Can ChatGPT replace the role of teachers in the classroom?
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The Influence of Technology on Childhood
As a parent of two primary school-aged children, I am deeply fascinated by the impact of rapidly advancing technology on their daily lives. Observing them engage in online games, where they connect with friends remotely as if they were in the same room, has become a commonplace scene in our household. This seamless integration of digital interaction into their social lives is a testament to the changing landscape of childhood experiences.
Moreover, my daughter’s foray into digital entrepreneurship, creating and selling clothing for Roblox avatars, offers a glimpse into the potential future of business. Utilizing tools like Adobe After Effects, despite being under 12, she exemplifies the evolving skill set required in this new age of entrepreneurship. This shift prompts me to ponder the skills future generations will need to thrive in an increasingly digital economy.
The Gap in Educational Technology Adoption
Despite their comfort with the digital world, there’s a notable gap in how technology is integrated into their educational lives. Conversations with my children and their friends reveal a hesitancy to use tools like ChatGPT for schoolwork, largely due to school policies that discourage its use. This discrepancy between the acceptance of technology in leisure versus educational settings highlights a resistance to incorporating technological innovations within the school system.
So it’s no surprise my interest was piqued when I spotted this article earlier this week which describes how here in Australia the Department of Education has developed a “virtual tutor” called NSWEduChat based upon ChatGPT but tailored to the New South Wales curriculum. The article states “Unlike ChatGPT, the app has been designed to only respond to questions that relate to schooling and education, via content-filtering and topic restriction. It does not reveal full answers or write essays, instead aiming to encourage critical thinking via guided questions that prompt the student to respond — much like a teacher.”
Rather than providing direct answers to questions it’s been customised to give prompts to move a student towards the answer without simply divulging the answer up front and in doing so a lot of the learning process is skipped. Essentially, it tries to act like a teacher and can help those students who are nervous or don’t feel comfortable asking questions aloud in front of the whole class.
The students involved in this trial are also able to access the NSWEduChat app from home to support their homework. Some children unfortunately don’t have access to their parents for help at home, while other parents aren’t sure of the best way to teach their children approaches and strategies which don’t contradicts the school’s approach to the curriculum (this one applies to me!).
The article continues: “The executive director of the NSW Department of Education, Paul Wood, says the app doesn’t have the same privacy concerns as other technologies, including ChatGPT, as the data is controlled by, and only visible to, its internal servers.
He says departmental control also means responses generated are aligned with the state’s curriculum — the algorithm is taught to believe it is a NSW teacher.
If students ask NSWEduChat to help them cheat, or for advice unrelated to school, it will tell them “I can only assist you with educational purposes”.”
The Potential of AI in Education
As we grapple with increasing class sizes and a concerning exodus of educators from the profession, the demands placed on remaining teachers have reached an unprecedented level. Successful trials of AI-driven tools, like the one discussed, could significantly reduce the administrative load on educators, enabling them to dedicate more time and energy to what truly matters: supporting and nurturing their students.
Teachers have already begun to leverage these AI applications to streamline their workflow, creating worksheets and lesson plans more efficiently. This not only saves valuable time but also introduces a level of customization and innovation in teaching materials that was previously more challenging to achieve. Furthermore, the support that AI can offer extends beyond the classroom, providing students with assistance in their learning journey, whether they’re at school or home. This adaptive form of learning support can cater to individual needs, making education more accessible and personalized.
Conclusion
The question of whether AI, like ChatGPT, could replace teachers is met with a clear answer: No, and it’s unlikely that we would desire such a replacement. The value of human interaction, empathy, and understanding in education cannot be understated. Teachers play a crucial role in developing not just the academic, but the social and emotional skills of their students. AI, in its current and foreseeable form, cannot replicate the depth of human connection and the nuanced understanding of a dedicated educator.
However, acknowledging the limitations of AI should not deter us from integrating it into our educational systems. This technology is here to stay, and its potential to augment our current educational practices is immense. By continuing to explore and understand how AI can work alongside traditional teaching methods, we can strive to create an enhanced educational system. This system would not only alleviate some of the pressures faced by teachers but also offer a more tailored and engaging learning experience for students.
As we look to the future, the integration of AI in education presents an opportunity to reimagine and improve our educational systems. It’s an invitation to innovate and adapt in ways that benefit both teachers and students. By embracing this technology, not as a replacement but as a complement to traditional teaching, we can pave the way for a more efficient, personalized, and accessible education for all. The journey ahead requires collaboration, openness, and a willingness to explore the possibilities that AI brings to the table.
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About Adam Morton
Adam Morton is an experienced data leader and author in the field of data and analytics with a passion for delivering tangible business value. Over the past two decades Adam has accumulated a wealth of valuable, real-world experiences designing and implementing enterprise-wide data strategies, advanced data and analytics solutions as well as building high-performing data teams across the UK, Europe, and Australia.
Adam’s continued commitment to the data and analytics community has seen him formally recognised as an international leader in his field when he was awarded a Global Talent Visa by the Australian Government in 2019.
Today, Adam works in partnership with Intelligen Group, a Snowflake pureplay data and analytics consultancy based in Sydney, Australia. He is dedicated to helping his clients to overcome challenges with data while extracting the most value from their data and analytics implementations.
He has also developed a signature training program that includes an intensive online curriculum, weekly live consulting Q&A calls with Adam, and an exclusive mastermind of supportive data and analytics professionals helping you to become an expert in Snowflake. If you’re interested in finding out more, visit www.masteringsnowflake.com.
