Speaker:
Michael Simonson
Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice
Description:
This session will discuss the process used and observations made when graduate students were given the option of using ChatGPT in a class.
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During late Spring 2023, permission was given to conduct an
investigation of the use of ChatGPT in several Fischler College graduate level
classes. A statement explaining the use of ChatGPT was developed and a short 10-item survey was created. IRB approval was obtained several weeks later.
The procedures for use of ChatGPT were posted in Canvas and sent to students in
the affected classes were:
AI Chatbots in
courses
Simonson
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USE
OF AI CHATBOT TECHNOLOGY IN SELECTED CIT, CIMA, AND IDT COURSES
Version 3 – 2023
Chatbot AI technologies, such as ChatGPT,
may be permitted for use by students in courses, according to these provisions:
1. With the permission of the instructor, Chatbot AI technology such as ChatGPT may be
used in the process of developing and drafting early versions of papers and assignments -- however, the final submission must be the work of the student.
2. Use of AI Chatbot technology in the development and drafting of assignments must be acknowledged in writing in the final assignment submission, by including this statement:
NOTE:
During the preparation of this assignment, I used Chatbot technology to assist me to draft early versions of this assignment. The final submission is my work.
If it is subsequently discovered or determined that Chatbot technology was usedwithout acknowledgement, the grade for the assignment in question will be F.
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GENERAL SURVEY RESULTS
Ten classes posted this statement in the announcement module of the course’s canvas area. Instructors also indicated they would respond to questions.
Preliminary Results – Use of ChatGPT
Approximately 1/5 of students used ChatGPT and posted the “Use” statement in the assignment.
Observations about the quality of papers:
1. The quality was not significantly better than papers of other students.
2. References tended to be older than what would normally be expected.
3. There were no conflicts or other issues reported.
Survey Results
Students were sent a link to a 10-item SurveyMonkey survey. The email contained an explanation of the survey and indicated responses would be anonymous.
General
Results
· 52% opened the email
· 40% of those who opened the email responded to the survey
· 90% indicated they were either knowledgeable or familiar with ChatGPT
· 80% indicated they were aware of the option to use ChatGPT
· 30% indicated they thought using ChatGPT was or would be helpful
· 90% wanted training in the appropriate use of ChatGPT
· 80% of those responding were doctoral students
Important Comment: “Learning about new
technologies was a reason I chose this program. AI is the future, and I want to learn about it.”
Additional student comments will be discussed