Cheating or Creativity? How AI Tools Like ChatGPT and Bing Search Are Transforming Assessment in K-12 Education
AI tools like chatGPT and the new Bing search are on everyone's minds lately, including mine. These technological advances are making it easier for students to access information and resources, but some (many?) leaders are concerned that they also provide opportunities for cheating on what I’ll call “traditional assessments”.
As educators, we want to make sure that assessments accurately measure what our students know and are able to do. However, the focus on preventing cheating can sometimes come at the expense of more creative and authentic forms of assessment. That's why it's time to rethink our approach to assessment, not bury our heads in the sand, or outright ban AI.
Rather than simply trying to prevent cheating, we can use AI tools like chatGPT to inform and enhance the assessment process in new and exciting ways. By integrating these tools into creative learning assessments, we can support our students' creativity while also promoting academic rigor and achievement. WE CAN DO BOTH.
So let’s explore how chatGPT can be used to inform creative learning assessments, including project planning, brainstorming, feedback, and reflection. I’ll also share how I think these assessments can help students build important artistic and creative skills while achieving their educational goals. So let's dive in and see how we can use AI tools like chatGPT to transform the assessment landscape for the better!
Here’s 4 ways you can use AI to redefine your assessments:
AI-assisted project planning
One way that chatGPT could be used to inform creative learning assessments is by helping students plan and organize their projects. ChatGPT could suggest ideas for how to structure their work and what materials or resources they may need. By providing guidance on the planning process, chatGPT can help students to achieve their creative vision while also staying on track and meeting their educational goals.
AI-assisted brainstorming
Another way that chatGPT could be used to inform creative learning assessments is by helping students generate ideas for their projects. ChatGPT could provide prompts and suggestions for ways to approach their work, such as "what if you incorporated this element into your design?" or "have you considered using this material for your project?" This type of guidance can help students to overcome creative blocks and explore new ideas they may not have considered otherwise.
AI-assisted feedback
ChatGPT can also provide feedback on students' projects as they are working on them. ChatGPT can help students refine and improve their work, while also identifying areas where they may need more support or guidance. Feedback from chatGPT can be a helpful tool for students to take their projects to the next level and help them understand the learning goals more fully.
AI-assisted reflection
Finally, chatGPT can be used to help students reflect on their projects after they are completed. ChatGPT could provide prompts and questions to guide their thinking and help them to better understand what they have learned. This type of reflection can be especially valuable for creative learning assessments, as it encourages students to think about the connections between their creative work and the broader educational goals of the project.
AI tools like chatGPT can be used to support students throughout the creative learning process, helping them to come up with ideas, plan their work, and reflect on their learning. They shouldn’t replace learning, they should be considered another tool in the toolbox. Educators should embrace them as a way to get the most out of their assessments.