The choice is key...

Using Chatbot To Do Homework? What Menlo Students Say.

By Tricia Soto

After9yearsasInformationServicesLibrarianatBowmanLibrary,TriciaSotonowservesasAssistantEditorforMenloCollege MagazinewhileshepursuesaTechnicalCertificateattheSanFranciscoSchoolofNeedleworkandDesign.

It should be no surprise that tech-savvy Menlo students, known for embracing innovation, are already familiar with Artificial Intelligence generative tools such as ChatGPT and Bard. Responding to an informal anonymous campus survey, students revealed that not only are they familiar with these tools but over 65% of the respondents have used them to aid in completing assignments or exams. Students appreciate the knowledge-enhancing capabilities of ChatGPT, enabling them to work faster and gain deeper insights. One respondent wrote that it will: “improve [our] communication skills. It can be used to draft emails, create presentations, or even help with content creation. ChatGPT can provide quick answers and insights on various topics, which can help save time and boost productivity. It can also perform tasks like data analysis, which can be valuable for my major.”

Students feel they are getting quick and accurate answers to complex problems, making their lives considerably more manageable. “ChatGPT can be a great study aid for students. It can assist in researching and summarizing complex topics, making it easier to understand and learn new material. I used to use JSTOR for research, and couldn’t always find the research paper I needed. ChatGPT can help me find the exact research paper I need and give me links to it.”

The tool particularly helps international students to understand unfamiliar terms and formulate sentences correctly, facilitating their integration into academic environments. “I am an international student so sometimes it’s useful to explain terms from class that I may not understand or to help me formulate a sentence the right way.”

Students see ChatGPT’s benefits extending beyond the academic realm. “A lot of lawyers are using ChatGPT for assistance on cases and even making their own AI civil law robots.” Another student noted that the tool can “build, summarize, and analyze financial statements in seconds.”

One student moved beyond content creation, lauding the potential benefits to collaboration, professional development, networking, and even time management. “ChatGPT can help me prioritize tasks, set reminders, and manage my calendar effectively.”

While embracing the benefits of AI-powered tools, students also recognize the potential downsides of relying on ChatGPT too heavily. Concerns about misinformation, privacy, and ethical issues arose, and some highlighted the need for responsible usage and safeguarding of sensitive information.

“One who uses ChatGPT won’t necessarily have to ponder the content it creates. Creative works might lose their unique value grounded in the creator’s individual thought process. We might become more reliant on AI to conduct tasks rather than using our own cognitive and unique abilities—we stop thinking.”

“People abuse it and lose their critical thinking skills.”

“Seductive for students to not do any work anymore, rely too much on AI, and believe everything.”

“ChatGPT can provide incorrect or outdated information, leading users to make decisions based on inaccurate data or faulty understanding. It also lacks emotional intelligence and may not be able to provide empathetic or contextually appropriate responses in some situations, which could negatively impact human relationships.”

Overall, students view ChatGPT as a valuable tool. It empowers them with knowledge, accelerates their work processes, and encourages creativity. However, they also believe it essential to strike a balance, addressing concerns surrounding privacy, ethics, and maintaining a student’s individuality. They also see the need for responsible usage and ethical guidelines, as ChatGPT and other AI tools are quickly transforming the educational landscape.