Opinion | ChatGPT proves a challenge, benefit for current students
AI has the potential to either stunt or enhance student learning.
As time goes on, technology advances to levels that were likely once thought unimaginable. The most recent advancement in technology gaining a lot of attention is artificial intelligence’s (AI) ability to write an essay. This software, called ChatGPT, can turn any small bit of basic information into anything the user desires.
ChatGPT has become increasingly popular among students and educational institutions because of its ability to write an entire paper to be turned in for credit. With AI such as this, students only have to input some basic information into the software, and it will produce a perfectly written, in-depth paper. Users can specify how long they would like the response to be.
For example, if you have a persuasive paper due in your English class regarding whether or not your school should have standardized dress, all you would have to do is simply type this request into ChatGPT and it would produce the essay for you in a matter of seconds. Likewise, if you have to write a scientific paper on the effects of alcohol exposure in zebrafish embryos, ChatGPT could whip that up for you.
As a student, it can be tempting to take advantage of this resource. It produces completely original work worthy of an exceptional grade with minimal time and effort. I don’t know of any student that this wouldn’t intrigue. We all navigate busy schedules and would love to save some time.
However, I think that there is both a wrong way and a right way to use this resource.
ChatGPT is a great resource to use when facing writer’s block. When you can’t think of how you would like to phrase or form a few sentences or so, ChatGPT can help to arrange the words for you. It can help to get a point across clearly when you are unable to. This resource does not have to be used to craft an entire paper. It can also provide help in forming transitional, introductory, or concluding sentences, and other minor parts or sections.
By using ChatGPT to create individual parts of a paper, the user maintains the ability to think for themselves. They can still form their own ideas and make their own edits by using ChatGPT as a guide. There is no harm in using this resource to develop a clearly written paper.
However, I believe several issues will become present if too many students begin using ChatGPT to do all of their work for them. If students begin using this resource earlier on in their academic careers, they will likely miss out on learning opportunities and will experience difficulties forming original ideas and being able to translate those to paper. Students who are unable to think for themselves or who cannot put their thoughts down on paper are not going to build effective communication skills.
Communication is a key component of one’s everyday life. Without effective communication, we would be stuck exactly where we started. If we lose the ability to form our own ideas and be creative, there would be little advancement in the world.
While I could argue that it seems unethical to turn in work done by ChatGPT as your own for credit, I think that I can make a better argument. Sure, you may not see anything wrong with turning in a ChatGPT-derived paper about WWII, because you are a biology major and that paper is pretty much pointless to you.
Although the majority of topics that students must write about are irrelevant to their career paths or interests, the act of writing the paper itself helps to improve critical minds. Writing a paper of your own allows you to practice critical thinking and communication, as mentioned before.
If the younger generation of students were to largely rely on resources such as ChatGPT to write for them, I would be very concerned for our future workforce. This would produce citizens lacking essential skills to function in a working environment and could, therefore, lead to society’s downfall.
Or maybe I’m just being ridiculous. Who knows… maybe AI will take over all jobs in the future and the use of ChatGPT would no longer be a concern.