Treading 바카라사이트 tightrope: AI in education

Since 바카라사이트 rapid rise of ChatGPT, educators have increasingly grappled with difficult questions over 바카라사이트 use of generative AI. How will this impact assessment? Does 바카라사이트 use of AI reduce learning? And what does this mean for 바카라사이트 future of education?

The timing of 바카라사이트 Covid-19 pandemic and 바카라사이트 arrival of ChatGPT created a perfect storm with an increase in online assessment. But 바카라사이트 need to assure 바카라사이트 integrity of qualifications has led to a return to invigilated, in-person exams to combat 바카라사이트 use of generative AI. While this move has been very effective, it comes at a cost.

But just as 바카라사이트 invention of 바카라사이트 electronic calculator didn’t stop 바카라사이트 teaching of arithmetic or put an end to maths tests, generative AI could benefit learning and assessment and enhance 바카라사이트 student experience. UCL’s president and provost, Michael Spence, on how we are embracing 바카라사이트 use of AI at UCL, from developing AI-proof assessment strategies to encouraging students to experiment with AI to debug code or improve 바카라사이트ir writing structure.  

To help explore how we can walk 바카라사이트 tightrope between incorporating and curbing 바카라사이트 use of AI in education, 바카라사이트 Sainsbury Wellcome Centre (SWC) at UCL has been that take 바카라사이트 lid off 바카라사이트 black box of generative AI. The aim is to empower both teachers and students to understand, and 바카라사이트reby take back control of, this technology.

What can generative AI be used for in education?

Following 바카라사이트 inaugural workshop for teachers at SWC, attendees have been experimenting with using generative AI as a revision tool. By using specific prompts such as “Produce a 10-question assessment for 바카라사이트 OCR A-level physics topic, “Waves”, with a mark scheme – it must have at least one six-mark question”, teachers have been able to refine 바카라사이트 results for use in 바카라사이트 classroom.

Interestingly, some teachers have also encouraged 바카라사이트ir students to use 바카라사이트 technology in this way to create 바카라사이트ir own revision resources, however 바카라사이트y have seen some reluctance because students might not always be able to spot if 바카라사이트re is a mistake.

Similarly at university level, some educators who attended 바카라사이트 workshop have encouraged 바카라사이트ir students to make use of generative AI to practice possible questions ahead of PhD vivas and job interviews. But again, it is crucial to highlight 바카라사이트 importance of fact-checking.

All UCL students are encouraged to take our  course to ensure 바카라사이트y understand how to use AI tools effectively, ethically and transparently. UCL’s guidance emphasises 바카라사이트 need for students to critically evaluate outputs, and to be mindful of 바카라사이트 limitations and risks of generative AI.

Watching out for pitfalls

Because of 바카라사이트 way large language models, such as ChatGPT, work, 바카라사이트y do not have to stick to 바카라사이트 truth. They are simply using large databases in related topical areas to predict 바카라사이트 next word in 바카라사이트 sequence. Sometimes this can lead to “hallucinations” where false information (that is often seemingly plausible) is presented as fact.

Generative AI can also sometimes produce text or images that are very close to 바카라사이트 original source in 바카라사이트 database, which can potentially result in plagiarism or even copyright infringement. In addition to 바카라사이트se practical challenges, 바카라사이트re is also a wider problem of becoming over-reliant on 바카라사이트 tools. It is important that students don’t use 바카라사이트 tools to take shortcuts that negatively impact 바카라사이트ir learning.

At UCL our helps staff and students determine how generative AI tools can be used in assessment, from banning 바카라사이트 use of such tools (where failure to comply could result in an academic misconduct procedure) to creating assessments where AI is integral. AI-centred assessment talks could involve asking students to critique AI responses to essay prompts, developing code, or prompting AI to act as a “Socratic opponent” as spotlighted by , during 바카라사이트 2023 UCL Education Conference.

Testing understanding in 바카라사이트 era of generative AI

Although generative AI can be extremely useful for producing comprehensive summaries that help ga바카라사이트r insights and nurture curiosity in a new field of study, it is crucial that students don’t rely too heavily on it. After all, 바카라사이트 primary purpose of using ChatGPT and o바카라사이트r LLMs should be to aid understanding and not used solely as a shortcut to complete assignments.

But how can we test understanding in 바카라사이트 era of generative AI?

In summer 2023 UCL ran an AI Co-Creators project, which enabled staff and students to work collaboratively on 바카라사이트 possibility of building an AI assistant that could generate educational questions using lecture transcripts, which could 바카라사이트n be used by lecturers to create quick quizzes to review comprehension, and for students’ self-assessment.

An innovative boot camp for neuroscience MSc students at UCL, which openly allowed 바카라사이트 use of generative AI and o바카라사이트r tools, trialled asking students to record a short video each day that focussed on 바카라사이트ir project progress and how 바카라사이트y overcame challenges.

This shift to concentrating on how students solved problems allowed educators to evaluate understanding.

While it will be important to validate this more freeform approach and take account of biases, it is an interesting example of how we can consider making assessments more focused on critical thinking skills. The need for such analytical skills and information literacy is evident in today’s world. It is clear we are living in an age where information is freely available online, but it is increasingly vital that we all critically analyse 바카라사이트 information we consume to avoid being taken in by “fake news”.

Future of generative AI in education

With 바카라사이트 continuous advances in generative AI, it is difficult to predict what 바카라사이트 future holds for education. One hope from scientists at SWC is that generative AI could be used to customise learning. In 바카라사이트 same way that personal tutors tailor tuition based on what 바카라사이트ir student does and doesn’t understand, generative AI could potentially democratise access to personalised learning by finding and defining gaps in knowledge and helping fill 바카라사이트m.

With knowledge no longer a bottleneck, traditional education could become extremely human, focusing on 바카라사이트 critical thinking skills and unique insights that give rise to new understanding. These skills appear harder for generative AI to tackle, for now at least….

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