[https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/01/23/opinie-chatgpt/](https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/nl/2023/01/23/opinie-chatgpt/)

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How can ChatGPT also become a learning tool that can enhance learning? We give 3 strategies for educators. (Pieter Duysburgh and Rob Heyman of the Knowledge Center Data and Society.)

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1. **Make use explicit and transparent**

Explicitly instruct students to use ChatGPT. Let students generate a text with ChatGPT and let them work on it. Have them explain which “prompts” they entered. Then ask them to reflect on the generated text: where could things be done better, what should be done differently.

In the end, let them make an improved version of the text based on their own reflection. Students can see why ChatGPT would get a lower rating for a task than if they held the pen themselves.

**2. Focus on the weaknesses of the technology**

Like any other AI solution, ChatGPT’s algorithm is trained on information found online. The most recent information in the database on which ChatGPT was trained dates from 2021.

Therefore, let students work on current topics, obscure themes about which little information is available online, or require them to incorporate a minimum number of recent sources into the text. Encourage them to check the input they get from ChatGPT against other sources.

**3. Use the tool as a brainstorming assistant**

ChatGPT can produce a lot of text in no time, but the content of that text is correct as often as it is incorrect. At the same time, this “hallucinating” of technology can be quite inspiring. It can help students to come up with ideas they couldn’t come up with themselves, but often they will be best able to retain those ideas that are really valuable. Or they can build on these ideas. Get a brainstorm started with ChatGPT and then push them to beat the algorithm and be really creative.

4 comments

  1. >Like any other AI solution, ChatGPT’s algorithm is trained on information found online. The most recent information in the database on which ChatGPT was trained dates from 2021.
    Therefore, let students work on current topics, obscure themes about which little information is available online,

    Sure, because that won’t create a recency bias at all. That’s what a school is all about, chasing the latest fad and for sure not bother to get a larger perspective.

    Or maybe it meant only scientific papers from the last year as sources. Well, with a bit of luck you find lit review papers that you can use instead of books, but that’s going to be a little challenging unless we’re talking about master students.

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