Fact Checked by 
OpenAI has launched a free online course to assist K-12 teachers in integrating ChatGPT, its AI chatbot platform, into their classrooms. Developed in partnership with the nonprofit Common Sense Media, this one-hour, nine-module program introduces the fundamentals of AI and explores its educational applications.
On the site, the course description states that it is designed to introduce educators to the basics of artificial intelligence, generative AI, ChatGPT, and “how to use ChatGPT safely and effectively.”
OpenAI and Common Sense Media say that it will help teachers decode jargon and understand how to use it responsibly, aiming to “level up your understanding of AI and ChatGPT so that you can use tools like this safely and with a clear purpose.”
Leah Belsky, OpenAI’s education vice president, told Reuters: “My goal in this role is to put AI into the hands of every student and every teacher… and also give them the skills to learn how to do it responsibly and effectively.”
The course comes as OpenAI increases its efforts to showcase the positive impact of its ChatGPT chatbot for teachers. Since its launch in November 2022, ChatGPT has sparked a generative AI boom, becoming one of the world’s fastest-growing applications.
Teachers’ concerns over AI usage in education
However, some have been skeptical over the use of ChatGPT in an educational setting. In August, ReadWrite reported that Arizona State University was partnering up with OpenAI to define how generative AI can be used in higher education to “shape learning, research and the future of work.”
That said, Erik Baker, a lecturer in the History of Science at Harvard University, called the collaboration “profoundly offensive” because he felt that it portrayed students as incapable of learning how to write for themselves.
Education consultant Leon Furze also previously warned about using generative AI to grade students’ work. He discovered that simply changing the name on the same paper altered the results, raising concerns about whether it is reliable enough for assessments.
He wrote in a post: “So not only are the grades inconsistent and unreliable, they’re also likely to be biased in ways we can’t easily control for. It’s a recipe for disaster when it comes to fair, equitable assessment.”
Robbie Torney, Senior Director of AI Programs at Common Sense Media told ReadWrite: “We absolutely understand why some educators may be wary of new technology and encourage them to develop their own vision for how AI could or should be used.
“On the other hand, not learning about the technology or how it can improve educator sustainability and effectiveness would be a missed opportunity.
“Common Sense Media research shows that 7 in 10 teens are using generative AI for things like schoolwork and, in light of this trend, we believe that educators play a critical role in guiding students to use it responsibly to enhance skills like creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking.”
Featured image: Common Sense Media / Canva
