Don‘t Ban ChatGPT in Schools – Teach With It

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The release of ChatGPT sent shockwaves through education. The AI’s ability to generate coherent essays, stories and computer code on command sparked vigorous debate. Concerns over cheating and plagiarism led some schools in the U.S., France, China and India to ban the chatbot. But banning ChatGPT removes a potentially transformative educational tool. With proper monitoring and instruction, it can enhance student learning. Rather than outright bans, educators should embrace the technology and teach responsible use.

Cheating Concerns Are Valid But Can Be Managed

Educators have valid worries about ChatGPT enabling cheating. A recent Anthropic study found the AI could pass multiple choice exams and generate essays receiving B grades. This threatens academic integrity. However, tools exist to detect AI content like analysis of writing style inconsistencies and plagiarism checkers. Combined with vigilant teachers, these curb cheating although not perfectly.

Bans also miss the chance to teach ethical use. Students need instruction on properly attributing any information from ChatGPT. Outright bans remove a chance to have this important conversation.

Safeguards are improving too. Anthropic created an "AI safety classifier" detecting ChatGPT cheating with 70% accuracy. And OpenAI released a tool helping educators identify AI-generated text. Continued advancement will make monitoring easier.

ChatGPT Can Enhance Learning

Rather than just enabling cheating, ChatGPT presents many opportunities to aid learning:

  • It provides personalized explanations of difficult concepts and instant answers tailored to students’ questions. No more waiting days for a tutor or teacher’s time.
  • ChatGPT generates unlimited practice questions, tests and flashcards adapted to each learner’s needs. This personalized and self-paced learning is very engaging for students.
  • For aspiring coders, ChatGPT helps students learn programming languages by providing examples, explanations and identifying bugs in their code. Computer science educators see great potential there.
  • The AI can assess student essays and provide feedback identifying improvements needed in writing skills, grammar, structure and more. Automating rote tasks frees up teacher time for higher-level instruction.
  • ChatGPT excels at simplifying complex topics like quantum physics or advanced math into easily understandable language. This helps democratize access to challenging subject matter.

These capabilities make ChatGPT a powerful supplemental tool if guided appropriately by educators.

Schools Find Balanced Approaches

Some innovative districts recognize ChatGPT’s potential benefits using measured approaches:

  • New York City‘s Department of Education banned ChatGPT on school devices and networks. However, they encouraged teachers to help students use it responsibly in their guidance.
  • Singapore took a pragmatic approach. Rather than ban ChatGPT, they taught students how to discern misinformation from it and emphasized ethics surrounding AI.
  • Los Angeles Unified School District neither encouraged nor banned use of ChatGPT. They simply warned students against plagiarism and misinformation.

These cases show with proper guidance, ChatGPT can positively shape learning without compromising academic integrity.

Recommendations for Teaching With ChatGPT

For productive incorporation of AI, experts suggest:

  • Have open discussions about ethical vs unethical uses of ChatGPT. Teach the importance of attributing information sourced from AI.
  • Show students AI content detection tools used to identify plagiarism and inauthentic work. Explain how their school checks for cheating.
  • Assign exercises for students to summarize ChatGPT information in their own words with proper citations. This teaches them rephrasing skills.
  • Get students researching and reporting on real cases of AI bias, misinformation and ethical concerns. Develop their critical thinking.
  • Use ChatGPT-generated content as a teaching case. Have students detect inaccuracies and improve upon the information. This hones analytical skills.
  • Collaborate with students to develop an ethical code of conduct for AI use at your institution. Make them partners in positive policies.

Guiding students to use ChatGPT as a legitimate aid rather than cheating shortcut is key.

AI Can Enhance Education If Used Wisely

This debate echoes concerns over past technologies like calculators and the internet, which are now invaluable classroom tools. ChatGPT poses similar opportunities if harnessed prudently.

As entrepreneur Elon Musk stated, “AI is an extension of yourself. If you are smarter, if you have more knowledge, if you have more data, then the AI will be smarter.” Educators must help students be the drivers of AI, not be driven by it.

Stanford Professor Larry Cuban provides essential perspective: "Schools are not just about preparing kids for careers and college. It is to prepare them for a life of responsible citizenship." Guiding students in discerning AI‘s appropriate applications is part of that preparation.

Rather than rejecting beneficial innovations like ChatGPT, schools should lead students in using them ethically. With instruction in character development and best practices, generative AI can empower students rather than endanger them.

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