Author: Natalie Lee

It has been a real treat getting to intern at EITR this summer. Nothing can beat hands-on experience to boost your coding and technology acumen in this field. I’ll admit, just 10 weeks ago my GitHub account was something I had just because everyone said I should. But now, I gleefully gaze at my GitHub contribution map, shining like a Christmas tree, and I can't help but feel proud. 

It was awesome connecting the dots between what I learned in school and real-life applications, and making my first contributions to an open-source community has been an immensely gratifying experience. A big shout out to my mentors who have been phenomenal teachers throughout this summer!

After this internship, I will return to school to complete my senior year in my Computer Science undergraduate degree. As a student and a ComSci tutor, I have been thinking a lot about how education will look very different in a few years, primarily attributed to the emergence of generative AI language models like ChatGPT. AI technologies have already revolutionized education by enhancing accessibility and personalized learning. The advent of ChatGPT, in particular, has not only fueled innovation but has also invoked considerable skepticism within the realm of education.

The downsides of ChatGPT and education: the temptation to cheat

There's a fine line between using ChatGPT as a supplementary resource and it becoming a crutch. AI provides students with instant answers for assignments and even exam questions. This disrupts the integrity of the traditional learning process and is also a form of academic dishonesty.

Relying on ChatGPT in education diminishes the acquisition of both technical skills and essential soft skills, like time management and adaptability. Instant answers also eliminate the sense of accomplishment that comes from tackling challenging tasks.

The allure of using ChatGPT to cheat on assignments is a challenge many students will confront, especially if they perceive the tasks as unfulling. And who can blame them when even their teachers struggle to justify why the world needs yet another 1,000-word essay on the Revolutionary War? Evidently, the incorporation of such tools may prompt a transformation in the significance of mere fact recitation and memorization in education, shifting toward a greater emphasis on achieving deeper comprehension that goes beneath the surface level. 

Leveraging ChatGPT and education: balance and careful integration 

The challenge of striking a balance between beneficial applications of ChatGPT in education and upholding the integrity of the learning process is a real concern. However, the transformative impact that AI will have on education should also be seen as an amazing opportunity to benefit educators and students alike. We can combat the negative aspects of AI in education by focusing on what human aspects of learning can’t be replaced. Tools like ChatGPT provide easy access to straightforward facts and information, yet they lack the imaginative capacity and emotional intelligence of humans. When leveraged appropriately, ChatGPT in education has the potential to tailor the learning experience to each student and drive a passion for learning through curiosity. 

For teachers, the aid of AI technologies in grading papers or administrative tasks can give them more time to cultivate meaningful education environments that foster creativity and collaboration among students. 

Conclusion

The classroom remains a gray area regarding the adoption of AI technologies and this topic is far more complex than what can be covered in a short blog post. We are certainly in a transitional period within education; how we choose to integrate AI now will make a huge difference for the future. 

The threat of cheating on assignments and inappropriate uses of generative models like ChatGPT may incline us to ban the tool and discourage its use. However, if AI continues to become integrated into daily life and workplaces, finding a balance becomes vital for the success of today's learners.