Chat GPT and Education: A Threat Or An Opportunity

Chat GPT is causing widespread debate on its ability to positively transform the education system.

After its introduction in late November, many are questioning whether it should be considered threatening or an opportunity for development?

I asked Chat GPT what its positive effects were on education. It responded with 5 main arguments: ‘personalised learning, access to information, instant feedback, interactive learning, timesaving’.

In this modern age of Artificial Intelligence, the way we teach, the way we learn and the way we study is transforming. AI tools are providing new, innovative ways of carrying out normal activities and improving the accessibility of information.

Hunar, a PHD student, who carried out her undergraduate studies three years ago, says that studying is changing for the better, due to Chat GPT’s time-effectiveness and efficiency.

“I would’ve benefitted from using it as there were times, I had to read 100-150 pages in just 2 days and when I was preparing for exams, I had to go through my binders to revise, whereas now you can type whatever you need into Chat GPT, and it will generate an answer straight away”.

Although, there is discussion around the accuracy of AI. Open AI states that Chat GPT is still in the ‘research stage’ and therefore it may not be very accurate at this moment in time, but there is the potential for further development, and teachers need to begin to consider using it in the classroom.

Joely, a Mathematics teacher in Brighton, says that “schools need to be exploring what this means for studying and teaching students about where it may or may not be useful, as well as what they can use it for and where it might hinder them”.

She compares the introduction of Chat GPT to the calculator: “when calculators were first introduced everyone said that it was a form of cheating, but then we became aware of their ability to help us do even better maths”. She believes the same thing will happen with Chat GPT and that AI is going to inevitably end up being a big part of education.

It may even be instrumental in assisting individuals who are neurodivergent; by helping with writing tasks, providing communication support, fostering an environment that is less-distracting and responding to inquiries.