What Is ChatGPT and What Are the Implications for Education?

ChatGPT. Everybody seems to be talking about it. It’s being touted as everything from the bright new future of AI technology to the beginning of robots taking over the world. But what is ChatGPT? And what implications could it have for teachers and education?

ChatGPT: A powerful AI language model by OpenAI which could help teachers create engaging, personalized learning experiences.

What is ChatGPT?

In simple terms, ChatGPT is a computer program that is designed to be able to hold a conversation with a human in a way that is similar to how a person would. It does this by looking at a large dataset of conversations that people have had and using that information to generate responses that are appropriate and relevant to the conversation.

For example, if you were to ask chatGPT a question, it would look at the words you used and try to understand what you are asking. It would then use that information to generate a response that is appropriate and makes sense in the context of the conversation. Therefore, the more information you give it the better the AI responses become. ChatGPT can ‘learn’ from what you input, as well as from qualifying statements and follow-up questions…

Sounds a little scary right? However, once you start having a go at it the output is actually quite amazing, and the possibilities seem infinite. For example, you can ask it questions and set it tasks, such as, ‘explain quantum mechanics in simple terms‘, or ‘write me a 1000-word essay comparing The Canterbury Tales and Hamlet.‘

A text-based response will be generated within seconds. You can then follow this up and ‘converse’ with the chatbot: e.g. ‘can you rewrite the above in a more friendly, informal tone?‘ or ‘can you offer feedback on the above essay?‘

What are the Potential Advantages of ChatGPT for Teachers?

ChatGPT could be a game changer for educators, with its ability to automate repetitive tasks and provide personalized support to students. Here are a few examples of how it could be used in the classroom:

• Grading made easy:

Imagine having a tool that could grade students’ essays and responses, leaving you more time to provide meaningful feedback and support.

• Personalized feedback:

With ChatGPT, teachers can generate tailored feedback for each student, helping them to understand and improve their performance.

• Dynamic materials:

Create engaging and relevant educational materials quickly and efficiently, by using ChatGPT to generate questions, quizzes and practice problems based on specific topics or learning goals.

• Supporting language learners:

ChatGPT can provide translations and explanations of difficult concepts, giving language learners the support they need to thrive in the classroom.

• Comprehensive lesson planning:

AI tools can give teachers access to vast information and resources, which they can use to create more detailed and accurate lesson plans.

Overall, ChatGPT could be a powerful tool for educators, helping them to save time, personalize instruction and create engaging, effective materials. Of course, we wouldn’t recommend using it to create your lesson resources for you, but it is an incredibly useful starting point. This could be your best friend on a rainy Sunday night when you’re stuck for ideas on an upcoming topic. (‘ChatGPT, give me some ideas for 2 weeks of topical lessons on the Vikings aimed at KS2 students’).

How Can You Use ChatGPT to Generate Learning Resources and Assess Writing?

When generating resources, lesson ideas, and plan overviews, ChatGPT provides a very helpful starting point. For example, I tried typing in ‘can you write an example of descriptive writing describing a haunted house aimed at KS2 children?’

The response?

“Sure! Here is an example of descriptive writing about a haunted house that is aimed at children in Key Stage 2 (age 7-11):

The haunted house stood tall and ominous on the hill, its windows dark and foreboding. As we approached the creaky front door, we could feel the hair on the back of our necks standing on end. The door swung open with a loud, haunted groan, revealing a musty, dimly lit hallway. Cobwebs clung to the corners of the ceiling, and creaky floorboards groaned beneath our feet. We tiptoed down the hallway, our hearts pounding with fear. Suddenly, a ghostly figure appeared in front of us, its pale face contorted in a frightening scowl. We screamed and ran back the way we came, our hearts racing with fear. As we burst out of the haunted house, we vowed never to return to that terrifying place again.”

With a few quick edits to make it suitable for my class, that’s saved me at least 20 minutes creating a writing prompt! I then asked, ‘can you grade this against the ks2 writing age-related expectations?’

