Monday. Period four. We had finished up chapter six of The Great Gatsby in the last class period, so on this day they had an assignment analyzing quotes from the novel (chapters four through six).
They had a similar assignment for chapters one through three. I was saddened as I read through their work. Their analyses were too good. Great word choice. Some insightful takes on the scenes.
Yeah, that wasn't their work.
Too many of them said the same thing. I didn't go back and check, but if I did, I know I would find that some papers were exactly the same. They talked of the themes in the novel. They hinted at things that were to come (that they hadn't read yet). I know they pulled answers from elsewhere.
(Not everyone. Some clearly had done their own work.)
So, I pointed this out to period four as they began.
I took a couple strolls around the room. Some of them were working. Some were not.
Virgil was sucked into his phone. I sidled up behind him and glanced at what was on his phone.
ChatGPT.
Me: "You need to do your own work. Get off the ChatGPT."
Virgil visibly startled. I don't think he heard me come up behind him.
I remember reading Virgil's chapter one through three assignment. Him being on ChatGPT did not surprise me at all.
He put the phone away. And then proceeded to do no work for the rest of the period. Deep sigh.
Modern tech makes it easier to cheat, and easier to get caught,
ReplyDeleteVery true.
DeleteChatGPT is a blessing for them, isn't it? :)
ReplyDeleteThey think so. Until they can't get access when they really need it...
DeleteUgh, sadly not surprising.
ReplyDeleteSadly, not surprising at all.
DeleteAI will be like fire was to humanity. It will both enrich us and diminish us.
ReplyDeleteAlas, it doesn't even work that well right now. Once they get it working properly (and once they stop stealing to train it), it might actually be useful.
DeleteI know some of our local teacher. And it looks like there a strong possible chatgpt will be part of the school curriculum.
ReplyDeleteThis is Birgit…although it is easier to cheat with AI and everything at their fingertips….it reminds me when I was in school. I didn’t cheat but there were some that just always did and knew how to do it. We had Cole’s notes, they would ask older kids, who ready took the class, what to expect… Kids, and adults, will always 5th and cheat.
ReplyDeleteTrue. I wasn't surprised at the students that clearly did their own work. And I wasn't surprised at the students who definitely used outside help.
DeleteOh, this is a problem that I’m sure schools and colleges around the world are facing.
ReplyDeleteChatGPT-like tools are good, but only if pupils use them properly.
It makes sense if kids write something on their own and then have it checked by a generative AI tool. Kids will, first, learn to express themselves, and second, learn from the corrections made by the AI tool.
When I give assignments, I usually have the kids write in class itself, with pen and paper. Here in class, students aren’t allowed to use their phones or laptops unless specifically instructed to.