September 7, 2023
This is the second in a 5-part series about the impact of artificial intelligence on education and research, exploring its potential applications and addressing issues of concern.
Introduction
As we navigate through the digital age, the role of artificial intelligence (AI) in shaping education is becoming increasingly evident. Among the many AI tools available, OpenAI’s ChatGPT stands out for its potential to revolutionize education, especially adult education. This large-scale language model, capable of generating human-like text, is emerging as a powerful assistant for educators in the realm of adult teaching. With its diverse applications, from answering queries to providing feedback and even facilitating brainstorming sessions, ChatGPT is transforming traditional pedagogical methodologies. This article aims to shed light on the benefits of using ChatGPT for educators, explore some of its practical applications in adult education, and provide tips on how to optimize its use.
ChatGPT: A Specialized AI Tool for Adult Education
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has steadily permeated the education sector, bringing about welcome and sometimes unwelcome transformative changes. In adult education, with ChatGPT, instruction can be tailored to suit the unique needs and learning preferences of individual students, a critical feature for adult learners who come from diverse backgrounds and experiences (Dilmegani, 2023).
Joe Ephrem, MEPLI 2022 fellow, Operations Manager at the Educational Research Center in Lebanon, and a regular user of ChatGPT, notes that the tool can be employed to elicit contextualized situational examples to be included in training, recommend resources, and paraphrase and organize content in bullet points, thereby providing tailored learning experiences. These tools facilitate a personalized, flexible approach to learning, enabling adult learners—who often balance numerous responsibilities—to study at their own pace and receive immediate, customized feedback.
Transforming the Educator’s Role: The Advantages of ChatGPT
Real-Time Assistance for Students
One major benefit of ChatGPT is its ability to serve as a round-the-clock study buddy, answering students’ queries in real-time. This immediate feedback mechanism can be instrumental in reinforcing learning and clarifying doubts (Dilmegani, 2023).
Creative and Pedagogical Support
As a creative tool, ChatGPT can facilitate brainstorming sessions, offering diverse perspectives and novel ideas. Joe Ephrem suggests that educators can “engage learners to write prompts and compare different answers,” ensuring a more dynamic learning experience. In a math class, when adult learners struggle with complex equations, ChatGPT can generate sets of problems that escalate in difficulty, enabling learners to build confidence and mastery over time.
Efficiency in Course Preparation
ChatGPT can assist in preparing course objectives and goals, topic generation, lesson planning, and identifying and curating relevant resources and materials for the course (Dilmegani, 2023). It can also assist educators in grading assignments (Aiswarya, 2023). Nathalie Rouphael, PhD, MEPLI 2019 fellow, university instructor and counselor for the Ministry of Education in Lebanon, mentions that using ChatGPT can “facilitate research and gain time,” thereby making the teaching process more efficient. Notably, all these ChatGPT capabilities free up educators’ time, enabling them to focus on crafting impactful learning experiences.
Ethical and Productive Use of AI in Education
Some educators view ChatGPT as an opportunity to teach students how to use AI writing tools ethically and productively. Samar Kassar, 2021 MEPLI Fellow and Project Coordinator and English Instructor at Riad AlSolh Public School, points out potential challenges, stating that ChatGPT could risk “killing productivity and increasing plagiarism,” urging educators to be mindful of its use. Lara El Khatib, PhD, MEPLI 2018 fellow, lead convener, and part time instructor at AUB and LAU, advises educators to “be honest, be supportive but also be firm and consistent” with regards to how and when ChatGPT can be used. “This way we are not inadvertently sending students mixed messages”.
Active Learning and Reflection Activities
Educators have the responsibility to guide students in using this AI tool in a manner that is both ethical and productive, emphasizing the importance of generating meaningful prompts and critically evaluating AI-generated content (Villasenor, 2023). One approach is to design activities that require reflection. For example, activities could be designed using the think-pair-share teaching method, where students are given a problem that may have multiple possible solutions. The students can then discuss their respective solutions among themselves, engage in reflective thinking about each proposed solution, consult ChatGPT to evaluate the strongest solution from those discussed, and ultimately arrive at a consensus for the best answer (Chowdhury & Wamba, 2023).
Use Cases in Adult Education and Effective Prompts
ChatGPT’s wide-ranging applications make it an invaluable resource in adult education. Here are a few potential use cases:
- Tutoring in Specific Subjects: ChatGPT can act as a tutoring assistant, aiding adult learners in understanding complex concepts across various subjects. Effective prompt: “Can you explain quantum physics in layman’s terms?”
- Language Learning: As a language model, it can be an excellent companion for those learning a new language or refining their language skills. Effective prompt: “Can you provide examples of common idioms in English?”
- Career Guidance: ChatGPT can offer useful advice on career planning, resume crafting, and job hunting, making it a great resource for career advancement. Effective prompt: “What are some effective strategies for a job interview?”
- Lifelong Learning: With its ability to provide information on a wide range of topics, ChatGPT promotes a culture of lifelong learning. Effective prompt: “Tell me more about Renaissance art.”
- Professional Assistance: ChatGPT serves as a virtual assistant in preparing work agendas, materials, and conducting market research, thereby streamlining workplace tasks. Effective prompt: “Compile a list of market trends in renewable energy for an upcoming meeting.”
Tips to Use ChatGPT in Adult Education and Optimize Prompts
Effectively leveraging ChatGPT in the realm of adult education hinges on the ability to communicate with the tool in a nuanced manner. By adhering to effective strategies, educators and learners can significantly enhance their interactions with ChatGPT, thereby enriching the learning experiences for adult students.
