Artificial intelligence in education: A high school senior asked why the majority of teachers are not using AI.

Written By: Aniqa Batool
Last Updated On: September 17, 2023

*ChatGPT, an artificial intelligence chatbot language processing tool, has become a hot topic in education.*

Sidhi Dhanda student in high school expresses his views on artificial intelligence:

When I log on to ChatGPT, I’m used to getting dirty looks from my high school friends. Despite the fact that many other students utilize it, few of them like to admit to doing so. After all, our lecturers have warned us against using Artificial intelligence chatbots, illustrating them as shortcuts to avoid hard work and reminding us that the data they generate isn’t necessarily reliable. Last year, I was unaware of my school’s AI policy. Some of my instructors have specifically prohibited the use of AI chatbots in their classes this year, while others have not developed a policy on the subject.

Of course, my teachers and some of my pupils aren’t alone in seeing ChatGPT as a tool that undermines learning. According to a UPenn professor, “Artificial Intelligence does your thinking for you.” “We’re not being forced to think anymore,” a Columbia student wrote.

However, as a senior in high school who has been using ChatGPT since January of this year, I see it as an important educational tool that must be incorporated into curricula. Artificial Intelligence chatbots have already made me a better learner, despite the fact that I have had no official training with them.

Chatbots can provide endless feedback on writing in addition to explanations. Although the criticism I receive isn’t as good as (or as good as) that of a teacher, it does help me learn more about writing. Unlike my instructors or friends, I don’t have to worry about annoying chatbots or taking up too much of their time. The majority of the criticism is mechanical in nature – grammar, transitions, and word choice — but it has made me more conscious of flaws in my writing style, just as grammar checkers like Grammarly have made me aware of my usage of the passive voice.

I understand the concern that ChatGPT will eliminate the need for students to think by writing for us. A chatbot can compose an essay on practically any prompt in a matter of seconds. Obviously, if I was supposed to write a thesis about the themes and symbolism in “To Kill a Mockingbird,” and I used ChatGPT to do it, I would be cheating. However, without a significant back-and-forth between the user and ChatGPT (akin to a writer and editor), the output is barely eloquent. The user must refine their inquiries, provide samples of the type of writing style they desire, review the results, and define their ideal end result.