ChatGPT in the classroom: what teachers, students need to know about AI

Artificial intelligence and chatbots like ChatGPT are here to stay and it’s up to educators to prepare students appropriately.

That’s according to a teacher of computer science and robotics in Sherwood Park, Alta., who maintains AI will be a big part of the world moving forward.

The arrival of ChatGPT and other generative AI has already led to conundrums for teachers: are students handing in plagiarized work? Will chatbots hurt a student’s ability to think critically?

David Hay, a teacher at Elk Island Public Schools, believes it’s up to educators to keep up with the fast-growing technology.

“Critical thinking is always something we’ve tried to stress,” said Hay. “And as we use more and more powerful digital tools, it becomes more important that students are not preparing for the real world, they are part of the world as soon as they have access to the internet. And AI tools are just one extension of that.

“We can’t uninvent any of the tools. They will be part of the world moving forward and we need to prepare our students for that.”

Hay is also a learning and development manager at Cybera, a non-profit that oversees the development and operations of Alberta’s cyber infrastructure. He’s working on project Callysto, which supports initiatives that help teach coding and digital skills to youths aged 10 to 17.

“These students in particular are building the next world, yet we need to have these conversations with them and we need to have these conversations with educators to not only be up to speed on not only what the current state of the art is, but to explore what we can do, what we can move forward, what we can push for in the future,” said Hay.

“I really feel like AI is one of those things that we don’t really understand. Even though we’ve been doing what we refer to as ‘artificial intelligence’ for a generation or more, it’s finally gotten to the point where it is a mainstream tool where everyone is realizing this is something that is powerful and will change so many things in ways we don’t understand yet.”

Made-in-Alberta AI video series

Enter Katrina Ingram, the founder and CEO of Ethically Aligned AI. Ingram is one of several Albertans behind a video series aimed at teaching youth how to use AI responsibly and think critically.

“We’re seeing pretty much every week headlines about how AI impact our lives, so many questions about how these technologies are being used by people,” she said.

The made-in-Alberta “AI and U” series explores a wide variety of topics from cybersecurity, data collection, smart devices, machine learning, and the overuse of technology.

The latest video in the series is on ChatGPT – its ethical and legal questions, and the possible social impacts.

“There are all kinds of ethical impacts that we’re experiencing as a result of AI,” said Ingram.

Ingram says there’s a gap when it comes to ensuring teachers have the resources they need.

Hay feels the Ethically Aligned AI videos can act as a jumping-off point for educators to start a conversation with students about artificial intelligence and chatbots – and their role in society.

“I think there’s definitely a gap, or differences in knowledge levels among teachers and educators in general,” said Hay. “Many of them are not spending a lot of time on this or it hasn’t been a priority, or there’s just too much to understand. They have so many other priorities to be looking at.

“So I think these videos that she’s put together are a great introduction to the topic and something you can watch as an educator, or something you can watch as a student, or something you can watch in the class and use as a way to get started with some ideas here.”

EPSB monitoring AI

Edmonton Public Schools says it has a team watching artificial intelligence closely, monitoring how it impacts schools and students.

“The team works to develop resources and strategies to support teachers and schools in navigating new tools,” the school board told CityNews in a statement.

“Staff at Edmonton Public Schools have the opportunity to attend professional development sessions about a number of AI related tools. These sessions aim to create awareness and cover the impacts and strategies to best support educators and students. These sessions were offered last school year and will continue this year.”

The school board adds, even with new technology, students are always expected to submit original work.