The AI boom is upon us! Its capabilities feel endless. Ready for a vacation? Type a short question about your preferred destination, and AI will plan your trip. Need a professional photo of yourself? AI can use your existing photos to create the perfect headshot. It can be tempting for students to use this new technology to help make school a little easier, especially if they’re tired of Googling academic sources or procrastinating on an assignment.
If you’re curious about ChatGPT and how your student(s) may use it, we’re here to help!
The Basics
ChatGPT and its variations promote that they are the future of search engine technology. Users can type a question, phrase, or request (write me an essay about Shakespeare), and ChatGPT will write a response in seconds. New platforms are emerging that can generate trip itineraries, full-length essays, and even answer complex questions through conversations.
Our Experience
Our team has put ChatGPT to the test by asking questions about college.
- How does a junior prepare for college?
- What does a first-year college student need for their residence hall room?
We also requested complex tasks.
- Write a lesson plan for high school students to promote career preparation.
ChatGPT delivered impressive responses and everything from short lists to full-length essays. However, we started to notice that the answers to our questions contained inaccurate information and statements that were just not true. ChatGPT felt like a confident friend telling a story you knew was false.
Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism
Education should improve your student’s ability to think critically, analyze data, and solve problems. While it might seem like Chat GPT helps your student work smarter, not harder, part of their academic growth process is the ability to craft their own work. Beyond the ethics of using AI content in assignments and inaccurate information, new products can now detect AI in writing. The consequences can range from a zero credit grade to expulsion from an institution.
Encourage your student to make good choices and always cite their work. Suggest they meet with their instructor or the school’s writing center for additional guidance to learn how to use the technology appropriately.
Takeaways
Web tools, like Wikipedia and ChatGPT, are great places to start. They can spark inspiration or direct your student to other websites to explore. We found the best way to use this tool is for idea generation. We asked questions like:
- What are some fun summer email send-offs?
- Tell me what parents want to know about college.
While the answers weren’t always accurate, the lists and ideas sparked our own creativity.
Some Fun AI
If you’re looking for fun ways to incorporate AI into your world, here are a few tools worth exploring!
- Tripnotes: Creates trip itineraries once you enter your destination and trip length
- Eightify: Creates quick summaries of Youtube videos
- Voicify: Generates AI song covers with your favorite artists
- Headshot Pro: Give you professional headshots in minutes
- Librarian AI: Creates a list of recommended books based on your past reading