ChatGPT Provides New Challenges to Educators
Artificial Intelligence (AI) models like ChatGPT have been a game-changer in the academic world. Students can easily turn in work with minimal effort, leading to a surge in academic dishonesty. While higher learning institutions are working to combat this form of plagiarism, some professors worry that ChatGPT may not only compromise the quality of students' work but also steer them away from the true purpose of higher education – learning.
Eduardo Colmenares, an associate professor of computer science, believes that AI will not replace human workers entirely. He thinks that ChatGPT still produces flawed information that requires human perspective to check and adjust. However, he has other concerns when it comes to the university level. Colmenares is worried that students may use AI tools to bypass learning material, which ultimately hinders their ability to solve problems independently.
Despite Colmenares' concerns, he believes that ChatGPT can be a great learning tool if used with caution. The software can be used as a learning aid, much like books that have problem solutions provided. Students have the option to use ChatGPT to solve problems or solve them independently. The control is in the hands of the user. When students use ChatGPT, they must work towards developing their skills by solving the problem themselves and analyzing their mistakes and where they went wrong.
Associate professor of computer science, Terry Griffin, acknowledges that answers generated by AI can be wrong. However, he feels that the faculty should embrace ChatGPT and encourage its use. He also thinks that students should use the software to generate work and go through it to develop connections. That way, they can understand the ins and outs of their work instead of relying entirely on ChatGPT to do their assignments.
In conclusion, ChatGPT presents new challenges to educators. Students must learn to use the tool critically and not depend on it entirely. The faculty must embrace AI and explore its benefits while addressing its flaws.
