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Generative AI tools like ChatGPT are so new that we’re still struggling for a metaphor to frame how they might productively fit into education and research.

Many companies making the tools compare them to an assistant — a tool to do the mundane work to keep things on track to make more time for more creative work. In other areas, especially coding, it’s popular to talk about these AI tools as co-pilots, which perhaps goes further in recognizing that some of the core of the work is now being done by AI, but in the name of efficiency.

There are darker metaphors though — ones that focus on the hazards for humanity of the tech. Some professors worry that AI bots are simply replacing hired essay-writers for many students, doing work for a student that they can then pass off as their own (and doing it for free). 

And one edtech official recently compared new AI tools to doping in athletics, arguing that if we decide to allow an unchecked use of AI in academic settings, then some students may decide that the only way to stay competitive for scholarships or coveted slots in selective colleges is to use as much chatbot help as they can.

Of course which metaphor fits may simply depend on the setting. In some classes, getting help from AI may make sense, if the goal is to produce a higher quality research paper and the student can show that they are still adding their input instead of just pasting in ChatGPT results. Then again, many college classes aim to teach students communication skills, and in such cases even a little help from a bot may be taking away from a student’s learning.

That’s the argument made by Tricia Bertram Gallant, director of the Academic Integrity Office at the University of California San Diego, who has been following issues of academic dishonesty since long before AI was on the national radar. 

She notes that ethical issues about appropriate use of AI aren’t just coming up in classroom settings. It’s something that researchers are encountering firsthand as they consider using ChatGPT and other AI tools to help write research papers they submit to journals.

“One question I’ve been posing to students to think about is, I teach them about how in journals we have co-authors and we have an acknowledgements section,” she says. “Is ChatGPT being a co-author right now, or is this just something I would acknowledge, like using a journal article or a website?”

👂EAR TO THE GROUND

MORE STUDENT INPUT IN EDTECH?: As edtech companies rush out new products, especially ones that incorporate AI, they should do user testing with students to make sure they’re working for their target audience, say learning designers. What might that look like?

THE NEXT CHAPTER: Young people look to libraries to provide safe places to hang out and to access resources like free Wi-Fi, makerspaces and tech equipment — expectations they carry with them to college, according to people who work in and with academic libraries. Here’s how Gen Z is changing the campus library. Surprise: These digital natives still value print.  

The following is a message from our sponsor

Are you faculty in a teacher prep program looking to create lasting change in how teacher candidates are trained? By signing the Digital Equity and Transformation Pledge, developed by ISTE and the U.S. Department of Education, you’ll join nearly 100 deans across the U.S. committed to developing confident teachers for digitally connected classrooms. Learn more about ISTE offerings. 

🎧 ON THE PODCAST

YOU BELONG HERE: There are key junctures in education that are especially important for helping students feel they belong in school or college. And new research points to better ways to strengthen student-teacher relationships and a sense of belonging, argues Greg Walton, a psychology professor at Stanford University.

📈 STAT-O-MATIC

7 perecent

The share of 13,000 social media and message board posts about higher education that reflected a positive view about the value of going to college, according to research conducted in 2023 by Campus Sonar. That means 93 percent of the posts reflected a neutral or negative perspective. (Inside Higher Ed) 

💼 BYTE-SIZE BRIEFS

Universities build their own ChatGPT-like tools. (Inside Higher Ed) 

The most confusing, chaotic college admissions season in years. (Wall Street Journal)

At U.S. universities, record numbers of Indian students seek brighter prospects — and overseas jobs. (Associated Press)

📣 SPOKEN WORD

"It's mutually beneficial for all groups involved. For parents who are going to college, it means an easier commute. You don't have to make two stops and they know their children are getting a high-quality experience that's free. The college benefits because this makes it more likely that people are going to enroll, persist and graduate."

— Carrie Warick-Smith, who oversees public policy at the Association of Community College Trustees, discussing campus collaborations between community colleges and Head Start child care programs. (NPR) 

💾 FROM THE ARCHIVES

UPSIDE DOWN: Since the pandemic, more instructors at schools and colleges appear to have embraced “flipped learning,” asking students to watch lecture videos before class so that class time can be used for active learning. Does this approach work well? Find out the results of a meta-analysis here. 

📆 GOINGS ON

APPLY TO BECOME A VOICES OF CHANGE FELLOW: Are you a passionate educator or school leader interested in the intersection of identity, teaching and learning, with something to say about some of today’s pressing themes, including identity development, student success, mental health, technology and educational equity? Consider applying for this paid fellowship, which amplifies the voices of a diverse group of educators through storytelling. Apply now! Deadline: April 1 at 11:59pm PST.

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Events

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2024 ASCD Annual Conference | March 22 | Washington, DC

Fuel your passion for education and help shape the future of learning at ASCD24. At this must-attend event, you'll meet ASCD authors and education experts who will guide you in improving academic outcomes for all students and help you solve the tough issues facing your school or district.

Learning and the Brain Spring Conference: Future Ready Brains |

April 18 - 20 | New York, NY

This interdisciplinary conference will bring neuroscientists, psychologists, researchers, and educators together to explore how to develop our human skills, creativity, talents, and potential to compete in an automation age.

EDTECH WORLD FORUM 2024 | May 13 - 14 | London, England, UK

​EDTECH WORLD FORUM 2024 in London UK is one of leading education technology EdTech events based in London, UK. EdTech World Forum aims to be a leading global education conference in London. For more info visit: https://edtechconferences.london

1EdTech Learning Impact Conference 2024 | June 3 - 6 | Salt Lake City, UT

Technology is constantly changing. Keep up with the pace through innovation and collaboration. Learning Impact inspires a diverse group of educational providers and edtech suppliers to focus and work together on top issues in education.

ISTELive 24 | June 23 - 26 | Denver, CO

At ISTELive 24, June 23-26 in Denver and online, you’ll scale to new learning heights during 900+ strategy-packed sessions that will help you continue to move mountains for students.