With the onset of every new technology, there is always initial backlash. Experiencing the COVID-19 pandemic while still in college, I saw firsthand how some teachers refused to adapt to the rise of online education resources, while others quickly adjusted their teaching style to incorporate emerging technology. This has stayed true with the rapid rise of the generative artificial intelligence, ChatGPT. Schools should learn from recent history and teach students how to harness the power of ChatGPT instead of trying to ban it in the classroom.
Open AI launched the AI chatbot ChatGPT in November 2022, and it grew quickly in popularity as well as controversy. Every industry is wrestling with the new AI differently: Experts raise concerns over the ethics of the system, workers fear for their job safety, and the government warns of the threat of deep fake identities via AI. In the education space, one of the most hot-button issues is the role of AI in K-12 education. With so much unknown about the system, teachers and administrators quickly raised concerns in late 2022 that AI would promote cheating, discourage original thought, and have an overall negative impact on learning. In the same way that educators proposed banning laptops in classrooms when their popularity rose in the late 2010s, administrators were once again opposed to new technology in schools.
Initially, many school districts took a combative approach by banning ChatGPT in schools in an attempt to preserve academic honesty among students. Some of the largest districts in the nation including New York City public schools and Seattle public schools led the charge with these precautionary bans in the fall of 2023. The intention behind these bans was to benefit students, but instead, the bans incentivized students to become more creative in how they use ChatGPT to cheat and left teachers unsure of how to proceed.
This shouldn’t be surprising. Gen Z and Gen Alpha have grown up with a constant influx of new technology, so it is only natural that they would quickly learn and use ChatGPT to their advantage without needing formal instruction. Upon recognizing this, school districts soon began reversing the bans they had recently implemented. As they learned more about the power of AI, their approach to ChatGPT shifted drastically. A recent study conducted by RAND found that school leaders are now focusing more on increasing teacher’s knowledge and use of AI rather than creating student use policies. Many schools now see it as an asset to both teachers and students. Meanwhile reputable education journals, such as Education Next, encourage teachers to embrace AI in their classrooms. When used correctly, ChatGPT can be mutually beneficial in schools: Teachers can use ChatGPT to save time creating lesson plans, and students can explore the AI tool as a source of knowledge instead of a means for cheating.
As the 2024-25 school year begins, all educators need to think strategically about the place of emerging technology in the classroom. It’s not enough for school districts to allow AI in schools; teachers need to be ready to welcome it into their classrooms. Teachers and students alike agree that ChatGPT will be an essential tool for the future success of students. There is no denying that regardless of personal opinions, AI is here to stay. Given this, it is most beneficial to quickly learn how it can be used to enhance K-12 education. The next step is to provide training to teachers so that they can effectively teach their students about this technology. Some educators are already thinking innovatively about how ChatGPT can better prepare students for the technology-driven workforce they will enter. Now, school districts should provide resources and training to all their educators so that the next generation can continue to master and improve on the technology.
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