Homework turned automated

Following ChatGPT’s release in November, students and teachers discuss its implications for education and student creativity, as well as other AI

their own. Mr. Benjamin Boruff, English teacher, found that ChatGPT and other AI generating programs challenge teachers to encourage their students to learn how to struggle.

“It just makes it all the easier for someone to not learn and grow as a writer,” Mr. Boruff said. “I think this will be an issue moving forward in English classes everywhere, but learning will still happen. It’s hard to do, but to convince folks that there is an inherent value in going through the struggle to get to the end result. The more people I can convince of that, the less likely they’ll rely on something like this.”

While there are sources out there that can potentially detect if an essay was created by ChatGPT, because there is no guarantee that an essay was created with an AI system, it would be difficult to accuse a student of cheating. Mrs. Brook Lemon, English teacher, compared this to accusing a parent of writing their child’s essay—unless a child says it, there is no way to prove that theory.

“I think it’s a really good point that teachers need to make sure they know their students and know what they’re capable of,” Mrs. Lemon said. “This shouldn’t be the first time they’re seeing their writing. They should know what their writing is like, but sometimes you just never can pick it out.”

Programs such as ChatZero have stated that they can detect plagiarism by ChatGPT. Increasingly, students have found their way around these issues. Students reported using the program for both essays and other extracurriculars, such as Science Olympiad and Debate.

A look into the essay

Crier gave Mr. Steven Stepnoski, english teacher, two sample essays. Below is one sentence written by one of our staff members, and the other is written by ChatGPT. Guess which one is which (answers on page 6.)

1. “This line serves as an introduction to the theme of the song, which is about the lengths that one might go to in order to eliminate perceived competition in a romantic relationship.”

2. “He follows the line by directly addressing the audience, the man he is in love with, which confirms the aggressive tone that was established in the narration.”

Sisters Rise Up: A program for new opportunities

are more bookshelves on their way to put more of our books up,” Ms. Hladek said. (photo by lexi villalobos)