an English teacher at Homestead, the new policies require students to demonstrate that they engage in essay writing by showing outlines or semantic maps. Additionally, teachers will monitor the writing process during long-term assignments to minimize the chances of cheating. The policies aim to ensure that every student adheres to the same standards of academic honesty.
The Future of Rules Regarding ChatGPT
School districts across the US have taken action to prevent cheating with ChatGPT. The New York City School District banned the use of ChatGPT across all devices and networks. The Los Angeles School District temporarily banned ChatGPT, while other districts hope to teach AI technology in an ethical manner. However, past the high school level, colleges have hesitated to enforce bans on AI-generating websites. Instead, professors are advised to set their own rules about the use of ChatGPT.
The Environmental Toll of ChatGPT
AI technology has numerous benefits, but it also has a significant environmental impact that many students are unaware of. ChatGPT, for instance, releases carbon emissions and wastes copious amounts of water. According to a study by the University of California, Riverside, Microsoft used 700,000 L of freshwater during the training process of GPT-3 to keep machinery temperatures under control. The study also found that for every 20-50 questions asked, the software consumes about 500 mL of water, which is about the size of a standard plastic water bottle.
Conclusion
The use of ChatGPT in Homestead has transformed the writing process, making it more efficient and faster. However, its use has also resulted in academic dishonesty, forcing the school to implement new policies to curb cheating. While colleges have not yet enforced bans on AI-generating websites, it's essential to teach students about the ethical use of AI technology to minimize the negative impact on student learning and the environment.
