– Zubeda Khan Mohammed
Artificial intelligence has the potential to revolutionise the way we learn and teach. As a tool in the classroom, AI can provide students with personalised learning experiences, automate repetitive tasks and provide instant feedback. However, it also has its limitations. There is a widespread concern that AI could make the role of a teacher redundant. That it could limit creativity or at worst, present inauthentic data as bonafide statistics.
Why classrooms need AI?
One of the main advantages of AI in the classroom is personalised learning. AI-powered educational tools can analyse data on student performance and provide tailored support to improve their grades. AI can also provide instant feedback.
Another advantage of AI is its ability to automate repetitive tasks. It can grade assignments and quizzes, which can free up teachers’ time for other tasks, such as lesson planning and providing more one-on-one attention to students. There are already a few AI tools that are supporting learning in classroom. One such tool is ChatGPT.
Ever since the launch of OpenAI’s ChatGPT, the world has witnessed rapid developments in AI in the education sector.
Key Benefits of ChatGPT
Improves access to education by removing barriers for people with disabilities and non-English speakers, helps with homework and provides assistance to educators in preparing lesson plans, generating questions, personalise learning and helps with exam preparation. But it is not without its cons. Lack of academic integrity, providing inaccurate information, biased responses, lack of understanding of context and limited knowledge are some of the shortcomings ChatGPT.
After carefully considering the various aspects of the AI tool, Al-Hira Model School decided to embrace the positive facets of the technology while circumventing the downsides. As a pilot project, students of higher secondary English class were asked to complete an assignment based on questions of Creative Writing topics like notice writing, letter writing and article writing.
The same questions were put to Chat GPT too. Predictably, ChatGPT came out with wonderful write ups based on the questions submitted to it. But it had lost context in some of the cases while represented inaccuracy in others. The students on the other hand lacked in content and grammar, but understood the context correctly. There was a high level of emotional connect too which the ChatGPT could not reproduce.
The biggest advantage was the students’ work brimmed with originality. Conclusively, students were advised on the judicious use of the AI tool. Facts and figures could be elicited from the AI, but caution and research from multiple sources is also recommended.
Artificial Intelligence is here to stay, but its usage is most effective with prudent human intervention.
