How ChatGPT and other AI tools are changing the teaching profession

Category: Education/Family

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. game changer / ˈgeɪmˌtʃeɪn dʒər / (n.) – something that completely changes a situation or the way something develops
    Example:

    Smartphones were a game changer for how people communicate.


  2. alleviate / əˈli viˌeɪt / (v.) – to make pain, problems, or a difficult situation feel better or less severe
    Example:

    The new AI tools can help alleviate the stress workers feel.


  3. burnout / ˈbɜrnˌaʊt / (n.) – a feeling of being very tired or stressed after working too much or having too many problems for a long time
    Example:

    Many nurses, doctors, and other hospital workers suffered from burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic.


  4. shortcut / ˈʃɔrtˌkʌt / (n.) – a faster or easier way to do something, often by not doing all the steps
    Example:

    He realized that there are no shortcuts to learning a new skill.


  5. shortchange / ˌʃɔrt ˈtʃeɪndʒ / (v.) – to be unfair to someone by giving them less than they should get, like less help, time, or care
    Example:

    Employers can shortchange workers by not paying them fairly.


Article

Read the text below.

For her sixth-grade honors class, math teacher Ana Sepúlveda wanted to make geometry fun. She figured her students, “who live and breathe soccer,” would be interested to learn how mathematical concepts apply to the sport. She asked ChatGPT for help.


Within seconds, the chatbot delivered a five-page lesson plan, even offering a theme: “Geometry is everywhere in soccer—on the field, in the ball, and even in the design of stadiums!”


It explained the place of shapes and angles on a soccer field. It suggested classroom conversation starters: Why are those shapes important to the game? It proposed a project for students to design their own soccer field or stadium using rulers and protractors.


“Using AI has been a game changer for me,” said Sepúlveda, who teaches at a dual-language school in Dallas and has ChatGPT translate everything into Spanish. “It’s helping me with lesson planning, communicating with parents and increasing student engagement.”


Across the country, artificial intelligence tools are changing the teaching profession as educators use them to help write quizzes and worksheets, design lessons, assist with grading and reduce paperwork. By freeing up their time, many say the technology has made them better at their jobs.


A poll released by Gallup and the Walton Family Foundation found that 6 in 10 U.S. teachers working in K-12 public schools used AI tools for their work over the past school year, with heavier use among high school educators and early-career teachers. It surveyed more than 2,000 teachers nationwide in April.


Respondents who use AI tools weekly estimate the tools save them about six hours a week, suggesting the technology could help alleviate teacher burnout, said Gallup research consultant Andrea Malek Ash, who authored the report.


As schools navigate concerns over student abuse of the technology, some are also introducing guidelines and training for educators so that teachers are aware of avoiding shortcuts that shortchange students.


“We want to make sure that AI isn’t replacing the judgment of a teacher,” said Maya Israel, an associate professor of educational technology and computer science education at the University of Florida.


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Some teachers say AI tools save them time and reduce stress. Do you think it’s a good idea for teachers to use AI at work? Could there be a risk of relying on it too much? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • The article says AI should not replace a teacher’s judgment. What do you think are the things only a real teacher—not a computer—can understand or do well in a classroom? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Some schools are making new rules and training teachers to use AI safely. Why do you think clear rules are important when using AI in education? What might happen if there are no rules? Discuss.
  • At what age or grade do you think students should start learning how to use AI tools like ChatGPT? What do you think are the skills they should learn first (ex. checking for correct information)? Discuss.