Examining Students' Critical Interaction with Generative AI Tools in Written Assessments

Core Concepts

Students require new skills and knowledge to effectively co-create outputs with AI, rather than relying on AI to fully outsource their learning process. This study examines the levels of critical interaction exhibited by students when using the generative AI tool ChatGPT to support their writing.

Abstract

This study investigates students' critical interaction with the generative AI tool ChatGPT during a written assessment task. The researchers developed the Critical Interaction with AI for Writing (CIAW) framework, which identifies five key dimensions of critical interaction:

Critical Interaction for Planning and Ideation: This dimension examines how students use ChatGPT in the early stages of writing to generate ideas, conceptualize, and structure their work. The findings show that most students demonstrated a shallow level of interaction, using ChatGPT primarily for basic task clarification and idea generation, with few exhibiting deep critical engagement.

Critical Interaction for Information Seeking and Evaluation: This dimension looks at how students use ChatGPT to search for and analyze information. Again, the majority of students displayed shallow interaction, using ChatGPT to find relevant content, but rarely critically evaluating the information or seeking elaboration.

Critical Interaction for Writing and Presentation: This dimension examines how students leverage ChatGPT to aid their writing and revise their work. Most students used ChatGPT in a surface-level manner, such as for proofreading, rephrasing, and formatting, rather than engaging in deeper, critical editing.

Personal Reflection on AI-assisted Learning: This dimension analyzes how students critically reflect on their use of ChatGPT. Here, the researchers found the highest level of deep interaction, with many students identifying the limitations of the tool and recognizing both the opportunities and risks of using AI in their learning.

Conversational Engagement: This dimension looks at the level of dialogic interaction students exhibit when using ChatGPT, rather than a more transactional, one-way interaction. The majority of students demonstrated a shallow, directive approach to using the tool.

Overall, the findings suggest that while students are able to critically reflect on their use of AI, they generally exhibit shallow levels of critical interaction when actually using generative AI tools like ChatGPT to support their writing process. The researchers argue that educational institutions should focus on developing students' skills to effectively partner with AI, rather than trying to create "AI-proof" assessments.

Stats

The study analyzed 49 student assignments from a graduate data science course.

Quotes

"With this new generation of tools, I found the learning journey much more accessible. It significantly reduced the amount of time required for me to get the information on board."
"ChatGPT was a great tool to provide a starter text for my writing. However, it could lead to reduced critical thinking and original ideas if I kept using ChatGPT to complete the remaining parts."

Key Insights Distilled From

Untangling Critical Interaction with AI in Students Written Assessment

by Antonette Sh... at arxiv.org 04-11-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2404.06955.pdf

Deeper Inquiries

How can educational institutions design assessments and learning activities that actively promote students' critical interaction with generative AI tools, rather than relying on them to simply complete tasks?

In order to design assessments and learning activities that encourage students to engage critically with generative AI tools like ChatGPT, educational institutions can implement several strategies:

Explicit Instruction on AI Literacy: Incorporate explicit instruction on AI literacy within the curriculum to help students understand the capabilities and limitations of AI tools. This can include teaching students how to evaluate AI-generated content, recognize biases, and verify information.

Structured Reflection Activities: Integrate structured reflection activities into assignments where students are required to critically reflect on their use of AI tools. By prompting students to analyze the outputs of AI tools, question the reliability of information, and consider alternative perspectives, educators can foster a deeper level of engagement.

Collaborative Learning Tasks: Design collaborative learning tasks that involve students working together to interact with AI tools. Encouraging peer discussions and debates on the outputs generated by AI can enhance critical thinking skills and promote a more nuanced understanding of the technology.

Problem-Based Learning: Implement problem-based learning scenarios that require students to use AI tools as part of the solution process. By presenting real-world problems that necessitate critical analysis and decision-making, students can develop a more sophisticated approach to using AI tools.

Feedback and Guidance: Provide timely feedback and guidance on students' interactions with AI tools. Educators can offer suggestions for improving critical engagement, point out potential pitfalls of over-reliance on AI, and guide students towards developing a balanced approach to using technology.

By incorporating these strategies into assessments and learning activities, educational institutions can create an environment that actively promotes students' critical interaction with generative AI tools, fostering a deeper understanding of the technology and its implications.

What are the potential risks of students over-relying on generative AI tools like ChatGPT, and how can educators mitigate these risks while still leveraging the benefits of AI-assisted learning?

Over-reliance on generative AI tools such as ChatGPT can pose several risks for students, including:

Loss of Critical Thinking Skills: Students may become dependent on AI tools for generating content, leading to a decline in critical thinking and analytical skills.

Plagiarism and Academic Integrity Issues: Students might inadvertently plagiarize AI-generated content or fail to properly attribute sources, resulting in academic integrity violations.

Limited Creativity and Originality: Relying solely on AI tools for writing tasks can stifle students' creativity and originality, as they may replicate AI-generated content without adding their unique insights.

Biased or Inaccurate Information: AI tools can perpetuate biases present in the training data or generate inaccurate information, leading students to unknowingly accept flawed or misleading content.

Educators can mitigate these risks while still leveraging the benefits of AI-assisted learning by implementing the following strategies:

Promote AI Literacy: Educate students on AI literacy, teaching them how to critically evaluate AI-generated content, recognize biases, and verify information from multiple sources.

Encourage Diverse Sources: Encourage students to use a variety of sources, including AI tools, but also traditional research methods, to ensure a comprehensive and well-rounded understanding of the topic.

Emphasize Creativity and Critical Thinking: Design assignments that require students to engage actively with AI tools while also fostering creativity, critical thinking, and originality in their work.

Provide Guidance and Feedback: Offer guidance and feedback on students' use of AI tools, highlighting the importance of independent thinking, proper citation practices, and the need to critically assess AI-generated content.

By balancing the use of AI tools with a focus on developing students' critical thinking skills, educators can mitigate the risks associated with over-reliance on generative AI tools while still harnessing the benefits of AI-assisted learning.

Given the rapid pace of AI development, how can we future-proof educational curricula to ensure students develop the necessary skills and mindsets to effectively collaborate with AI in an ever-evolving technological landscape?

To future-proof educational curricula and prepare students for effective collaboration with AI in a rapidly evolving technological landscape, educators can take the following steps:

Integrate AI Literacy Across Disciplines: Embed AI literacy components into various subject areas to ensure all students develop a foundational understanding of AI technologies, their applications, and ethical implications.

Offer Specialized AI Courses: Provide specialized courses or workshops focused on AI ethics, AI-assisted writing, and AI collaboration to equip students with advanced skills and knowledge in utilizing AI tools effectively.

Encourage Interdisciplinary Projects: Foster interdisciplinary collaboration through projects that require students from different disciplines to work together using AI tools, promoting diverse perspectives and innovative solutions.

Stay Abreast of AI Trends: Educators should continuously update their knowledge of AI trends and advancements to incorporate the latest technologies and tools into the curriculum, ensuring students are exposed to cutting-edge AI applications.

Emphasize Lifelong Learning Skills: Teach students essential skills such as adaptability, critical thinking, problem-solving, and continuous learning to navigate the evolving AI landscape and prepare for future career opportunities.

Provide Hands-On AI Experiences: Offer hands-on experiences with AI tools, simulations, and projects to give students practical exposure to working with AI technologies and developing proficiency in using them.

By implementing these strategies, educational institutions can future-proof their curricula, ensuring that students develop the necessary skills, mindsets, and competencies to effectively collaborate with AI in an ever-changing technological environment.