Education IT Reporter

By Brian Sathianathan, co-founder, Iterate.ai.

Education has undergone a massive shift in recent years due to technological advancements, with the internet and computers becoming essential tools for both students and educators. Among these technological advancements are AI-powered chat programs, which have revolutionized the way students learn.

ChatGPT is one of these language programs that has recently gained immense popularity, thanks to its ability to provide students with instant answers to their questions or prompts. This has sparked heated debate amongst educators. Some believe that AI technology like ChatGPT should be embraced, while others are quick to argue that it has no real benefits for students when it comes to learning. This article will explore both sides of the argument and examine the pros and cons of using programs like ChatGPT in educational settings.

Why Educators Should Embrace ChatGPT

Let’s begin by examining the pros when it comes to embracing AI programs like ChatGPT in schools. For one, ChatGPT is designed to provide instant answers to students’ questions. This can be incredibly useful, especially for students who struggle with a particular subject or concept. Instead of waiting for a teacher to respond to an email or schedule an office hours appointment, students can get the help they need, or at least get pointed in the right direction, right away.

This can be particularly helpful in the case of emergencies, such as when a student is struggling to complete an assignment or study for an exam. ChatGPT can also help personalize learning for each student. The AI program can track a students’ progress and provide tailored feedback based on their performance. This can help teachers identify areas where a student is struggling and provide additional resources to help them improve. The AI program can also recommend additional materials for the student to review, based on their individual learning style and pace.

AI programs can also save teachers a lot of time. Instead of answering the same questions repeatedly, teachers can direct students to the AI programs. This frees up time for teachers to focus on other tasks, such as lesson planning and grading. The AI programs can also handle routine tasks, such as setting reminders and scheduling appointments.

AI programs like ChatGPT can also help improve student engagement. Many students are more comfortable asking questions to an AI program than to a teacher in a classroom setting. This can help students who are shy or anxious about asking questions feel more confident and engaged in the learning process. The AI program can also provide feedback in real-time, which can help keep students motivated and on track.

Why Educators Should Ban ChatGPT

One of the biggest criticisms of AI programs like ChatGPT is that they promote a lack of critical thinking. Students may become overly reliant on AI programs to provide answers rather than developing problem-solving skills themselves. This could be particularly harmful in subjects where critical thinking is essential, such as science or mathematics. AI programs can also limit the interaction between teachers and students. When students rely on AI programs for answers, they may miss out on the opportunity to engage in meaningful conversation with their teacher.

This can hinder their overall learning experience. In addition, students may not receive the same level of personalized attention and feedback that they would receive from a teacher. Additionally, while AI programs are designed to provide accurate answers, there is always the risk of them providing incorrect information. Students may not be able to discern whether an answer provided by an AI program is accurate or not, which could lead to confusion and misunderstanding. In addition, AI programs may not be able to handle complex questions or situations, which could result in students receiving incorrect or incomplete answers.

Programs like ChatGPT are designed to provide answers to a wide range of questions, but they may not be able to cover every subject or topic. This could limit the usefulness of AI programs in certain educational settings. In addition, AI programs may not be able to provide the same level of depth and detail as a teacher, which could be a disadvantage for students who need more in-depth explanations and discussions.

Moreover, AI programs may not be able to provide the same level of emotional support as a human teacher. Students may need emotional support and encouragement from their teachers, especially during difficult times, and AI programs may not be able to provide this kind of support.

Another potential issue with AI programs is that they may reinforce biases and stereotypes. AI programs learn from the data they are fed, and if that data is biased, the AI programs may perpetuate those biases. This could be a problem in the education sector, where it is crucial to avoid reinforcing stereotypes and biases.

However, it’s important to note that AI programs like ChatGPT are not designed to replace human teachers. Instead, they are designed to be supplemental tools to help students learn more effectively. AI programs can be particularly useful for students who need extra help with specific subjects or topics, or for students who are studying in remote or distance learning environments.

AI Language tools like ChatGPT are constantly improving and evolving, with new features and capabilities being added all the time. For example, ChatGPT can now provide students with essay writing assistance, including topic suggestions and essay outlines. This can be a valuable resource for students who struggle with writing assignments.

The use of AI programs in education is a contentious issue, with both pros and cons to consider. Educators must carefully weigh the benefits and risks of using AI programs like ChatGPT and ensure that they are being used appropriately. AI programs can be a valuable tool for helping students learn more effectively, but they should not be relied on exclusively, and they should not replace human teachers. When used properly, AI programs like ChatGPT can help enhance the learning experience and improve student outcomes, but educators must remain mindful of the potential drawbacks and limitations of these technologies.