ChatGPT is a hot topic in higher education, with concerns about how it will impact on academic integrity and student assessment. We spoke to eminent computer scientist and former Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Edinburgh Sir Tim O’Shea about how universities should be approaching ChatGPT.
What does ChatGPT mean for the future of assessment in higher education?
ChatGPT represents a major transition point in higher education. The assessment questions you might be using currently can be addressed with varying degrees of effectiveness by ChatGPT. However, this is not new. Assessment in higher education has been getting progressively more insecure as a consequence of students’ ability to use a range of online resources. They can do Google searches. They can use open educational resources, databases and digital textbooks. Pre-trained transformers such as ChatGPT are just an enhanced way of text generation from online resources.
A simple comparison might be to the pocket calculator. When they became widespread, there were people who wanted to ban them from schools to ensure children could do calculations. That soon turned out to be nonsensical; pocket calculators were everywhere and even professionals were using them. The key thing was to build from them – devising more sophisticated mathematical exercises that involved the intelligent use of a pocket calculator.