The response: “Sure! Here is how I would grade the writing sample against Key Stage 2 (age 7-11) writing expectations:

• Vocabulary: The writing sample uses a good range of vocabulary, including words like “ominous,” “foreboding,” “musty,” “dimly lit,” “cobwebs,” “creaky,” “ghostly,” and “frightening.” This is strong vocabulary for Key Stage 2 students.
• Sentence structure: The writing sample uses a mix of simple and complex sentences, which is appropriate for Key Stage 2 students. The sentences are generally well-constructed and easy to understand.
• Organization: The writing sample is well-organized, with clear paragraphs and a logical progression of events.
• Description: The writing sample effectively uses descriptive language to create a vivid picture of the haunted house. The use of sensory details like “musty,” “dimly lit,” and “cobwebs” help the reader to visualize the setting.

Overall, I would give this writing sample an A or B grade for Key Stage 2 students. It shows strong vocabulary, sentence structure, organization, and descriptive language skills.”

This gives an exciting indication of how this tool can be used when modelling language use, as well as in self and peer assessment. Involve the students in using this technology – many will find it fun to see how ChatGPT grades their writing, and can use this as an ‘edit and improve’ tool.ChatGPT can also be used to generate story outlines, scripts, poems, music and lyrics. Get creative with it!

Not everyone is going to like the idea of a language-generating AI tool in the classroom. Nonetheless, it’s clear that ChatGPT has the potential to revolutionize education in a big way. The question is, how can we make sure this powerful tool has a positive impact?

Can ChatGPT be Used to Save Time When Planning Lessons?

ChatGPT is a powerful tool that can help teachers save time and streamline their lesson-planning process. Whether you’re a KS1 teacher or in higher education, ChatGPT can save you mountains of time.Here are some examples of how you can use ChatGPT to save time when planning lessons and preparing resources:

• Quick question generation: With ChatGPT, you can easily generate questions, with answers, for any topic or key stage. Simply state the question you’d like to ask, or even paste in a paragraph of text, and let ChatGPT do the rest!
• Gap-fill activities: Create engaging gap-fill tasks on any topic, by using ChatGPT to list the missing words.
• Word problems: Design (and even attempts to solve) math and science word problems, which can help students to better understand and apply the concepts they are learning.
• Writing examples: ChatGPT can help you to quickly provide writing examples for your students to study and emulate (see above)
• Writing feedback: Give students personalized feedback on their writing, helping them to understand and improve their performance.
• Personalization and differentiation: ChatGPT can provide tips on how to personalize and differentiate instruction, making it more effective for all students.
• Discussion prompts: Generate discussion prompts for class, which can help to engage students and encourage critical thinking.
• One-on-one support: Use ChatGPT for one-on-one tutoring or coaching, providing students with the extra support and guidance they need to succeed.
• Letters and communications: Write letters to parents or students quickly and easily using ChatGPT, keeping them informed and updated on events in school.

As you can see, AI has a lot to offer in terms of saving time when planning lessons and preparing resources. With ChatGPT on your side, you’ll have more time to focus on what really matters – your students.

And the Disadvantages?

It’s important to note that chatGPT is still a work in progress and it’s not yet clear how well it will be able to perform these tasks. It is not intended to be used for creating lesson plans and educational resources. However, there is absolutely potential for chatGPT to be a useful tool for teachers in the future, and it’s important that all educators stay on top of the latest advancements in tech.

What are the Potential Pitfalls and Disadvantages of using ChatGPT as a Teacher?

• There is a risk that AI-generated materials may contain errors or be biased, especially if they are not carefully reviewed by humans before being used.
• Over-reliance on the tool is likely to result in quite generic lessons. It’s still absolutely vital that we plan and prepare for the learning needs in our classrooms.
• In the future, AI tools may be too expensive or complex for some teachers to use effectively.
• I wouldn’t class this as a disadvantage as such, but AI tools are unlikely to be able to fully replicate the creativity and human touch that goes into creating high-quality lesson plans and educational resources. Phew! Our jobs are safe for now…

Trying ChatGPT for the first time is an exciting experience. This must have been how the people trying out the world’s first pocket calculators felt. ‘Is this cheating?’ Not everyone is going to like the idea of a language-generating AI tool in the classroom. Nonetheless, it’s clear that ChatGPT has the potential to revolutionize education in a big way. The question is, how can we make sure this powerful tool has a positive impact?