Students in US Schools Are Encouraged to Use ChatGPT

In the past, educational institutions, including universities and schools, were reluctant to incorporate AI into their curricula. They even established policies to prohibit the use of tools like ChatGPT. However, in recent times, educators at various US and international universities, both large and small, have had a change of heart. They are now actively promoting and instructing students on how to effectively utilize these AI tools.

This shift in attitude has given rise to AI-centric communities on platforms like Facebook and Google. Groups such as "Higher Ed Discussions of Writing and AI" on Facebook and the Google group "AI in Education" have emerged to foster discussions and knowledge sharing among educators.

"Earlier on, we saw a knee-jerk reaction to AI by banning it going into spring semester, but now the talk is about why it makes sense for students to use it," Lance Eaton, an administrator at Rhode Island-based College Unbound, told the media outlet.

Today, professors are no longer apprehensive about the integration of ChatGPT into the learning process. They argue that discouraging its use would be a disservice to students, recognizing the potential benefits it offers. A recent study conducted by Intelligent.com revealed that approximately 30 percent of college students utilized ChatGPT for their academic work in the previous academic year. Notably, English classes witnessed the highest adoption of this AI tool. The study also found that one in eight students reported an improvement in their GPA, and many attributed this enhancement to their use of ChatGPT.

"It's really helped educators see how others are adapting to and framing AI in the classroom," Mr Eaton said. "AI is still going to feel uncomfortable, but now they can now go in and see how a university or a range of different courses, from coding to sociology, are approaching it."

Moreover, the study highlighted that college students who employed ChatGPT generally had positive learning experiences with the tool. Over three-quarters of users expressed their likelihood to recommend ChatGPT to fellow students, with 46 percent stating they were "somewhat likely" and 32 percent "highly likely" to do so. In a significant development, some educational institutions have taken the step of bringing in external experts to educate both faculty and students on how to effectively harness AI tools for learning and research purposes. This marks a growing recognition of the value that AI can bring to the education sector.