Key points:
- Education must evolve along with technology–students will expect it
- Embracing new technologies helps education leverage adaptive technology that engage student interest
Since its launch in November 2022, ChatGPT has dominated conversations in the media landscape and within the education industry. A key conversation focuses on weighing its benefits versus risks, and many higher-ed institutions have been quick to implement bans on the technology altogether for fears of plagiarism in written works. But is this the right course of action to take?
As technology evolves, industries must evolve alongside it, and education is no exception – especially in an era where students heavily and regularly engage in technology and its applications. Instead of being afraid of the unknown, educators and leaders should navigate these changes with curiosity and an open mind and embrace the shake up the education industry has been waiting for. ChatGPT can be the answer we’re looking for in our search for the ideal, personalized student experience–and ultimately student success.
ChatGPT as an innovative pathway
For students and educators alike, allowing for creativity in new types of learning in the classroom should always be encouraged. In a structured classroom setting, an educator can only be expected to teach a certain amount of curriculum, and learners can only retain so much information at one time. By harnessing the power of technology, learners can access a broader understanding of a topic, mitigating the structural bias of the institution and curriculum.
Utilizing technology–which generates perspectives aggregated from myriad sources–allows for an expanded understanding of a certain topic or theme, which was initially seeded within the four walls of the classroom, but now can be encouraged and further explored with support from platforms like ChatGPT.
Joshua Sine is the vice president of higher education strategy at Qualtrics, the leader in experience management. A higher education evangelist, Joshua has experience across the academic journey and student lifecycle with particular focus on providing solutions that bridge the gap between educational institutions and their students. Prior to Qualtrics, he spent 15 years as a higher ed administrator on college campuses building innovative programming in Enrollment Management, Athletics, Global Initiatives, Student Success, and Academic Affairs.