ChatGPT has recently caused an uproar in educational forums – many worry, if ChatGPT can write scholarly articles and pass graduate school exams, what is next?
New York City schools have banned the technology, “due to concerns about negative impacts on student learning, and concerns regarding the safety and accuracy of content.”1
Seattle city schools have joined the resistance, citing concerns regarding students using the technology to cheat, plagiarize, and avoid learning2. Many more in academia worry for the future of English classes, English teachers, and the skill level of future American writers, should AI become common use.
Acton Reacts
Acton Academies have a different response to AI.
Instead of dictating how AI is to be used in our curriculum, Acton owners asked their learners: “Lex, ChatGPT, Photomath, Chat bot, Wolfram Alpha…is this cheating?” Learners debated the topic, presenting pros and cons. Instead instilling fear, learners were given the opportunity to determine their own opinions.
At Acton Academy PSL, we want our learners to see AI as a powerful and useful tool, while recognizing that AI can do nothing by itself. Lex, Photomath, Open AI – they all have to receive input from the world around it – the human world – in order to work and mature.
Instead of fearing it, can Acton learners be part of the AI evolution?
Including AI thoughtfully within our curriculum is important, according to an article from The Atlantic in January 2023,
“While it is difficult to predict the exact extent of this trend, it is clear that AI will have a significant impact on the job market for college-educated workers. It will be important for individuals to stay up to date on the latest developments in AI and to consider how their skills and expertise can be leveraged in a world where machines are increasingly able to perform many tasks.“3
Acton owners approach ChatGPT in the same ways we encourage learners to approach quests, exhibitions, and launches – what can be done with this tool? How far can we explore, discover, and innovate with it?
At Acton we know that memorization and regurgitation of information does not translate into true and real-life application of knowledge. ChatGPT does not threaten our way of learning. In fact, we plan on using it to enhance our learners’ experience.
Having fun with AI
After much discussion amongst owners, an interesting question emerged – how would ChatGPT do against Acton learners?
One Acton owner decided to find out. Angela Griffiths, owner of Acton Academy Northwest Austin, asked ChatGPT:
“Acton Academy learners vs. AI. Who would win? Seriously.”
This is how ChatGPT responded:
“It is difficult to say definitively who would “win” in a comparison between Acton Academy learners and AI, as the two are very different things with different strengths and capabilities.
Acton Academy learners are human beings with unique experiences, perspectives, and emotions, while AI is a form of technology that can process and analyze large amounts of data quickly and accurately.
AI excels in tasks that require large amount of processing, prediction, and decision making. While Acton Academy learners are well-rounded individuals who can think critically, solve problems, and make decisions, but AI can do this task more efficiently and faster.
On the other hand, Acton Academy learners are capable of creativity, empathy and innovative thinking, which are not yet possible for AI.
It’s important to remember that AI and human learners can complement each other, and that both have a lot to offer in different ways.”
I couldn’t have written it better myself.
[Thank you to Angela Griffiths, for letting us share her experiment.]
1: https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/technology/2023/01/25/chatgpt-what-why-controversial/
2: https://www.thenationalnews.com/business/technology/2023/01/25/chatgpt-what-why-controversial/
3: https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2023/01/chatgpt-ai-economy-automation-jobs/672767/
