I understand why teachers are worried about students using ChatGPT, but let’s not forget that students have always found ways to cheat, chatbots or not. I think it’s more important to focus on how we can use these tools in a positive way in education.
I have yet to hear a teacher tell me that they are using ChatGPT to create interactive lessons or simulations, to provide personalized feedback, or to help with language learning. This is possible; we’re doing it to assist with our executive education and I’m planning to use it with my students at Newhouse next semester.
Teaching prompt crafting is important now and will only become more important. At its simplest, learning to ask the right question the right way will improve results. For example, instead of asking, “What is the capital of France?”, you could craft a prompt like, “Imagine you are a tourist planning a trip to France. Use information from a reliable source to tell me the name of the capital city of France and give me a brief overview of what I can see and do in the city.”
Rather than fearing or banning the technology, teachers will have to embrace AI assistants, AI co-workers, and AI co-students. There’s no point putting the cap back on the toothpaste tube after the fact. This technology has the potential to enhance learning experiences and make teaching more efficient and effective. It’s time for teachers to start innovating, too.
Author’s note: This is not a sponsored post. I am the author of this article and it expresses my own opinions. I am not, nor is my company, receiving compensation for it.