The University of Reading in the UK has revealed that ChatGPT can not only pass university exams but also outperform human students. This discovery is forcing institutions worldwide into an immediate dilemma. Do they fall back on traditional exams and risk irrelevance, or adapt?paints a stark picture of AI's capabilities. Researchers created 33 fake student profiles and used ChatGPT to answer exam questions for first, second and third-year psychology modules.
This perspective shifts the focus from single high-stakes exams to a more holistic evaluation of a student's learning journey. It acknowledges that in an AI-augmented world, the ability to apply knowledge creatively and adapt to new challenges may be more valuable than the mere retention of information.
"Some of the following approaches could replace a written essay: project-based assessments, problem-solving scenarios, oral presentations or debates, collaborative group projects, reflective journals or portfolios, experiential learning assignments, peer teaching or tutoring, creation of original content, interactive simulations or role-playing, and open-ended research projects."
Trey Conatser, director of CELT at the University of Kentucky, offers a nuanced perspective on the role of writing in education:"Findings like these can feel threatening, but they're a provocation to reflect on how writing functions as a way of assessing learning as well as the act of learning itself. We don't have students write to show us what they've already learned, but we have them write so that they can learn through a scaffolded process with meaningful feedback.