March 2023
By Janice Atkin, Professional Learning Officer, ACHPER NSW
ChatGPT is here to stay. So how can you embrace it to help students use it as a learning tool, rather than a shortcut?
ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence powered language tool designed to simulate human-like conversations. It can answer a wide range of questions, engage in small talk, and provide useful information on a variety of topics.
ChatGPT uses deep learning algorithms to analyse and understand the context and meaning of human language to generate coherent and contextually relevant responses to user prompts.
ChatGPT can be a powerful learning tool for students.
Here are 3 ways to use it with students to promote learning outside of the classroom:
(1) Get an answer if they get stuck
Encourage students to use ChatGPT to generate answers to questions they may have while away from the classroom. This can help students get immediate help with their queries, rather than waiting to be back in the classroom to ask you.
(2) Q&A Sessions
The Q&A style conversation of ChatGPT could be particularly useful for teachers and students in Stage 6.
- As a class develop a list of prompts about a part of the syllabus.
- Ask each student to go home and generate a response to each question.
- In the next lesson, divide class into small groups and get them to compare the ChatGPT-generated responses and create a group response to the prompt.
- Share with the rest of the class to create a bank of summaries for syllabus points.
For example, here are two ChatGPT- generated responses to Stage 6 PDHPE content-related prompts:
Example 1:
Prompt: “What are the leading causes of death in Australia?”
The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the leading causes of death in Australia are:
1. Ischaemic heart disease: This is a condition where the heart’s blood vessels narrow, reducing blood flow to the heart. Ischaemic heart disease is the leading cause of death in Australia, accounting for approximately 12% of all deaths.
2. Dementia and Alzheimer’s disease: These conditions affect memory, thinking, and behavior and are the second leading cause of death in Australia, accounting for approximately 10% of all deaths.
3. Cerebrovascular disease: This is a group of conditions that affect the blood vessels in the brain and can lead to stroke. Cerebrovascular disease is the third leading cause of death in Australia, accounting for approximately 5% of all deaths.
4. Lung cancer: This is a type of cancer that develops in the lungs and is often linked to smoking. Lung cancer is the fourth leading cause of death in Australia, accounting for approximately 4% of all deaths.
5. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD): This is a group of lung conditions that make it difficult to breathe. COPD is the fifth leading cause of death in Australia, accounting for approximately 3% of all deaths.
Other leading causes of death in Australia include influenza and pneumonia, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer.
Example 2:
Prompt: “How do the three energy systems of the body work together during a 400 metre sprint race?”
During a 400-meter sprint race, the three energy systems of the body work together in a coordinated manner to provide the necessary energy to the working muscles. These three energy systems are:
1. ATP-PCr system: This energy system provides immediate energy for short bursts of high-intensity activity, such as the initial acceleration at the start of a sprint race. It relies on stored phosphocreatine in the muscles to quickly produce ATP, which is the primary energy source for muscle contraction.
2. Anaerobic glycolysis system: This energy system provides energy for high-intensity activities lasting up to 2-3 minutes. During a 400-meter sprint, the anaerobic glycolysis system kicks in after the ATP-PCr system is depleted, and it relies on the breakdown of glucose to produce ATP. This process does not require oxygen but produces lactic acid as a by-product, leading to muscle fatigue.
3. Aerobic system: This energy system provides energy for prolonged, lower-intensity activities such as endurance running. During a 400-meter sprint, the aerobic system becomes increasingly important as the race progresses, and the intensity decreases. The aerobic system relies on the presence of oxygen to break down glucose and fats to produce ATP.
In a 400-meter sprint race, the ATP-PCr system provides the initial burst of energy required to accelerate out of the blocks. As the race progresses, the anaerobic glycolysis system takes over and provides the energy needed for the middle section of the race. In the final stage of the race, the aerobic system becomes increasingly important as the intensity decreases, and the body relies more on oxygen to produce energy.
(3) Brainstorming
Let’s say you are working on a project or idea and need help generating new and innovative ideas. You can use ChatGPT to generate a list of potential ideas and suggestions.
1. Start by defining the problem or challenge you are facing. Be as specific as possible and provide any relevant context or background information.
2. Ask ChatGPT to generate ideas related to the problem or challenge. For example, you can ask, “What are some creative solutions to reduce plastic waste in our oceans?”
3. ChatGPT will generate a list of ideas based on its training and knowledge. You can review the list and identify the ideas that seem most promising or interesting.
4. Use the generated ideas as a starting point for further brainstorming and idea generation. You can build on the ideas generated by ChatGPT, combine them, or modify them to fit your specific needs and context.
5. Repeat the process as needed, refining your ideas and strategies until you find a solution that meets your needs and requirements.
For even more ideas:
