The digital frontier

Note: This post takes inspiration from “Friend, Not Foe: Generative AI as a Partner in Learning, Not a Partner in Crime,” by Nitin Madnani, Kristen Herrick, and Cat Flynn.

As we make our way through the 21st century, educators face an unavoidable situation: technology as a pervasive presence.

Already, scholars and thinkers have begun to lament the dangers of generative artificial intelligence (AI) like ChatGPT. Last year, The Atlantic's Stephen Marche wrote an instantly viral piece on how educators are not prepared for the ways in which AI is changing pedagogy. But there are benefits of AI to be had in the classroom.  

The tone of the headlines can cause despair, like we are facing the end of education as we know it. The reality is more complicated — and less apocalyptic. We are seeing the single most consequential paradigm shift in human history. With this shift comes changes and challenges, yes, but also great advantages. When grounded in learning science theory and research, technology can serve as a valuable partner in learning.  

At the forefront of this digital revolution is generative AI. Exemplified by the likes of ChatGPT, this form of technology allows people to communicate directly with an artificial intelligence capable of intelligent conversation, creative expression in writing, graphic design and video/audio production, and analytical research. Many greeted this kind of AI with trepidation: Would it end up replacing humans in the workforce?

AI as support system

However, AI provides a remarkable opportunity to enhance the learning experiences you cultivate.

Grounded in learning science theory and research, generative AI can serve as an "expert" alongside you in the classroom, one that models complex cognitive tasks and helps you structure policies and curricula. In this case, AI is akin to a support system that can reduce the amount of brainstorming and preplanning that you spend so much time doing. 

From the student perspective, this digital collaborator can help build familiarity and comfort by providing a mechanism for students to share their ideas in an open forum. Students who use generative AI better explore opposing views and rebut counterarguments, all while bolstering their own critical thinking and writing skills. For example, a Finnish middle school class used a co-creative AI tool called Poetry Machine that, across the board, made students feel more confident developing their own work. In this case, technology functioned as a cognitive apprentice, one that modeled complex cognitive processes and yielded immediate feedback to transform the writing process from daunting to manageable.

Celebrate technology in the classroom

The world of education is undergoing rapid evolution.

Embracing innovative pedagogy that leverages technology empowers you to better prepare learners for the future. By strategically integrating technology into learning activities, lesson plans and assessments, you can create a classroom environment that fosters critical thinking and engagement. According to author Beth McMurtrie, “Tools like ChatGPT will become part of everyday writing in some shape or form, just as calculators and computers have become part of math and science.” That is cause for celebration, not fear, as educational institutions strive to unlock the full potential of today's teachers and the learners of tomorrow.   

ETS stands on the cutting edge of AI studies. Interested in the ETS AI Labs program?