Aileen LAM Wanli
Centre for English Language Communication (CELC)
aileenlam@nus.edu.sg
Lam, A. W. (2023). ChatGPT and teacher education/development [Lightning talk]. In Higher Education Campus Conference (HECC) 2023, 7 December, National University of Singapore. https://blog.nus.edu.sg/hecc2023proceedings/chatgpt-and-teacher-education-development/
SUB-THEME
AI and Education
KEYWORDS
AI generative software, ChatGPT, teacher education, teacher development
CATEGORY
Lightning Talks
ABSTRACT
ChatGPT by OpenAI and other variations of generative artificial intelligence (AI) software such as Bard by Google, Bing AI chat by Microsoft, Ernie by Baidu, Tong Yi Qian Wen by Alibaba have been viewed with optimism and suspicion. Its capabilities in understanding user requests, access to a comprehensive data bank and ability to generate natural and appropriate responses using human-like language is significant (Lund & Wang, 2023). This ability to perform complex tasks have led to educators arguing over its benefits and disadvantages such as the ability to provide ‘personalised and interactive learning’ and ‘ongoing feedback’ as opposed to its limitations in the accuracy of answers provided, promotion of biases, and privacy issues (Baidoo-Anu & Owusu Ansah, 2023). There is also a common worry that AI generative software would lead to more instances of cheating and plagiarism (King & ChatGPT, 2023) and by extension, affect students’ learning when they take shortcuts. Yet, from all angles, this technology is here to stay. Universities such as the University of Hong Kong and those in Japan have reacted by banning or restricting students’ use of ChatGPT (Universities in Japan, 2023; Yau & Chan, 2023) while others such as Yale University and Princeton have issued AI guidelines for students and faculty in response to its rising popularity (Gorelick & Mcdonald, 2023; Hartman-Sigall, 2023). The industry and even the civil service have also taken an interest in this technology, with a team from Open Government Product (OGP) integrating ChatGPT into Microsoft Word for public officers in Singapore to use for research and writing (Chia, 2023). With constant advancements and improvements, the possibilities are endless for education and the industry alike. Though some tech companies like Apple, Samsung and Amazon as well as financial institutions like JPMorgan Chase, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs have put a ban on the use of AI generative software citing data concerns, cyber security risks, accountability, and legal consequences (Ray, 2023; Uche, 2023; Nelson, 2023; Cawley, 2023), others like Lazada and Bain & Company have embraced the technology and looked into ways to integrate AI generative software into their systems (Yordan, 2023; Bain & Company, 2023) in a more secure manner with the end goal of efficiency. Certain sectors have also begun to explore the role of AI generative software such as ChatGPT in areas such as in global warming (Biswas, 2023a), public health (Biswas, 2023b), and healthcare research (Sallam, 2023). With the advantages that the industry already recognises, this lightning talk focuses on AI generative software in education but shifts the focus from students to the tutors and explores the possibilities of AI generative software in teacher education (Trust et al., 2023; Rahman & Watanobe, 2023) as well as for teacher development, especially for new tutors who may need help in the formative stages of their teaching careers or those going into new domains. Beyond exploring ChatGPT’s support for pedagogical knowledge such as teaching skills and classroom management, student assessment/evaluation, and personalised learning support, this talk will look into the possible support for tutor-student communication, creative thinking/multimodal approaches as well as subject-specific tutor development.
REFERENCES
Baidoo-Anu, D., & Owusu Ansah, L. (2023b). Education in the era of generative artificial intelligence (AI): Understanding the potential benefits of ChatGPT in promoting teaching and learning. Available at SSRN 4337484. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4337484
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Uche, A. (2023, 26 June). 5 Reasons Why Companies Are Banning ChatGPT. Make Use Of. https://www.makeuseof.com/reasons-why-companies-banning-chatgpt/
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