Generative AI is the cheapest and easiest way to cheat ever invented, and the vast majority of students use it. In a recent survey of 1,000 college students, more than 89% of respondents said ChatGPT helped them complete their homework.
AI tools are readily available, and if students want to learn how to beat so-called “AI detectors,” all they have to do is visit familiar sites like Reddit and YouTube. There you'll find an active community dedicated to using AI in academics. without getting caught.
What can schools and universities do? Currently, most school administrators allow teachers to individually decide how to allow students to use generative AI. To some extent, this is a good thing because it allows educators to create their own standards based on what they are teaching and the platform they are using. However, in discussions with educators across the country, we found that most do not have sufficient knowledge of AI tools to create these policies.
Rather than trying to get ahead of students in some kind of technological arms race, I think educators should redefine cheating in the same way they did when students started using calculators and smartphones. Masu. For generative AI, the fundamental question is, “What input should I get from the human and what input should I get from the AI to accomplish the goal of the task?” about it. Answering this question allows educators to set clear expectations for students.
Ultimately, society and the workforce will define what is the appropriate use of AI in the world beyond the classroom. To prepare students for that world, educators can choose between banning generative AI and preventing students from overusing it and developing the skills they need to succeed in their careers and lives. need to be balanced.
I have heard from some educators who have suddenly reacted to student use of AI by imposing only oral or pen-and-paper exams, but this is simply not sustainable. The main reason is that it creates an insurmountable amount of work for teachers. themselves. However, there are some practical ways teachers can redefine cheating and at the same time help students develop the skills they need in the working world.
First you need to decide what is worth teaching. As the technological tools available to students change, education must change as well. For example, consider cursive. It looks nice, but is it necessary, especially in the age of computers? Just as many schools stopped teaching cursive, educators in a variety of fields decided that the elements previously included in the curriculum were no longer a valuable use of students' time and effort, and critical You might choose to focus on teaching lasting skills like thinking or cursive. collaboration.
Second, students' use of AI must be documented and brought to the surface. When used effectively, there are many platforms that can give instructors a clear picture of how their students are using the available AI tools. Documenting the use of AI gives instructors insight into how students are using these tools, and uncovering that usage allows instructors to provide feedback and make appropriate decisions. We will be able to teach you how to use it. This combination, which takes place in real-time, allows educators to provide feedback during the research and writing process, not just when students submit their final assignments.
Finally, educators must embrace project-based learning. When learning occurs during the learning process, instructors can grade not only the final product, but also the work done by students along the way. Effective project-based learning educators provide feedback from the beginning of a project. With this guidance, students are more likely to create a final product that reflects their knowledge and skills.
As we speak with educators across the country about how they are adapting to generative AI, we find that some faculty members believe that “hardship leads to learning” and therefore support students in their research and writing. I've heard some arguments against using ChatGPT for. I disagree. But that being said, as with cursive, if that struggle isn't going to help students develop the skills they need in today's world, why put them through it? Is it?
Wilson Tsu founded PowerNotes in 2016 based on his experience doing digital research and writing in law and business schools while enrolled in Northwestern University's joint J.D. and MBA program. He had a law practice at his Kirkland & Ellis and was an engineer at IBM for several years.
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