Harnessing AI for Classroom Excellence: An Introduction to ChatGPT

Introduction

By now, you have probably heard of ChatGPT, and you may ask yourself, “What is it?” It is an advanced AI designed to understand and generate text based on the input it receives.  

So, the first thing you might be thinking about is plagiarism. It is an understandable fear because students can create work without understanding or originality and turn it in. The answer is not to ban it from schools because students will be able to go home and use it for assignments. AI isn’t going away, much like Google is not going away.

Four Ways to Use ChatGPT

What I want to show you right now are four different ways to use ChatGPT to help you as a teacher. First, use it as your personal editor. I get it to revise anything I am writing; emails, report card comments, handouts, instructions, etc.  

Here is an example of an email I want to send to my principal.  

“Hey Don,

I think the idea that we should make attendance our goal for our “learning improvement plan” is dumb.  We don’t have any control over kids attending or not. Having a reward program for attendance isn’t going to work.  The rewards will have to be huge.  Candy or books ain’t going to cut it.  Don’t get me wrong, we need to good at what we do - teach. Classes need to be interesting and relevant, but beyond that we can’t really control attendance.  Oh, I guess we also should be jerks and try to be positive mentors, but that is all we can do.”

 Ok, now let's get ChatGPT to revise it.

2. Teaching Assitant

The second way I use it is as a teaching assistant. For example, I will get it to help me make rubrics. I give it a role:

You are my teaching assistant for my Grade 11 Photography class. I want you to help me create a rubric for an assignment called “Advanced Image Editing.” For each criteria, I want a Poor, Adequate, Good, Excellent, and Superior level.  The criteria for the assignment is Technical proficiency in PIXLR, Artistic expression and creativity, and Reflection/Description.  

Here is the rubric it created:

Rubric for Advanced Image Editing Assignment

Technical Proficiency in PIXLR:

Poor: Demonstrates a limited understanding of PIXLR tools, resulting in visible technical errors and a lack of precision in image editing.

Adequate: Shows basic proficiency in using PIXLR tools, with minor technical errors that do not significantly impact the final composite image.

Good: Displays a solid grasp of PIXLR's advanced editing features, resulting in well-executed image manipulation and seamless blending of elements.

Excellent: Exhibits a high level of technical skill in utilizing PIXLR, with precise editing techniques that lead to a flawless composite image.

Superior: Demonstrates exceptional technical proficiency in PIXLR, pushing the boundaries of what can be achieved in image editing with no discernible technical flaws.

Artistic Expression and Creativity:

Poor: Lacks artistic vision and creativity, resulting in a composite image that is uninspired and fails to evoke any emotional response.

Adequate: Demonstrates some creativity in the composition but lacks originality, resulting in a composite image with limited artistic impact.

Good: Displays a clear artistic vision, using creative techniques to convey a message or evoke an emotional response in the viewer.

Excellent: Exhibits a highly creative approach to the assignment, producing a composite image that is visually striking and thought-provoking.

Superior: Demonstrates exceptional artistic expression and creativity, pushing the boundaries of conventional photography and creating a truly innovative composite image.

Reflection/Description:

Poor: Provides a minimal or incomplete reflection on the assignment, lacking critical self-assessment and description of techniques used.

Adequate: Offers a basic reflection on the assignment, covering some aspects of the process and techniques employed.

Good: Presents a thoughtful reflection that discusses the rationale behind the choice of portrait and landscape, as well as the techniques used in image editing.

Excellent: Delivers an insightful reflection that not only explains the technical and artistic decisions but also evaluates the overall success of the composite image.

Superior: Offers an exceptional reflection that demonstrates a deep understanding of the creative process, articulating a clear connection between concept, execution, and the final result.

3. Personal Tutor

The third way to use ChatGPT is as a personal tutor for a student.  This is a bit more advanced because the prompt is a multilayered prompt to get ChatGPT to behave in a particular way.  So we are going to start by giving ChatGPT a role like:

You are going to be my personal tutor, specializing in Grade 11 chemistry.

Next, you are going to get it to ask the “what are you working on” kind of statement and the restriction of getting it to wait for the student’s response.

You are going to ask the student what they would like help understanding. Wait for their response.

Next, you are going to give it parameters around the answer it will give:

Give the student a general response on the subject they chose in about 100 words, and make sure it is understandable to a student in Grade 11. Then, ask the student if there is a specific part of the topic they would like to further explore. Then give them three suggestions of concepts from the 100-word answer you gave them that they could explore. Wait for their response.

Then, give it a way to conclude the conversation or move to a new topic.

Make sure to provide the student with a specific response that includes examples and is simple enough for a Grade 11 student to understand. Give them a list of important terms on the topic. Then, ask the student if they would like to further explore this topic or choose a new topic. Wait for their response. 

Here is what it will look like

Of course, Michael. I'd be happy to assist you in Grade 11 chemistry. What specific aspect of the subject would you like to better understand, or is there a particular topic within chemistry that you find challenging?

Once you've identified your focus, I can provide you with a concise explanation, relevant examples, and a list of important terms related to that topic. Feel free to share your preferences, and we can delve deeper into your chosen area of study or explore a different one based on your interest.

I put in “atoms” and here is what it responded with:

Certainly, Michael. Atoms are the fundamental building blocks of matter. They consist of three main subatomic particles:

Protons: Positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom.

Neutrons: Neutrally charged particles also located in the nucleus.

Electrons: Negatively charged particles that orbit the nucleus in electron shells or energy levels.

The behavior of atoms is crucial in understanding chemistry. They combine to form molecules through chemical reactions, and the arrangement of electrons in an atom's shells determines its chemical properties.

Is there a specific aspect of atoms or a related concept you'd like to explore further, such as atomic structure, the periodic table, or chemical bonding? Feel free to let me know, and I can provide more information accordingly.