THIS AI CHATBOT IS REVOLUTIONISING THE WAY STUDENTS LEARN

FoondaMate,

By: Fahmeeda Zalgaonker

Robots are the future, and now students can have instant access to one with the help of FoondaMate. More than 1 million students in over 150 countries use this AI chatbot globally to get instant and 24/7 help with educational material, digital support and information via WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger.

Some features of this free-to-use platform include:

• Downloading past exam papers, memos and study guides for grades 10-12

• Searching for the definition of words or concepts

• Solving simple mathematics equations

• Translating English to Afrikaans and vice versa

Even teachers can use FoondaMate for classroom resources, test or exam preparation, and to help foster independent research skills among students.

The chatbot is available in 13 languages and requires low data to operate, which is one reason it is an application interface instead of a standalone app. The rising cost of mobile connections makes downloading apps quite expensive, so cellphone users often opt for pre-installed apps such as WhatsApp and Facebook as these don't require a lot of data to operate. This makes FoondaMate an accessible and affordable learning method, contributing to bridging the digital divide.

This ed-tech startup was developed in 2020 by Dacod Magagula and Tao Boyle from the University of Cape Town (UCT), who shared an interest in making educational tools more accessible to students.

Dacod attended an under-resourced and rural township school in Mpumalanga, with classes of 50-70 students needing to share limited textbooks between themselves. He saved money for a computer, initially to play games with his brother, but also used it to access educational content from the internet. Dacod was eager to share his online resources with classmates, but the lack of technology and funds for printing in the community held back his efforts.

Despite his circumstances, Dacod graduated top of the class and in the entire history of his school. He then went on to study computer science at UCT and used his knowledge in STEM to help solve the societal issue of lack of access to study material.

The educational experience of co-founder Tao was a little different. She attended a well-equipped school and excelled in academics, but it was at university that she realised her peers had to work much harder to score high marks due to their limited access to resources.

Together, these two young South African pioneers realised the same prospects of internet-enabled learning. Their vision for accessibility and fair opportunity led to creating a bot that has become a study buddy towards academic excellence.

FoondaMate forms part of a revolutionary innovation in AI technology that has transformed the traditional learning experience while maintaining a sense of motivation and excitement to empower students from anywhere at any time.

To use FoondaMate, say “hi” to 060 070 3213 on WhatsApp or @foondamate on Facebook Messenger.

Pros and Cons of AI in education

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education is a growing trend, and ChatGPT is one example of how AI can be used to enhance the learning experience. We explore some of the advantages and disadvantages of this AI chatbot.

By: Ya'eesh Khan

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has recently gained significant attention. It is fast becoming a part of our daily lives, influencing how we work, communicate and interact with technology. One of the most prominent examples of AI is ChatGPT, the advanced language model developed by OpenAI.

ChatGPT is an AI trained on a wide range of texts and powered by learning techniques to generate responses in a natural, human-like way. It can provide information, assist with various tasks, and even hold a chat-based conversation.

Like any tool, AI and ChatGPT have advantages and disadvantages. We explore the pros and cons of using ChatGPT for high school students.

Pros

1. Access to information

ChatGPT offers an abundance of knowledge anytime and anywhere. It can provide guidance on a wide range of subjects, including explaining difficult concepts and giving insight into homework or assignments.

2. Personalised learning

ChatGPT can act as a virtual tutor to provide personalised learning guidance and support. This is beneficial as it can adapt to individual students' needs to provide explanations and suggest resources over and above what is available in their textbooks. Whether you prefer alternative learning methods, need extra help understanding a concept, or want a deeper understanding of the topic, ChatGPT can customise its feedback for you.

3. Enhances creative thinking

You can work with ChatGPT to expand your creative horizons and explore innovative solutions to tasks. The human-like responses from ChatGPT can help foster creative thinking by offering writing prompts, engaging in imaginative conversations and assisting in brainstorming ideas for homework and assignments.

4. Language proficiency and communication skills

Engaging with ChatGPT can improve your language proficiency and help develop your communication skills. The AI will provide vocabulary suggestions, correct sentence structure and grammar, and improve your writing skills. The more you use it, the better your writing will become, and you'll gain confidence in your ability to express yourself clearly.

Cons

1. Lack of critical thinking and independent learning

Even though ChatGPT can provide information, you should avoid becoming overly dependent on its use as it can hinder your independent thinking skills. You may miss out on the valuable process of researching, analysing, and solving problems on your own.

2. Inaccuracies or misleading information

AI models like ChatGPT do not think for themselves but are trained on vast amounts of data. If the data used to train ChatGPT contains misleading or biased information, the responses and answers will also contain these errors and inaccuracies. You should always actively seek diverse perspectives to ensure the information is accurate and reliable before using it.

3. Overreliance on technology

It's important to have a healthy balance between screen time and offline activities, such as face-to-face conversations and physical exercise. Many students already spend a significant amount of time with technology, and relying heavily on ChatGPT will hinder this balance further. While ChatGPT can simulate human-like conversations, it lacks emotional intelligence and the ability to understand the context the way humans do. Developing independent thinking and problem-solving skills is also essential for personal and professional growth.

4. Ethical considerations

All technology raises ethical questions surrounding privacy, data security, and potential misuse, and AI is no exception. When using ChatGPT, it collects and retains user data and information that is given to it. You should be mindful of the information they share and exercise caution when interacting with AI.

AI, exemplified by ChatGPT, offers numerous benefits for high school students to assist in their educational journey. It can offer assistance on various tasks, provide personalised learning experiences, and can foster creativity and language proficiency. However, you should always consider the limitations and potential drawbacks, such as the risk of reduced critical thinking, potential overreliance on technology and potential for inaccurate information. If you're using this technology, approach it with a balanced perspective by utilising the advantages while nurturing other essential skills and aspects of student development.