Over the last few months, I’ve had a lot of discussions with different constituents in education about the use of AI in our history classrooms. These constituents include my colleagues, Teaching History Her Way Podcast guests, students, parents, administrators, the list goes on. I’ve concluded that I’m certain that AI isn’t a “problem” to solve. Plagiarism and copying are problems. A lack of stamina in students is a problem to solve. Mistrust between students and teachers is a problem to solve. As far as I can see, AI is showing us problems that we’ve encountered over and over, but in a new way.
Let’s think about AI in the best possible light for a moment. In our department meeting, I likened it to a stronger, smarter version of Microsoft’s Clippy, the office assistant. Let’s ask ourselves how a tool like ChatGPT or Grammarly’s AI can assist students in productive ways. A student can ask ChatGPT to take a look at their work and fix grammatical and clarity errors. Maybe a student has a question about what they’ve read and it is 11 pm when they’re finally getting to do that reading. You’re not available and neither is anyone else to help: ChatGPT, on the other hand, is always available to help a student digest a reading. Sometimes I find articles for my 5th graders that I want them to read, but since most of the time readings about the topics I teach are inaccessible, ChatGPT can bring the Lexile level down for me.
ChatGPT is no doubt going to challenge us as educators. We’re going to have to dig deeper into our SEL teaching toolboxes: using AI for purposes that are dishonest is real. Additionally, some students may not know or understand the line between using AI for help and an overreliance on the chatbot that dilutes skills practice. It is up to us to help them develop their moral compasses in this regard as well as to aid them in determining what proper and improper uses of AI technology are. We are going to have to be explicit, clear, and consistent in our messaging. If your admin isn’t already discussing policy around this technology, might I suggest you ask your colleagues to join you for some lemonade this summer so that your department can delineate how they will approach ChatGPT and all the nuances around its use in academia?
AI is here to stay. It’s all about how we leverage the technology and work with students to navigate appropriate use. Don’t be afraid to work with them. They’re smart and they probably know more about the ins and outs of the tech than we do already. Keep communication open, keep expectations clear, and try to be more excited than nervous. New tech is never without its pitfalls, but this could be exciting if we allow it to be.
How have you used or how do you plan to use generative AI in your classroom? What are your policies or ideas about policies for misuse? How are you feeling about it?
