What do you know about these AI apps like chatGPT? Do you have any thoughts about them? AI programs are becoming popular. We see them doing artwork, writing novels, etc. I know that there are worries that they will be taking away from creative artists and writers. There are some definite legitimate concerns. But can we use it with school and homeschool? Are there some benefits to using a program like chatGPT?

WHAT IS CHATGPT?

ChatGPT is a natural language processing tool driven by AI technology that allows you to have human-like conversations and much more with the chatbot. The language model can answer questions and assist you with tasks like composing emails, essays, and code.

There are other programs out there but, at this point, it is probably the most popular and one of the most advanced language models available. 

HOW TRUSTWORTHY IS IT?

Many experts have pointed out that the accuracy and quality of the output produced by language models such as ChatGPT are not trustworthy. The generated text can sometimes be biased, limited or inaccurate.

This will be because of how you define parameters, and remember that AI does not have morality and ethics like humans do. It will not carry your opinions and thoughts.

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO USE IT?

So, if it isn’t fully accurate, etc. why would you want to use it? Because it can be a very helpful tool. When homeschooling, your children might express the desire to learn a particular subject and you might not feel you have the time to be researching a good unit on it or writing your own. This is where chatGPT can come in and be a great resource. 

Here are some ways that I have used it:

• Writing mad libs for my girls 
• Writing a unit of work for their interest
• Let them provide parameters for a story, have them read it and then make suggestions on how they would change it

This is an example of chatGPT’s writing of a lesson/unit of work giving very simple parameters:

Can you write a lesson on cats and dogs for 8 year old child

Title: Cats and Dogs: Our Furry Friends 

Objective: Students will be able to identify and compare the characteristics, behaviors, and needs of cats and dogs, and understand how to care for them properly.

Materials:

• Pictures of cats and dogs
• Cat and dog fact sheets
• Pet care book
• Drawing materials

Introduction (10 minutes):
1. Ask your child to describe what they know about cats and dogs, and encourage them to share any experiences they have had with pets.
2. Present pictures of both cats and dogs and ask your child to identify the differences they see.
3. Hand out cat and dog fact sheets and let your child read through them.

Activity 1: Comparing Cats and Dogs (20 minutes):

1. Have your child compare the similarities and differences of cats and dogs using the fact sheets.
2. Ask them to list out three unique traits of each animal.
3. Give your child drawing materials and have them draw a cat and a dog, labeling the parts of the animals.

Activity 2: Caring for Cats and Dogs (20 minutes):

1. Use a pet care book to guide your child through the necessary steps for caring for a cat or dog.
2. Discuss what cats and dogs need to be healthy and happy.
3. Ask your child to come up with a list of things they would need to care and take ownership of a pet.

Activity 3: Fun Facts about Cats and Dogs (15 minutes):

1. Share some interesting facts about cats and dogs to entertain your child and enhance their knowledge.
2. Give your child a chance to ask questions and share any other intriguing pet facts that come to mind.

Conclusion (10 minutes):
1. Provide a review of the comparison between cats and dogs, behavioral differences and needs, and caring for a pet.
2. Encourage your child to ask any final questions they may have.

3. End the lesson by having your child draw a picture of their ideal pet or a story about their imaginary pet’s adventures.

Is the grammar perfect? No. Is it a good example of a lesson plan? I think so. 

WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF AI LIKE CHATGPT?

When it comes to students using AI like chatGPT I think that there are great concerns. Plagiarism is already an issue among older students. This can make it worse. I have already seen an ad for a different AI program that said that if you use chatGPT to write your paper, your teachers can upload it into it and ask if it wrote it, to which it will answer “yes”, so therefore don’t use chatGPT but use theirs. I felt a whole lot of feelings rise up inside me, ready to explode. This is one of the dangers.

Others would be the biased answers that it can give.  Its ability to produce convincing text, even when the facts aren’t true, can easily be used by people with bad intentions.

chatGPT can also generate wrong answers, and if you are not prepared to double check and see if the information is correct, then you could be perpetuating the wrong answers. Fact checking will be key.

AI’s limitations are also:

• It doesn’t have emotional intelligence.
• It can only work with inputted data and is limited to the data it receives.
• Not having soft skills (like teamwork, attention to detail, critical and creative thinking, effective communication, and interpersonal skills)

SO, IS IT WORTH IT?

I think that you can make AI like chatGPT work for you (if you are not using it to write your essays and papers). I wouldn’t use it all the time, but we are having some fun coming up with some interesting topics and activities. Check it out. Have fun with it. But don’t rely on it for all your writing needs.