Artificial Intelligence: OpenAI, ChatGPT, LLMs, and More

Faculty Voices on AI

We asked National University faculty members about their thoughts on new, generative AI tools like ChatGPT. Here are a few responses we received.

Dr. Brian Arnold, Department Chair of Teacher Education

How might these technologies impact your work at National University in the next several years?

With any luck, teaching will shift the focus from finding concrete answers, to asking insightful questions.

Dr. Dwayne Wood, Ed.D., Adjunct Faculty

What would you like National University students to consider about Large Language Models like ChatGPT? What would you like other NU staff and faculty members to consider?

I would answer both the questions with the same answer. First, we need to have a fuller understanding of the limitations and the ethical considerations of the program. Just like any other informational source, students and faculty need to employ information literacy skills because the program is not infallible, and responses need to be scrutinized and evaluated critically. We also need to understand that the data the program uses can present ethical concerns such as bias in the data. With that stated, I would also encourage students and faculty to consider the possibilities such technology offers. There is great potential for the technology to improve student learning. If applied, the technology presents the ability to personalize learning and enhance language proficiency. Additionally, the program can encourage critical thinking skills and be a scaffold for achieving higher order thinking skills.

Scott H. Moss, Academic Program Director, MSDIET Program

What would you like National University students to consider about Large Language Models like ChatGPT?

I would like NU students to think of LLMs like ChatGPT as a tutor, partners, or consultants. I would like these new tools to support their skills and knowledge. I want students to use these tools ethically and develop habits that will support their learning and help them to serve as role models for their own learners.

Dr. Ron Uhlig, Chair, Department of Engineering, COBET

What would you like other NU staff and faculty members to consider?

• Use of tools such as ChatGPT without acknowledging that they have been used is cheating based on the traditional definitions of “cheating.”
• It will be impossible to stop students from using tools like ChatGPT.  But the use of such tools may be detected, similar to the way plagiarism can be detected.  Note that the detectors are not perfect and could lead to falsely accusing students.
• “If we are creating assignments that can be answered by AI are we really helping students learn?”
• Key issue: how to demonstrate to the students and their future employers that students have “learned” how to apply what they learned to be successful
  • Project-based learning
  • Case studies
  • Hands-on assignments, exams and labs
• Use of AI tools should be encouraged as a form of collaboration.
  • Students should be encouraged to use AI tools as a collaborator
  • Like working with another student on a group project
• AI contributions should be acknowledged
• Students should discuss what they learned and how they improved on AI results
• From an ethical perspective, higher education should focus on new methods and mechanisms for assessing student learning that take advantage of the AI tools to improve student learning
• AI can show students different ways to express ideas/structure assignments
• Tools like ChatGPT can be creativity tools

But

• Machines have no morals
• Machines have no experience of the world