By Michel Angelique Ferolino
As the world rapidly advances technologically, innovation becomes the key to unlocking previously unforeseen possibilities. Gone are the days of time-consuming tasks and limitations. Robots, cutting-edge technologies, and artificial intelligence (AI) are stepping in to transform various aspects of our lives, especially education, making it easier and more efficient than ever before. However, a crucial question remains: are these AI tools truly instruments for facilitating learning and education, or do they pose a potential challenge in the modern world?
On March 6, 2024, the MSU-IIT College of Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) hosted a "Sharing Session on ChatGPT and Other Generative AI Tools" as part of the CASSanayan training program. Lecturers and faculty from various CASS departments participated in the session, which featured three visiting lecturers from Universitas Muhammadiyah Yogyakarta (UMY) as speakers.
Professor Endro Dwi Hatmanto, SPd, MA, PhD, opened the session by delving into ChatGPT, its functionality, and its inner workings. His presentation, titled "Enhancing Teaching and Learning Using ChatGPT," focused on how educators can leverage this AI tool within their classrooms. Professor Hatmanto emphasized the tool's time-saving capabilities, highlighting its ability to provide prompt answers and identify potential issues and corrections swiftly. He further noted that this efficiency allows teachers to "provide students with timely feedback and corrections without having to completely redo their work." The presentation received positive feedback from the attending faculty and teachers, indicating their openness to exploring ChatGPT's potential in education.
Professor Maryam Sorohiti, SS, MHSc, introduced Bing, a free Microsoft service with functionalities similar to ChatGPT 4. She explained that using Bing requires a free account, accessible through an Outlook email login. Professor Sorohiti then facilitated a hands-on session where teachers explored Bing's functionalities. Additionally, she presented PlayHT, an AI tool that can convert text into realistic-sounding audio, and highlighted other useful AI tools.
Professor Fitria Rahmawati, SPd, MHum, kicked off her session using the Padlet app for an innovative and engaging attendance process. Faculty and lecturers actively participated, even taking selfies. Padlet, she explained, is a collaborative platform where students can share work and provide feedback. This engaging activity set the stage for her presentation on AI tools. Professor Rahmawati then introduced Gamma, an AI presentation slide generator. The faculty, impressed by its capabilities, participated in a hands-on session to create slides under her guidance. They were particularly amazed by its time-saving potential, as Gamma generates lesson content based on user-provided topics. However, she emphasized the importance of educators critically evaluating the generated material to ensure accuracy and suitability for students. Professor Rahmawati further explored the potential of AI tools, demonstrating how to embed voice and audio in Canva using the "DI-D" tool introduced by Professor Maryam. She concluded by showcasing Quillbot's additional functionalities, including text summarization, through practical examples.
Professor Endro Dwi Hatmanto concluded the session by highlighting the ethical considerations of AI tools in education, particularly regarding plagiarism. He drew a historical parallel to the introduction of calculators in schools, which initially met with resistance due to concerns over their impact on fundamental math skills. Similarly,he expressed concerns about students using ChatGPT as a shortcut, avoiding critical thinking and independent learning. He emphasized, while AI tools can be valuable learning aids, they should not be used to replace genuine learning. Professor Hatmanto's closing remarks sparked a thoughtful discussion about the potential impact of AI on the core values of education and student development.
Associate Lecturer Carminia Borja from the Department of English shared her concerning experience in a major class where 80% of the submitted work (8 out of 12) showed signs of plagiarism, possibly generated by artificial intelligence. She expressed concern about students outsourcing their work and relying solely on AI, potentially hindering their learning and compromising academic integrity. Ms. Borja also highlighted the issue of inconsistent plagiarism checks across different instructors. She pointed out that students might exploit instances where their work goes unchecked in other classes, allowing them to potentially reuse the same approach to answering papers in future submissions. She also stated, “For example, they say it’s not plagiarism; I would argue it’s still an intellectual fraud because they did not think about it and they did not summarize it themselves. It’s still fraud; it’s not plagiarism, but it’s still intellectual dishonesty.”
Professor Sittie Noffaisah Pasandalan, the Assistant Dean of CASS, expressed her gratitude to the speakers and inquired about the perspectives of department chairs regarding the ethical implications of AI tools, particularly ChatGPT, which students are increasingly relying on. She noted that instances of cheating have been reported, but cases involving AI are not yet fully addressed by existing policies. Professor Pasandalan urged the department chairs to consider ethical guidelines or policies surrounding this issue and encouraged everyone present to initiate discussions within their departments to explore potential solutions.
In the future of education, the mix of human creativity and artificial intelligence will shape how we learn. AI can make things easier and customize learning, but we shouldn’t rely on it too much. It's crucial to remember that AI is a powerful tool, not a replacement for the human element. By harnessing AI responsibly and fostering a love for lifelong learning, we can cultivate informed, engaged, and ethical citizens ready to navigate the complexities of the future. This interplay between human and machine intelligence has the potential to guide a future where knowledge, honesty, and ethical conduct shape the path forward.
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