Teachers are using AI to grade essays. Students are using AI to write them | CNN Business

🌈 Abstract

The article discusses the impact of AI, particularly ChatGPT, on education and the challenges it presents for both teachers and students. It explores how teachers are using AI tools to assist with grading, providing feedback, and creating lesson plans, while students are relying on tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot for their schoolwork. The article also highlights the ethical considerations and the need for clear policies on the use of AI in education.

🙋 Q&A

[01] The Emergence of AI in Education

1. What are some of the real benefits of AI in education, according to the article?

• Automating some tasks to free up time for more personalized instruction

2. What are some of the big hazards of AI in education, according to the article?

• Issues around accuracy and plagiarism
• Maintaining integrity

3. How are teachers and students using AI tools in education?

• Teachers are using AI tools like ChatGPT, Writable, Grammarly, and EssayGrader to assist with grading papers, writing feedback, developing lesson plans, and creating assignments.
• Students are using tools like ChatGPT and Microsoft CoPilot for their schoolwork.

4. What is the current state of policies on the use of AI in education?

• While some schools have formed policies on how students can or can't use AI for schoolwork, many do not have guidelines for teachers.
• The practice of using AI for writing feedback or grading assignments also raises ethical considerations.

[02] The Role of AI in Grading and Feedback

1. How does the use of AI for grading depend on the type of material being tested?

• For large classes with largely declarative knowledge, where there is a clear right and wrong, AI-assisted grading might be even superior to human grading.
• For smaller classes or assignments with less definitive answers, grading should remain personalized so teachers can provide more specific feedback and get to know a student's work and progress over time.

2. What are the suggested approaches for using AI in grading and feedback?

• Teachers can use AI to look at certain metrics, such as structure, language use, and grammar, and give a numerical score on those figures.
• Teachers should then grade students' work themselves when looking for novelty, creativity, and depth of insight.

3. What are the ethical considerations around using AI for grading and feedback?

• Uploading a student's work to ChatGPT is a "huge ethical consideration" and potentially a breach of their intellectual property, as the AI uses such entries to train its algorithms.
• This should be particularly avoided for doctoral dissertations and master's theses, as the student might hope to publish the work.

[03] Developing Policies for AI Use in Education

1. What are some of the ongoing discussions and efforts around developing policies for AI use in education?

• Some schools are actively working on policies for both teachers and students on the use of AI.
• Discussions are ongoing on how educators can use AI tools, not just in the classroom, but also for things like promotion and tenure files, performance reviews, and job postings.

2. What are the concerns around developing policies for AI use in education?

• It is still too early to understand how AI will be integrated into everyday life, and there is a danger of oversimplifying the problems with AI use in grading and instruction.
• Educators need to be on the same page when it comes to policies, but universities and professors need to stay cautious and avoid policies that miss the nuances of instruction.

3. What are some of the suggested approaches for developing policies on AI use in education?

• Universities can make transparency a priority, so students have a right to know when AI is being used to grade their work, and identify what types of information should never be uploaded into an AI or asked of an AI.
• Universities must also be open to regularly reevaluating their policies as the technology and its uses evolve.