VOA教育报道2023--How ChatGPT Can Help Students Learn, Prevent Cheating

How ChatGPT Can Help Students Learn, Prevent Cheating

Some educators worry students may use ChatGPT to cheat on schoolwork. The AI tool could write reports and computer codes¹. It could create charts that look like those done by humans. A growing number of American school systems have since blocked ChatGPT on their computers and networks.

Kui Xie and Eric Anderman are professors of educational psychology² and educational technology. In their research, they have found that the main reason students cheat is their desire to do better in school. For example, some students want to get a high grade, and others want to learn all that they can about a subject.

The decision to cheat or not, they say, often relates to how schoolwork and tests are built and graded. It is not as dependent³ on the availability of technology to make things easier. When students can rewrite a report or retake a test, if they do not do well at first, they are less likely to cheat.

Xie and Anderman recently explained in The Conversation how teachers can use ChatGPT to increase their students' desire for learning⁴ and prevent cheating.

Here are their three ideas for doing that:

Treat ChatGPT as a learning partner

The professors' research shows that students are more likely to cheat when school assignments are designed in ways that push them to outperform their classmates. However, students are less likely to cheat when assignments lead them to work together and center on learning rather than getting a good grade.

Teachers can get students to treat ChatGPT as a learning partner. That can help teachers move their students away from competition and performance to teamwork and knowledge.

For example, a science teacher can assign⁵ students to work with ChatGPT to design a hydroponic vegetable garden. Students could use ChatGPT to discuss the growing requirements for vegetables and think of design ideas for a hydroponic system.

These activities are designed to improve knowledge rather than just earning a good grade.

Use ChatGPT to improve confidence

Research shows that when students feel confident they can successfully do the work, they are less likely to cheat. An important way to improve students' confidence is to provide them with many ways to be successful.

ChatGPT can provide those experiences by offering students individualized support and breaking down complex problems into smaller tasks.

Perhaps, students are asked to design a vehicle that can use gasoline⁶ more efficiently⁷ than a traditional car. Students who struggle with the project could use ChatGPT to break down the larger problem into smaller tasks. ChatGPT could suggest they first develop an overall⁸ idea for the vehicle before deciding the size of the car or what kind of fuel will be used. Teachers could also ask students to compare the steps suggested by ChatGPT with steps from other sources.

Have ChatGPT give supportive feedback⁹

Research shows personalized feedback can improve students' self-confidence.

ChatGPT can be directed to deliver feedback using cheerful language. If a student does something incorrectly, ChatGPT may start a conversation with the student instead of just telling them they are wrong.

Here is a real conversation from ChatGPT: "Your answer is not correct, but it's completely normal to encounter¹⁰ occasional¹¹ errors... Don't be discouraged by this small setback¹²; you're on the right track! I'm here to support you and answer any questions you may have. You're doing great!"

This will help students feel supported and understood while receiving feedback for improvement¹³. Teachers can easily show students how to direct ChatGPT to provide them with such feedback.

Words in This Story

chart — n. information in the form of a table, diagram¹⁴, etc.

professor — n. a teacher especially of the highest rank at a college or university

grade — n. a number or letter that indicates how a student performed in a class or on a test

assignment — n. a job or duty that is given to someone

classmate — n. a member of the same class in a school, college, or university

hydroponic — adj. a method of growing plants in water rather than in soil

task — n. a a piece of work that has been given to someone

efficient — adj. capable¹⁵ of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy

feedback — n. helpful information or criticism¹⁶ that is given to someone to say what can be done to improve a performance, product, etc.

encounter — v. to have or experience

occasional — adj. happening or done sometimes but not often

 

discourage — v. to make less determined, hopeful, or confident

1 codes   

n.[计算机]编码( code的名词复数 )；代号；密码；法典

参考例句：

• A generation ago genetic codes were certainly unknown. 遗传密码在上一代确实很少有人知道。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• So, sometimes, authors adopt Flasm to write low level p-codes to add efficiency. 所以，设计者采用Flasm来编写低级的p-codes以提高效率。 来自互联网

2 psychology   

n.心理，心理学，心理状态

参考例句：

• She has a background in child psychology.她受过儿童心理学的教育。
• He studied philosophy and psychology at Cambridge.他在剑桥大学学习哲学和心理学。

3 dependent   

adj.依靠的，依赖的，依赖他人生活者

参考例句：

• He has a mother completely dependent on him.他有一个完全靠他赡养的母亲。
• The country is dependent on foreign aid.这个国家靠外援生存。

4 learning   

n.学问，学识，学习；动词learn的现在分词

参考例句：

• When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时，常会从车上掉下来。
• Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。

5 assign   

vt.派，指派；分配，分派；指定或选定

参考例句：

• It is possible to assign an exact date to this building.这座建筑物的确切年代是可以确定的。
• It's difficult to assign any reason for the failure.失败的原因很难确定。

6 gasoline   

n.(美)汽油

参考例句：

• This car runs 5 miles on a gallon of gasoline.这部汽车一加仑汽油可以行驶五英里。
• There is still some gasoline left in the tank.油箱里还剩下一些汽油。

7 efficiently   

adv.高效率地，有能力地

参考例句：

• The worker oils the machine to operate it more efficiently.工人给机器上油以使机器运转更有效。
• Local authorities have to learn to allocate resources efficiently.地方政府必须学会有效地分配资源。

8 overall   

n.工作服，工装裤；全面的，全体的

参考例句：

• The shop assistant was wearing a white overall.那店员穿着白色的工作服。
• How much will it cost overall?一共多少钱？

9 feedback   

n.回授，反馈，反应

参考例句：

• I was getting great feedback from my boss.老板对我的评价很高。
• You need feedback to monitor progress.你需要利用反馈信息来监控进展。

10 encounter   

v.遇到，偶然碰到；遭遇；n.遭遇；意外的相见

参考例句：

• It was a bloody encounter between the two armies. 这是那两军之间的一次激烈的遭遇战。
• A fortunate encounter brought the two friends together after a long separation.两位老朋友长期分离这次才有幸相遇。

11 occasional   

adj.偶尔的；偶然的；不经常的

参考例句：

• That sort of thing is quite occasional and not regular.那种事十分偶然，没有规律。
• We must figure in occasional expenses in the budget.我们必须在预算中把临时费用算计在内。

12 setback   

n.退步，挫折，挫败

参考例句：

• Since that time there has never been any setback in his career.从那时起他在事业上一直没有遇到周折。
• She views every minor setback as a disaster.她把每个较小的挫折都看成重大灾难。

13 improvement   

n.改进，增进；改进之处，改善的地方

参考例句：

• The doctor noticed a gradual improvement in his patient.医生注意到病人在逐渐恢复健康。
• I can detect signs of improvement in your thinking.我可以察觉出你思考问题方面的进步。

14 diagram   

n.图表，示意图；图解；vt.绘制…的示意图

参考例句：

• On the back of the letter was a diagram.信的背面是张图表。
• The engineer drew a diagram of the bridge.工程师绘制了一幅这座桥的示意图。

15 capable   

adj.有能力的，有才能的

参考例句：

• The new woman secretary was extremely clever and capable.这位新来的女秘书很是精明强干。
• Jim is capable at sports.吉姆擅长运动。

16 criticism   

n.批评，批判，指责；评论，评论文章

参考例句：

• Some youth today do not allow any criticism at all.现在有些年轻人根本指责不得。
• It is wrong to turn a deaf ear to other's criticism.对别人的批评充耳不闻是错误的。