Latest News and Comment from Education

Friday, June 23, 2023

BANZAI: AI & CHATGPT IN JAPANESE CLASSROOMS

BANZAI

AI & CHATGPT IN JAPANESE  CLASSROOMS  

The Japanese Ministry of Education has announced that they will allow limited use of generative AI in schools across the country. This news has caused quite a stir in the education community, with some calling it a breakthrough and others calling it a disaster waiting to happen.

The new guidelines state that generative AI can be used to help students formulate ideas, facilitate classroom discussions, and stimulate creativity. However, it cannot be used in exams or artistic activities, and students must be aware of its limitations and biases.

This means that if you're a student in Japan, you might soon find yourself chatting with a robot instead of your classmates. Imagine trying to talk about the latest episode of your favorite anime, only to be interrupted by a robot asking you to define the word "otaku."

But don't worry, the Japanese government has assured us that they have taken all necessary precautions to ensure that the AI is safe and reliable. They've even tested it on their own bureaucrats, who reportedly found the experience "enlightening."

Of course, not everyone is convinced. Italy has already banned ChatGPT, citing privacy and ethical concerns. And let's not forget about China, which is investing heavily in AI and generative technologies. Some experts believe that China could gain an upper hand over the US in the AI race, which is probably why the US government is currently trying to ban TikTok.

But back to Japan. The new guidelines are set to be implemented by April 2024, which gives schools plenty of time to prepare for the robot invasion. We can only imagine what the classrooms of the future will look like. Will there be rows of robots sitting at desks? Will students be required to bring their own charging cables? Will there be a robot prom?

One thing's for sure, the future is looking bright for ChatGPT. The app has already expanded to countries like Canada, India, France, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Nigeria, South Korea, and the UK. It seems like everyone wants to chat with a robot these days.

But what about the potential downsides? Some experts have raised concerns about accuracy, reliability, bias, ethical implications, and impact on student learning outcomes. Others worry that robots will take over our jobs and leave us all unemployed.

But let's not get too serious here. This is a funny article after all. So let's focus on the positives. Chatting with a robot could be a great way to make friends if you're socially awkward. It could also be a great way to cheat on your exams if you're not so academically inclined.

And who knows? Maybe one day we'll all have our own personal robots to do our bidding. We'll never have to do our own laundry or wash our own dishes again. We'll just sit back and let the robots do all the work.

In conclusion, the Japanese Ministry of Education's decision to allow limited use of generative AI in schools is both exciting and terrifying. Only time will tell whether this decision will lead to a brighter future or a robot apocalypse. But for now, let's just sit back and enjoy the ride. Who knows? Maybe we'll learn something from our new robot overlords.


THE DEFT DIVE


Limited generative AI usage to be allowed in Japanese schools https://cointelegraph.com/news/limited-generative-ai-usage-allowed-in-japanese-schools 


According to one of the news articles¹, the Japanese Ministry of Education plans to allow limited use of generative AI, like ChatGPT, in elementary, junior high and high schools across the country. The draft guidelines say that generative AI can be used to help students formulate ideas, facilitate classroom discussions and stimulate creativity. However, it also says that generative AI should not be used in exams, artistic activities or without students' awareness of its limitations and biases. The ministry aims to implement the new guidelines by April 2024.

This is an example of how one country is planning to use AI and ChatGPT in K-12 education, with some restrictions and regulations to ensure its appropriate and ethical use. Other countries may have different plans and policies regarding the use of AI and ChatGPT in education, depending on their contexts and needs.

Bing, 6/23/2023

(1) Japanese schools to be allowed limited use of generative AI. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230622/p2g/00m/0na/042000c.

(2) 32% of university students in Japan using ChatGPT: survey. https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20230622/p2g/00m/0na/034000c.

(3) Japan Allows Limited Use Of Generative Ai In Schools. https://menafn.com/1106488052/Japan-Allows-Limited-Use-Of-Generative-Ai-In-Schools.

(4) Education ministry guidelines to allow limited use of generative AI in .... https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2023/06/22/national/school-ai-use/.

(5) ChatGPT is going to change education, not destroy it. https://www.technologyreview.com/2023/04/06/1071059/chatgpt-change-not-destroy-education-openai/.

(6) Limited generative AI usage to be allowed in Japanese schools. https://cointelegraph.com/news/limited-generative-ai-usage-allowed-in-japanese-schools.


AI and ChatGPT in countries other than the USA:

  • - **Italy** has banned ChatGPT, citing privacy and ethical concerns. It is the first Western country to do so².
  • - **Canada**, **India**, **France**, **Germany**, **Ireland**, **New Zealand**, **Nigeria**, **South Korea** and the **UK** are among the countries where OpenAI has expanded its ChatGPT app, which lets users chat with the chatbot on their phones¹.
  • - **China** is investing heavily in AI and generative technologies, and its internet giants Baidu, Alibaba and Kunlun have been developing their own versions of ChatGPT. Some experts believe that China could gain an upper hand over the US in the AI race⁴.

