In this week’s edition of ‘Down the AI Rabbit Hole,’ I share an important piece from Marc Watkins that warns us about being lulled into complacency by ChatGPT 3.5 unimpressive writing. I also take on one of my professional development heroes, James Lang, and the importance of nailing the title.
Listen to Down the AI Rabbit Hole (3:55)
This week’s tip:
Marc Watkins is the Director of the Mississippi AI Institute, recognized for their pioneering efforts to incorporate generative AI into college curriculums. In his article “Your Students Are Already Using AI You’ve Never Heard Of,” (listen on Substack) Watkins highlights the issue with the free version of ChatGPT.
“The writing was always generic and boring, the citations filled with made-up bullshit, and hallucinations abound.”
This, according to Watkins, misleads users about the true capabilities of AI technology. Our students have access to some very powerful generative AI models. He goes on to recommend several newer AI models for experimentation and provides insights into the capabilities of some premium models.
My hero!
James Lang is one of my faculty development heroes. For years, I have followed his work in the Chronicle and elsewhere, and I own every one of his books. Indeed, the Center for Learning and Teaching (CfLT) has distributed hundreds of copies of his books, including Small Teaching, On Course, and Distracted, through numerous reading groups and seminars. His Chronicle article, “How to Teach a Good First Day of Class,” is essential for the Denison Teaching Seminar’s opening workshop each August.
My hero takes a slow walk.
So, it was with considerable apprehension that I clicked the link to his recent Chronicle article, “The Case for Slow-Walking Our Use of Generative AI.” Slow walk…? Really?
It wasn’t until the sixth paragraph that Lang articulated his argument for using the often pejorative term “slow-walking” – “creating more space for reflection and discussion as we enter this new era of human history.” He then details how he actually utilizes AI in his courses.
“Instead of either abandoning my commitment to writing skills or hoping that my students will never make use of ChatGPT, I plan to embrace the principle of variety.”
The damage is done.
However, this comes too late! Despite the rest of the article presenting a solid four-step plan for integrating generative AI into his writing course, in a world dominated by short attention spans and clickbait, the initial impression lingers. My hero, James Lang, suggests I should slow-walk AI.
Don’t stet the title! (yeah, probably used that term incorrectly)
Here is my advice: read the entire article – it’s invaluable. But also consider these alternative titles:
From me:
– The Inevitable is Here: How to Incorporate AI into Your Classes
– It’s Not as Bad as You Think: Ways to Use AI in Your Classes
– It Ain’t Getting Any Dumber: Why I Decided to Use AI in My Classes
From Lew’s Intern (my AI GPT):
– Navigating AI in Education: A Thoughtful Approach
– Embracing AI with Care: Principles for Educational Integration
– Strategic AI Integration: Enhancing Learning Through Reflection and Variety
– Building a Better Classroom: The Thoughtful Incorporation of AI Tools
– AI in Academia: Guided Principles for Meaningful Use
Dr. Lang remains my hero. This experience helps me realize the importance of a title.