- Be Explicit in Your Prompts: The level of specificity in your prompt is directly proportional to the usefulness of ChatGPT’s response. To this end, educators may employ frameworks such as RACEF (Role, Action, Context, Example, Format), adapted by MEPLI fellows Hanaa Jaber and Rasha Halat from the RACE framework (Hairi, 2023).
For example, instead of a vague question like “What are some effective strategies for a job interview?”, a more targeted RACEF prompt could be: “For a role as a software developer in a tech startup, what actions would be beneficial for both technical and soft skills during a job interview? Please provide examples in a list format specific to a tech startup context.” However, it is important not to overwhelm the tool with an excessively detailed prompt. A wise approach, as one educator suggests, is to begin with simpler tasks and then progressively add complexity.
- Experimentation is Key: Don’t hesitate to experiment with different prompt structures and phrasings. A minor alteration in the formulation of your prompt can lead to more insightful and comprehensive responses. If a response is lacking in some aspects, a follow-up prompt can focus on these gaps: “You didn’t include an answer to question 7. Could you please provide an answer that is personalized and includes practical examples?”
- Acknowledge ChatGPT’s Limitations: Understanding the tool’s constraints is crucial. ChatGPT may occasionally provide information that is inaccurate, contextually inappropriate, or even biased. Moreover, its proficiency in handling multiple languages is not uniform, as noted by Joe Ephrem concerning its limitations in Arabic. Being aware of these limitations enables a more informed and effective use of the tool (Marr, 2023).
- Quality Control: Always fact-check and evaluate the responses generated by ChatGPT. The authenticity and accuracy of its answers can vary, given the vast data sets on which it has been trained. A university instructor emphasizes the fact that it is essential to be aware of potential biases and to verify all references before accepting the content as valid.
- Responsible and Ethical Usage: It is crucial to use ChatGPT in an ethical manner, especially when it comes to the types of information being sought. Joe Ephrem, for instance, highlights the necessity of ethical phrasing to prevent misuse: “Be cautious with the phrasing of your prompts to avoid obtaining sensitive or inappropriate information. In other words, direct queries about bullying terminology may not yield results, but a question framed for educational prevention will.”
Future of ChatGPT in Adult Education
As AI continues to evolve, the role of tools like ChatGPT in adult education is likely to expand even further. OpenAI is continuously working to enhance the capabilities of ChatGPT, and future developments may address some of its current limitations. The true potential of ChatGPT lies in its ability to enable more people to complete tasks with the help of AI, creating new systems with new business models and workflows. As AI improves, it is expected to take on more cognitive tasks, potentially transforming the nature of jobs and organizations (Agrawal, Gans, & Goldfarb, 2022). This has significant implications for adult education, as learners will need to adapt to a world where AI increasingly influences roles that require cognitive and intellectual skills. As we look to the future, the question isn’t whether AI will be competent enough to handle more complex cognitive functions, but rather how we, as learners and educators, will adapt to this transformative shift.
Conclusion
In conclusion, ChatGPT is a transformative tool that holds great promise for adult education. With its ability to deliver personalized learning experiences, provide immediate feedback, and facilitate brainstorming, it can significantly help learners and educators as well by automating routine tasks, offering creative solutions, and enhancing the overall efficiency of the educational process, thus enhancing teaching and learning processes. However, to fully harness its potential, educators must learn to use it effectively and responsibly, keeping in mind its limitations. The future of ChatGPT in adult education is bright, and as it continues to evolve, it will undoubtedly open new avenues for learning and teaching.
With these insights, educators can better leverage ChatGPT as a teaching assistant, harnessing the power of AI to create impactful, engaging, and adaptive learning experiences for adult learners.
References:
Agrawal, A., Gans, J., & Goldfarb, A. (2022, December 12). ChatGPT and How AI Disrupts Industries. Harvard Business Review. Retrieved from https://hbr.org/2022/12/chatgpt-and-how-ai-disrupts-industries
Aiswarya, P.M., (2023, April 15). ChatGPT in Education Sector: Benefits and Challenges – Analytics Insight. Retrieved from https://www.analyticsinsight.net/chatgpt-in-education-sector-benefits-and-challenges
Chowdhury, S., & Wamba, S. F. (2023, March 22). How can we teach and assess with ChatGPT? – Times Higher Education (THE). Retrieved from https://www.timeshighereducation.com/campus/how-can-we-teach-and-assess-chatgpt
Dilmegani, C., (2023, March 20). ChatGPT Education Use Cases, Benefits & Challenges in 2023 – AIMultiple. Retrieved from ChatGPT Education Use Cases, Benefits & Challenges in 2023 (aimultiple.com).
Hairi, E. H. (2023, January 15). 9 Frameworks to Master ChatGPT Prompt Engineering. LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/9-frameworks-master-chatgpt-prompt-engineering-edi-hezri-hairi/
Marr, B. (2023, March 3). The Top 10 Limitations Of ChatGPT. Forbes. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/bernardmarr/2023/03/03/the-top-10-limitations-of-chatgpt/?sh=41d245d28f35
University of Cambridge (2023, April 5). ChatGPT: opportunities and challenges for education. Retrieved from https://www.cam.ac.uk/stories/ChatGPT-and-education
Villasenor, J. (2023, February 10). How ChatGPT Can Improve Education, Not Threaten It – Scientific American. Retrieved from https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/how-chatgpt-can-improve-education-not-threaten-it
Lina Khair Rahme is an English language instructor and coordinator with extensive experience in teaching ESL and ESP to high school students and adults and creating engaging learning experiences for students. She is a lifelong learner who is passionate about technology integration, instructional design, and educational leadership, among other skills. She is also a great advocate of women’s empowerment through education.