More than 50% of undergraduate students admit to using artificial intelligence programs to assist them in writing essays, and educational institutions are exploring the integration of AI programs into the classroom.
A survey conducted by the Higher Education Policy Institute (Hepi) of over 1,000 UK undergraduate students found that 53% utilize AI to create content for graded assignments. 25% use applications like Google Bard or ChatGPT to suggest topics, and 12% use them to generate content.
Only 5% of students admitted to directly copying and pasting unedited AI-generated text into their assessments.
Educators are also exploring the use of AI to streamline their tasks, and the Educational Endowment Foundation (EEF) has initiated a research project on using AI to develop lesson plans, materials, exams, and model answers.
Dr. Andres Guadams, an expert in intellectual property law at the University of Sussex, expressed that it is not surprising that students are increasingly relying on AI and suggested that clear methods for its use should be established through open discussions.
Hepi’s research revealed that 1 in 3 students utilizing AI report experiencing “hallucinations,” meaning they need additional information such as statistics and academic citations to fill in gaps recognized by the AI.
Mr. Guadams mentioned an essay submitted last year that appeared to use unedited ChatGPT output, resulting in a “boring” writing style. However, as the use of AI becomes more prevalent, fewer students are actively utilizing it.
According to the EEF proposal, AI could potentially reduce the workload of teachers and enhance the quality of education. Education Secretary Gillian Keegan highlighted that AI could handle the “heavy lifting” of marking and planning.
Half of the 58 UK schools participating in the EEF project will be provided with a toolkit to create assessment materials and tailor lessons to specific groups of students. AI-generated lesson plans will be evaluated by an independent panel of experts.
Professor Becky Francis, chief executive of the EEF, emphasized the limited research on the impact of AI on real-world education and expressed the importance of this trial in contributing to the evidence base.
Source: www.theguardian.com
