Using Chat GPT and Other AI in the School Library

Sometimes when I think of AI the first images that pop into my head are very similar to the one on the right. Hollywood has made so many movies of impending doom where AI has risen to take over the world that I am sure I am not alone in this imagery. I will admit sometimes it is scary how intuitive some of the new technology has become. We are living in a day of self-driving cars, smart homes, and now programs like Chat GPT and Microsoft Designer's Image Generator, though. So how do we, as educators, teach our students to utilize the technologies that are available to them in a responsible and respectful way? Do we know how to do so ourselves?

We will first take a look at Chat GPT and how to use it. Below is an image of what the landing page looks like at https://chat.openai.com . The creators of this software have made it pretty easy to navigate and use. It even gives you suggestions at the bottom of what to ask and how to word your query.

All you have to do is type your question in the box where it says "Message ChatGPT". Here is an example of one of my searches:

Chat GPT's full response is copied below:

"Title: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence for Middle School Students

Objective:

Students will understand the basics of Artificial Intelligence (AI), its applications, and ethical considerations. They will learn how AI impacts their daily lives and explore hands-on activities to understand its principles.

Standards:

- Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS): MS-PS1-1, MS-PS2-1, MS-PS3-4, MS-ETS1-1

- International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) Standards: 1d, 6a, 6b

- Common Core State Standards (CCSS): CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.7, CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RST.6-8.9

Materials:

- Computers or tablets with internet access

- Worksheets or handouts

- Pen and paper

Duration: 2 class periods (45 minutes each)

Lesson Plan:

Day 1: Understanding Artificial Intelligence

1. Introduction (10 minutes):

- Begin by discussing with students what they know about AI. Ask questions like: What comes to mind when you hear the term "Artificial Intelligence"? Have you interacted with AI before? Where?

2. What is Artificial Intelligence? (15 minutes):

- Present a brief overview of AI, explaining that it is the simulation of human intelligence by machines. Use examples such as virtual assistants (Siri, Alexa), recommendation systems (Netflix, YouTube), and autonomous vehicles.

- Discuss the difference between narrow AI (designed for specific tasks) and general AI (capable of understanding any intellectual task).

3. Applications of AI (15 minutes):

- Show examples of AI applications in different fields such as healthcare, finance, transportation, and entertainment.

- Discuss the benefits and potential risks of AI in these areas.

4. Ethical Considerations (10 minutes):

- Engage students in a discussion about ethical considerations related to AI, such as privacy, bias, and job displacement.

- Encourage critical thinking about the impact of AI on society and the importance of ethical decision-making.

Day 2: Hands-on Activities and Reflection

1. Interactive AI Tools (20 minutes):

- Allow students to explore interactive AI tools online, such as Google's Teachable Machine or AI Experiments.

- Guide them through creating simple AI models or interacting with existing ones.

2. Group Activity: Designing an AI System (20 minutes):

- Divide students into small groups and assign them a task to design an AI system for a specific purpose (e.g., a virtual assistant for students, a recommendation system for books).

- Provide guidelines for designing the system, including user interface, functionality, and ethical considerations.

3. Presentation and Discussion (15 minutes):

- Each group presents their AI design to the class, explaining its purpose, features, and ethical considerations.

- Facilitate a discussion about the different designs, encouraging students to ask questions and provide feedback.

4. Reflection (10 minutes):

- Have students reflect on what they have learned about AI during the lesson.

- Ask them to write a short reflection on the ethical implications of AI and its potential impact on society.

Assessment:

- Assess students' understanding through their participation in discussions, completion of activities, and reflections.

- Evaluate group presentations based on the clarity of their AI designs, consideration of ethical implications, and creativity.

Extensions:

- Invite a guest speaker, such as a computer scientist or AI researcher, to share their expertise with the class.

- Explore additional AI concepts such as machine learning and neural networks through supplemental readings or videos.

Citations:

- Next Generation Science Standards. (2013). Next Generation Science Standards: For States, By States.

- International Society for Technology in Education. (2016). ISTE Standards for Students.

- Common Core State Standards Initiative. (2010). Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts & Literacy in History/Social Studies, Science, and Technical Subjects."

As you can see from this one search, the results are pretty impressive. One thing to keep in mind, however, is that ChatGPT is not always accurate and it does not always give you the sources it used to pull the information from. The person using the technology must be aware and knowledgeable enough about the topic they are pursuing to be able to distinguish or at least verify information that it gives you. Please do not take the information that it gives you as fact. With that said, how do we teach our students how to use this resource appropriately?

First and foremost, teach students to cite their sources. This also applies to ChatGPT. You can find this information on the APA Style website. This keeps them honest and is consistent with teaching students that if it is not something they created, they need to give credit to the original source. Also, teach them the importance of verifying information given by AI sources. They should be made aware that having ChatGPT write their papers is still academic dishonesty and will have repercussions.. The video below also contains a lot of good information about how to teach your students to use AI like ChatGPT the right way.

References

McAdoo, T. (2024, February 23). How to cite chatgpt. APA Style. https://apastyle.apa.org/blog/how-to-cite-chatgpt

OpenAI. (2023). ChatGPT. (April 12 version) [Large language model]. https://chat.openai.com/chat

The Ed Tech Show With Dan Spada. (2023, August 16). Teach students how to use AI (ChatGPT, Bard, Bing Chat & More) AI in education tutorial for teachers. [Video}. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXq8eNlwyMs