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Center for Curriculum, Instruction and Technology (CCIT)

ChatGPT and AI

Getting to Know ChatGPT

Computer imageMaybe you have heard of OpenAI's ChatGPT chatbot tool, but we want to share some details that you might find helpful as you grapple with a future that involves artificial intelligence. ChatGPT is an app that uses machine learning to understand and generate human-like text responses for user-generated prompts and questions. It has been trained on massive amounts of text to train it to respond to a host of user prompts and questions. That makes it useful for a wide range of uses.

While ChatGPT and other AI-powered tools are currently available free or for a small fee, this may not always be the case in the future. As these technologies become more widespread, companies and organizations will likely begin to charge for their use.

It is in its technological infancy, but there is much to discuss!

What is it?

What is ChatGPT? I'll let ChatGPT explain (my query is on top, and the response is below):

Image: What is ChatGPT? ChatGPT is a variant of the GPT (Generative Pre-trained Transformer) language model developed by OpenAI. It is trained on a large dataset of human-generated text and is able to generate human-like text in response to a given prompt. It can be fine-tuned for a variety of natural language processing tasks such as language translation, question answering, and text summarization. It's also used to generate creative writing and in conversational systems.

Because this is a chatbot, I can continue to learn more by asking questions about vocabulary I don't know, clarifying ideas, etc. OpenAI's ChatGPT is a form of generative AI. What is generative AI? Let's ask ChatGPT to help with that, too! Below is the response I received when I asked ChatGPT about generative AI. Look at how it formulates the response:

Image: ChatGPT search: What is Generative AI? Generative AI refers to the use of artificial intelligence algorithms to generate new data, such as text, images, or audio. These algorithms use statistical models, such as neural networks, to learn patterns in existing data and use that knowledge to create new, similar data. Generative AI is used in a variety of applications, such as natural language processing, computer vision, and speech recognition.

In simpler terms, it generates responses to your queries in natural language. You can refine the response by posing additional questions within the same chat. Do you notice the 👍🏾LIKE and 👎🏼DISLIKE buttons next to the response on the right side of the image? Users help make ChatGPT better by offering feedback as we use it for our "chats" with this chatbot. This is important, and we'll discuss this more in the next section.

What's Under the Hood

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a field of computer science that involves developing systems that can perform tasks that typically require human intelligence. AI includes subfields such as machine learning and natural language processing, which are particularly useful in education.

These technologies are used to create personalized learning experiences and adapt to individual student needs, such as adaptive learning systems that adjust to the individual needs of each student.

AI is used to create chatbots and other interactive systems that can understand and respond to our prompts, requests, and questions. It is being used to improve assessment and evaluation, for example, by using AI tools like ChatGPT to analyze student data and provide feedback to teachers and students. AI also allows users to create virtual tutors and personalized learning experiences that can support students in remote or blended learning environments. Students can use AI tools to refine their conceptual understandings, practice skills, ask questions, brainstorm ideas, and a host of other uses that can make learning more efficient.

This technology can be used in education to create more personalized and interactive learning experiences, improve assessment and evaluation, and assist teachers and students with research and writing. College instructors may find exploring these technologies worthwhile and brainstorming ways they can be applied in instruction.

Benefits, Limitations, and Challenges

Using ChatGPT and artificial intelligence in education can benefit teaching and learning:

  1. Personalized feedback and learning: ChatGPT and AI can provide personalized feedback and create adaptive learning experiences tailored to each student's individual needs.
  2. Increased student engagement: ChatGPT can be used to create exemplars and active learning activities that can help increase student engagement and participation in the class.
  3. Time-saving for educators: ChatGPT can assist with tasks such as research, writing, creating materials such as exemplars and rubrics, and providing feedback, which can save educators time and allow them to focus on other essential aspects of their teaching practice.
  4. Improved assessment and evaluation: AI can help generate feedback on student writing.

However, there are also limitations and considerations to keep in mind when using ChatGPT and AI in education:

  1. Data privacy: Using ChatGPT and AI in education may raise concerns about data privacy and security as student data is collected and analyzed. *Never enter students' personally identifiable information into artificial intelligence tools!
  2. Ethical issues: The use of AI in education raises ethical concerns, such as bias and fairness in decision-making and potential negative impacts on student autonomy and creativity. Some ChatGPT responses may lack diversity. For example, we asked ChatGPT for a list of novels on a particular theme. The results were only diverse and inclusive once we asked it to provide diverse authors.
  3. Need for human oversight: ChatGPT and AI should be used to assist students and instructors rather than replacing human interaction and decision-making. These tools are here, and students will use them - many likely already are using them. Instructors have the opportunity to help them navigate the use of this technology. Students need guidance to use AI tools to support learning, not to do it for them. We need to use AI tools in ways that are consistent with the overall goals of education and that instructors ensure that they are being used effectively and ethically.
  4. Limited understanding of the technology: ChatGPT and AI are still new technologies, and many educators are only beginning to think about how they work and how to use them to enhance learning and instruction. It is important for educators to educate themselves on these technologies and to seek guidance from experts.

Examples to Help You Experiment with ChatGPT

  1. Automatic summarization: A university uses GPT-3 to automatically summarize research papers and articles, making it easier for students and educators to stay up-to-date with the latest research.
  2. Virtual Writing Assistant: A college uses GPT-3 to provide personalized writing assistance, including grammar and style suggestions, to students and educators.
  3. Adaptive Test: A university uses AI-powered adaptive testing systems to adjust the difficulty level of exams based on the student's performance, providing a more personalized and effective assessment experience.
  4. Language Learning: A university uses AI-powered language learning software to provide interactive conversation practice and personalized feedback to non-native speakers.
  5. Intelligent Content Creation: A college uses GPT-3 to generate summaries, summaries of academic papers, or summaries of long reading materials, which can be helpful for students who have difficulty understanding complex texts. ChatGPT and similar AI tools can also help English language learners.

Additional Resources about ChatGPT and AI

Below are some helpful resources that can help you learn more about AI, ChatGPT, and how to generate prompts to get relevant results:

We want to hear your thoughts about this!

Jump over to our blog and let us know what you're thinking about ChatGPT and its implications for students and educators.