OpenAI has released a new guide to help K-12 teachers use its AI-powered ChatGPT in the classroom. But not all educators are sold on the idea. The free course, developed with Common Sense Media, is designed to teach teachers how to integrate ChatGPT into their lesson plans.
The program covers the basics of AI and how it can be used to improve teaching methods. It includes nine modules and lasts about one hour. So far, OpenAI has rolled it out in dozens of schools, including districts in Arizona and California. According to OpenAI’s research, 98% of participants found the course helpful.
However, some teachers worry the course could lead to misunderstandings. They believe it doesn’t address the full picture of AI’s ethical challenges.
Concerns Over AI’s Ethical Implications
Lance Warwick, a lecturer at the University of Illinois, sees potential risks. He believes AI tools like ChatGPT may be introduced in schools without enough focus on their ethical use. While the course does mention limitations, such as ChatGPT’s inability to grade assignments fairly, Warwick finds the content on privacy and safety lacking. He points out contradictions in how the course talks about using student data while also warning against inputting it into the system.
For example, one module encourages teachers to use past assignments for new tasks, while another module advises never to input student data due to privacy concerns. Warwick finds these two ideas hard to reconcile.
Teachers Worry About Control Over Their Content
Sin Á Tres Souhaits, an artist and educator at the University of Arizona, shares similar concerns. He finds AI helpful for creating assignment guides and materials but worries about OpenAI’s control over content. He questions what happens to the materials teachers create using AI. If OpenAI owns the rights to that content, it could create problems, he says.
OpenAI’s terms of service state that users own the content they generate, but Tres Souhaits is not fully convinced. He compares AI to crypto—full of potential but still too unregulated to trust completely.
AI in Education
UNESCO has called for tighter regulations around AI in education. Yet, little progress has been made. Tres Souhaits also feels that OpenAI’s course focuses only on its own tools, ignoring other AI options. This is seen as an attempt to monopolize the market.
In contrast, Josh Prieur, a teacher-turned-product director at Prodigy Education, takes a more positive view. He believes AI has great potential in education if used carefully. Prieur acknowledges concerns about AI being used to plagiarize content or replace human connection in teaching. But, he says, education and training can help teachers navigate these issues.
Read also: The Future of AI in Education
OpenAI’s Push Into Education
OpenAI has been expanding its presence in the education sector. The company recently hired Leah Belsky from Coursera to help bring its products into more schools. In the spring, OpenAI also launched ChatGPT Edu, a version of its chatbot for universities.
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The market for AI in education could reach $88.2 billion in the next decade, according to research. However, the adoption of AI in schools is still slow. Many educators are hesitant to embrace AI. A recent survey found that one in four K-12 teachers believe AI tools do more harm than good. Another survey showed that just 18% of educators are using AI in their classrooms.
Why Some Schools Are Reluctant
Educational leaders are also reluctant to adopt AI. Many are focused on other challenges, like staff shortages and absenteeism. Research on AI’s impact on education has been mixed. For example, a study in Turkey showed that high school students using ChatGPT performed worse on a math test than those who didn’t.
However, another study in Germany found that ChatGPT helped students find research materials more easily, though it didn’t improve their ability to synthesize the information.
ChatGPT: A Tool, Not a Substitute
OpenAI emphasizes that ChatGPT isn’t meant to replace teacher-student engagement. For some educators, no amount of AI will ever replace personal interaction in the classroom. Despite the benefits, ChatGPT may never be the answer to every educational challenge.
