Opinion
Artificial Intelligence Opinion

How to Co-Exist With Tech Is ChatGPT’s Lesson

January 31, 2023 1 min read
  • Save to favorites
  • Print

To the Editor:

Teachers should not be worried about whether ChatGPT will disrupt learning (“ChatGPT: Teachers Weigh In on How to Manage the New AI Chatbot,” Jan. 3, 2023). Instead, educators should spend their time on how they can better train students to utilize artificial intelligence for human-intelligence augmentation.

Future-proof education should teach students to harness new technologies to prevent human redundancy. If a piece of work can be satisfactorily done with the help of ChatGPT, then so be it. It goes against students’ best interests to compel them to learn AI-replaceable skills in this fast-changing world.

We always praise “work smart, not hard.” Those who can utilize technologies for more efficiency or apply them in an innovative manner will gain an edge in the competitive market. It would be nonsensical to deter students from using it when many professions are all rushing to explore ChatGPT.

Students who are willing to try out new things should be encouraged. Coexisting with technologies is not just a skill but also a mindset that should be instilled in young people as early as possible.

Before ChatGPT, we expected students to learn the basics of writing from scratch. Deviating from this tradition will understandably lead to concerns. But if ChatGPT can already provide a draft, the new learning focus should be on how students can add their input or audit the draft (which itself is a great skill that professional editors have mastered).

If a student is capable of refining an AI-generated work that is already of quality, it is a demonstration of mastery of the topic and literary skills. From this positive angle, the AI-generated work raises the bar of output quality expected from students.

Martin Kwan
Educator & Policy Advocate
Consultative Member
UNESCO SDG4 Youth Network
Hong Kong, China

Related Tags:

A version of this article appeared in the February 01, 2023 edition of Education Week as How to Co-Exist With Tech Is ChatGPT’s Lesson

Events

This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Professional Development Webinar
Inside PLCs: Proven Strategies from K-12 Leaders
Join an expert panel to explore strategies for building collaborative PLCs, overcoming common challenges, and using data effectively.
Content provided by Otus
This content is provided by our sponsor. It is not written by and does not necessarily reflect the views of Education Week's editorial staff.
Sponsor
Science Webinar
Making Science Stick: The Engaging Power of Hands-On Learning
How can you make science class the highlight of your students’ day while
achieving learning outcomes? Find out in this session.
Content provided by LEGO Education
Teaching Profession Key Insights to Elevate and Inspire Today’s Teachers
Join this free half day virtual event to energize your teaching and cultivate a positive learning experience for students.

EdWeek Top School Jobs

Teacher Jobs
Search over ten thousand teaching jobs nationwide — elementary, middle, high school and more.
View Jobs
Principal Jobs
Find hundreds of jobs for principals, assistant principals, and other school leadership roles.
View Jobs
Administrator Jobs
Over a thousand district-level jobs: superintendents, directors, more.
View Jobs
Support Staff Jobs
Search thousands of jobs, from paraprofessionals to counselors and more.
View Jobs

Read Next

Artificial Intelligence Q&A Teachers and Principals Are Turning to AI. Here’s How
Sixty percent of principals now use AI to complete administrative tasks, a new report shows.
6 min read
Photograph shows double exposure of creative artificial Intelligence icon with modern laptop and cellphone on a desk.
iStock/Getty
Artificial Intelligence Spotlight Spotlight on AI-Driven Education: Strategies for Enhancing Teaching and Learning
This Spotlight will help you explore how AI can enhance teaching and learning, address responsible implementation, and more.
Artificial Intelligence Is It Ethical to Use AI to Grade?
The technology gives students more feedback, more quickly. But some warn that using AI to score writing could have unintended consequences.
9 min read
Photo collage of woman working on laptop computer.
Education Week + Getty
Artificial Intelligence Quiz Who's the Tougher Grader: ChatGPT or Teachers? Quiz Yourself to See
Grading “assistants” that use generative AI offer to cut teachers' workload. But do they stack up to actual educators?
1 min read
Photo collage of man working on tablet computer.
Education Week + Getty