For many, the words artificial intelligence (AI) set off immediate red flags. Cheating, plagiarism, and copying all come to mind when a student says they use AI, but this doesn’t have to be the case.
AI, especially ChatGPT, is demonized in schools as teachers and students refuse to see it as more than just a means for cheating. However, with the correct approach, AI can be revolutionary inside and outside of the classroom. Its speed and accessibility make it an ideal tool for translation, learning, and review, as long as it is used responsibly.
There is a way to use ChatGPT ethically, many students just haven’t discovered how to do this yet. Students receive an assignment, copy and paste the questions into ChatGPT, copy the answers, and turn in the assignment. But what if I told you you’re using this resource completely wrong?One of AI’s biggest strengths is its ability to help close the achievement gap. According to the Maryland State Department of Education, Wilde Lake is home to 77 multilingual learners. Therefore, many English-speaking students share classrooms with peers who may not speak English as their first language. AI can translate assignments originally in English to many different languages, fulfilling the needs of multilingual learners.
English teacher Ms. Kaitlyn Curtis says AI has helped her alter material. “AI is great for modifying materials for students. One of my classes is ESOL and special ed co-taught, so it’s really wonderful to be able to use AI to produce a summary of a text for students who are learning English for the first time,” she said.
The use of AI for translation allows teachers to be able to communicate much more efficiently and effectively with all students, creating an inclusive environment for students to participate and help keep students who speak different languages from falling behind in class. It would be a shame for a teacher to refuse to revolutionize learning for multilingual learners and other disadvantaged groups simply because of preconceived notions they have about ChatGPT.
English-speaking students can also benefit from ChatGPT without using it to cheat. Instead of copying homework answers from ChatGPT, we can ask guiding questions to help us understand content. AI is an excellent tutor for students because of its vast knowledge. Many students struggle at home when they are working on projects, essays, or homework, and they don’t have a teacher easily accessible to them. Additionally, some students don’t have parents who are able to help them with school work. Students can use AI to better understand their assignments by asking questions about the subject at hand. Studies by the World Economic Forum show that personalized learning through AI actually boosts student engagement by 30 to 50 percent.
Senior Jane Mhonda says AI has helped her understand a subject by asking it questions to which it replies with an explanation. “Sometimes I don’t have access to a teacher to get help on my assignment and to ask questions. I tend to go to AI because it gives me more elaborate explanations to help me understand,” she said.
I myself have missed school due to being sick and have fallen behind in class. When I got confused about the new concepts I missed, I asked ChatGPT to walk me through the topic, give me examples, and confirm I understood these new concepts correctly. I not only caught up, but also gained a further understanding of the topic than what had been explained in class. By using ChatGPT as a teacher rather than an answer sheet, I completed my assignment without plagiarizing or cheating.
Large classes also make it difficult for students to understand content because it’s hard to earn individual time with teachers to receive feedback. These students may struggle on tests because they have gaps in their knowledge and never got one-on-one time to fix that issue. Again, instead of asking for answers, students can ask ChatGPT to create practice problems so they can gain extra practice. These problems don’t need to be assigned by a teacher because the student can take the initiative to gain extra practice if they know they need it. Physics teacher Mrs. Kristin Cooper says one of her students benefited from asking AI for practice problems.
“I had a student who used AI in preparation for a quiz. She wanted to have extra practice problems, so she asked AI to generate extra practice problems for her,” she said. “For students who are struggling, need extra review, or a different kind of explanation, AI can be very useful for them.”
AI provides unlimited one-on-one time with thorough feedback, which is something that is physically impossible for a teacher to do. AI has the ability to help students learn and grow, and we need to acknowledge its capabilities and use ChatGPT to our advantage.
While AI does have its risks, it is still a tremendous tool in the classroom, which is why it’s important that students are given guidance and not reprimanded by teachers regarding AI use. With certain boundaries in the classroom but not AI prohibition, students can use AI responsibly and improve their understanding and performance in class.
When AI is demonized, students see it as a source for unlimited homework answers. But when AI is openly discussed, students will see it as so much more. When students are offered guidance on how to use AI responsibly in school, they will learn to use it as an extension instead of a shortcut.