Bing, 6/23/2023

(1) ChatGPT and AI automation: 300 million jobs could be affected globally .... https://www.cnn.com/2023/03/29/tech/chatgpt-ai-automation-jobs-impact-intl-hnk/index.html.

(2) OpenAI's ChatGPT iOS app now available in Canada, India ... - TechCrunch. https://techcrunch.com/2023/05/25/openai-chatgpt-ios-app-india-download/.

(3) Can AI give China the upper hand to surpass the US after ChatGPT .... https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/ai-give-china-upper-hand-surpass-us-become-worlds-top-economy-chatgpt-3563156.

(4) ChatGPT vs. Bing Chat AI: Which Is Better? - How-To Geek. https://www.howtogeek.com/882163/chatgpt-vs-bing-chat-ai/.

(5) Italy has banned ChatGPT. Here's what other countries are doing - CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/04/04/italy-has-banned-chatgpt-heres-what-other-countries-are-doing.html.


AI and ChatGPT are emerging technologies that have the potential to transform K-12 education in various ways. According to some sources, ChatGPT can provide personalized learning experiences, enhance lesson planning and instruction, engage students and foster digital literacy and data ethics¹²³. However, there are also some challenges and unknowns associated with using ChatGPT in education, such as its accuracy, reliability, bias, ethical implications and impact on student learning outcomes¹⁴. Therefore, educators and students need to be aware of the pros and cons of ChatGPT and use it responsibly and critically.

Different countries may have different approaches and policies regarding the use of AI and ChatGPT in K-12 education. For example, some countries may have more advanced infrastructure and resources to support the integration of AI and ChatGPT in their curricula, while others may face more barriers or resistance. Some countries may also have more stringent regulations or guidelines on how AI and ChatGPT can be used in educational settings, while others may have more flexibility or autonomy. Additionally, some countries may have more research and innovation on AI and ChatGPT in education, while others may lag behind or follow the trends set by others.

To get a more comprehensive picture of how other countries are planning to use AI and ChatGPT in K-12 education, you may want to explore the following questions:

  • - What are the goals and objectives of using AI and ChatGPT in K-12 education in different countries?
  • - What are the benefits and challenges of using AI and ChatGPT in K-12 education in different countries?
  • - What are the best practices and lessons learned from using AI and ChatGPT in K-12 education in different countries?
  • - What are the current trends and future directions of using AI and ChatGPT in K-12 education in different countries?

Bing, 6/23/2023

(1) ChatGPT in Education: The Pros, Cons and Unknowns of Generative AI. https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2023/03/chatgpt-in-education-generative-ai-perfcon.

(2) Teachers and Students Embrace ChatGPT for Education. https://www.waltonfamilyfoundation.org/learning/teachers-and-students-embrace-chatgpt-for-education.

(3) Unlocking the Potential of K-12 Students with ChatGPT: How AI Could .... https://shakeuplearning.com/blog/unlocking-the-potential-of-k-12-students-with-chatgpt-how-ai-could-transform-education-suls0184/.

(4) We Asked ChatGPT: Should Schools Ban You? - Education Week. https://www.edweek.org/technology/we-asked-chatgpt-should-schools-ban-you/2023/04.

(5) Students and teachers: Tell The Post how you use ChatGPT and other AI tools. https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/05/04/students-teachers-chatgpt-ai-submissions/.


The goals and objectives of using AI and ChatGPT in K-12 education in different countries may vary depending on their specific contexts and needs, but some common themes can be identified from the literature. Some of the possible goals and objectives are:

  • - To **address some of the biggest challenges** in education today, such as access, quality, equity, inclusion and relevance¹.
  • - To **innovate teaching and learning practices**, such as personalized learning, adaptive assessment, collaborative learning, project-based learning and inquiry-based learning¹²³⁴.
  • - To **accelerate progress towards SDG 4**, which is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all¹.
  • - To **prepare students for an AI-driven future**, by developing their core competencies, such as digital literacy, data ethics, critical thinking, creativity and problem-solving¹²³⁵.
  • - To **enhance human capacities and protect human rights**, by ensuring that AI and ChatGPT are used in a human-centered, ethical and responsible way¹⁵.


These are some of the possible goals and objectives of using AI and ChatGPT in K-12 education in different countries. However, they are not exhaustive or definitive, and they may change over time as AI and ChatGPT technologies evolve and new challenges and opportunities emerge.

Bing, 6/23/2023

(1) Artificial intelligence in education | UNESCO. https://www.unesco.org/en/digital-education/artificial-intelligence.

(2) AI technologies for education: Recent research & future directions. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666920X21000199.

(3) How AI Can Improve K-12 Education in the United States. https://www2.datainnovation.org/2022-ai-education.pdf.

(4) ChatGPT For Students: AI Chatbots Are Revolutionizing Education. https://elearningindustry.com/chatgpt-for-students-how-ai-chatbots-are-revolutionizing-education.

(5) Unlocking the Power of ChatGPT: A Framework for Applying Generative AI .... https://www.researchgate.net/publication/370156204_Unlocking_the_Power_of_ChatGPT_A_Framework_for_Applying_Generative_AI_in_Education.