ChatGPT: What Parents and Educators Need to Know

ChatGPT is a computer program that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to generate text that sounds like it was written by a human. It does this by analyzing large amounts of text and learning how to “speak” and write in a way that resembles human language. When someone gives ChatGPT an input, such as a prompt or topic, it uses what it has learned to generate text that is related to the input.

As exciting as this technology and its potential is, there is cause for concern. There are several steps that educators and parents can take to prevent students from using ChatGPT or other AI language models to write papers or complete homework:

1. Educate students about academic integrity: It’s important to educate students about the importance of academic integrity and the consequences of plagiarism and cheating.
2. Use plagiarism detection software: Plagiarism detection software can help to identify papers that have been written using ChatGPT or other AI language models. By using such software, educators can quickly identify papers that have been copied or generated by an AI and take appropriate action.
3. Encourage students to be original: Encourage students to think creatively and come up with their own ideas and perspectives when writing papers.
4. Set clear expectations and guidelines: Clearly communicate the expectations and guidelines for writing papers and assignments, including any rules about the use of outside sources and assistance. This can help students to understand what is and is not acceptable when it comes to writing papers.
5. Monitor student progress: Regularly check in with students and review their progress on assignments. This can help to identify any issues or concerns early on, and provide an opportunity to offer guidance and support. 

Skeptical about how easy it will be for students to use this new AI? This blog was written entirely by ChatGPT. Did you notice?

Talk to your kids about academic integrity today. Education is not a means to an end, it’s setting them up for future success.