IN-PERSON: Applying Education

Abstract

The rise of powerful AI-based chatbots such as ChatGPT have raised concerns in the academic circles regarding the implications they might have on students’ academic integrity. Academics continue to explore and get acquainted with these new technological tools where some have undoubtedly shown open-mindedness to embracing progress and making the best out of it in academia from the teachers and students’ perspectives. Nevertheless, many neo-luddite or more conservative and technology-resistant perspectives have also risen where many teachers have quickly banned the use of AI-based chatbots in their classrooms and went back to oral presentations, in-class assignments, and enforcing handwritten assignments. In an era where technology is pervasive and artificial intelligence policies are being negotiated in the parliaments of many countries, how can we refrain from embracing technology and go back to doing things the traditional way? How this new technology should be integrated in higher education is controversial, however, in this paper, we present meaningful ways to use AI-based chatbots in the classroom where both the teacher and the student can benefit. Ultimately, embracing AI in the classroom could be a constructive and effective manner to elevate learning in the 21st century while maintaining ethical standards and respecting progression and change. General suggestions and guidelines for using AI chatbots in the classroom are provided while specific applications from courses in management, entrepreneurship, and design thinking are highlighted. These resources can be adapted and used in various other disciplines in higher education.