this post was submitted on 19 Jun 2023
18 points (100.0% liked)

Academia

771 readers
2 users here now

founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

How are those out there who grade essays or teach writing skills planning on dealing with the monumental advances in easily accessible ai language models this year?

all 9 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)
[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (3 children)

Well, there's something to be said about being able to explain stuff to others, so I think essays should still be part of the course. But using AI should be included, so people can learn where it is appropriate and where to be careful with it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (2 children)

That's an excellent point, that would be a perfect thing to include as part of a technical communications course. The problem is that probably most instructors aren't currently equipped to teach about AI in their fields, so launching some CE for professionals would be a good first step. In my field AI is a hot topic in terms of teaching it to assist with interpreting microscopy, but none of the seminars I've attended have discussed using AI to actually write microscopy reports or other forms of science/medical communication. I could see it being super useful for patient discharges for example. Most students/doctors are pretty bad at writing them.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Check out the substack I just linked. It is amazing for teaching ideas.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Tbh, back in ye olden days when IT was a new subject, teachers weren't very equipped either. But I believe critical reading and checking facts are skills that don't need AI background, but are still extremely useful. Other skills can added as we all learn more about it and how/when to use it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

https://oneusefulthing.substack.com/p/my-class-required-ai-heres-what-ive going to make another post with this, but this guy's substack is amazing for teaching with ai.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago

This, it's going to be there and students need to learn to use it. Much like they google back in the olden times.

[–] lasagna 1 points 1 year ago

Was it ever a good system? Cheating was already rampant, particularly among the well off who could afford ghost writers. The difference is now that the poor can also access similar resources.