This blog post is a reflection on the UNESCO report (Miao & Holmes, 2023), which underscores the importance of centring educators in the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution in education. It emphasises the benefits of ChatGPT in teaching and the necessity of Always Centring Educators (ACE) in the integration of AI into education. This post is a critical reflection informed by my professional experience as an academic lead, examining academics’ pedagogical use of technology in teaching and learning.
The advent of ChatGPT and similar AI-powered language models has ushered in a new era in the academic landscape, prompting educators and institutions to confront the potential implications of this technology on student assessments (Opara et al., 2023). Academics with whom I work – both within and across departments at my university – as well as colleagues from other universities, are grappling with three distinct perceptions regarding students’ use of ChatGPT in assessments, each carrying its own ramifications and potential responses.
A forward-looking perspective on ChatGPT regards it as an integral component of the modern educational landscape that necessitates a re-evaluation of assessment strategies. According to Lo (2023), this viewpoint acknowledges that ChatGPT can serve as an assistant for instructors, assisting in generating course materials and providing suggestions, as well as functioning as a virtual tutor for students, answering questions and facilitating collaboration. From our view, educators should explore methods for integrating AI tools like ChatGPT into their teaching and assessment practices.
Institutions need to invest in AI literacy programmes for both students and faculty, promoting responsible and effective use. Furthermore, educators should adapt assessment methods to evaluate critical thinking, problem-solving and creativity, shifting away from rote memorisation. This adjustment makes it more challenging for students to solely rely on AI assistance. This approach aligns with the notion that students should fully embrace artificial intelligence technology, such as ChatGPT and other innovative tools, rather than being limited by them (Basic et al., 2023).
