During Week 6 the course took a deep dive into Artificial Intelligence (AI). AI tools are not something that I know much about or have used, but I know they exist. I have not consciously used them or researched any positive or negative ways they can improve my life. Listening to the talk by David Wiley and how he described transitioning to using AI highlighted a perspective that I had not considered before. David mentioned that in pre-internet days the way to find information was to go to the library or make a phone call. When the internet arrived the transition to other ways of finding information created different habits. Due to the arrival of AI tools, we are in another transition that will develop new habits and ways to access different information. Reflecting on this idea of transitioning I can recognize that I went through the arrival of the internet but have thus far resisted the AI movement. Perhaps it is time for me to experiment with some AI tools to see if they can benefit or enhance they way I access information as a student.
Another interesting point David talked about was how tools such as ChatGTP can be useful for connecting new information to a learner’s prior knowledge. Asking ChatGTP to explain concepts using specific areas of personal interest is a brilliant way to help a student find a connection so the information can be understood and integrated. This may especially benefit a student who learns in this way such as myself who has ADHD. I wonder what other ways I could use AI tools to aid my learning as it often takes me double the time to complete reading and written work. As a student knowing the benefits of AI tools but also an awareness of the ethical implications can save time on tasks that otherwise would take up a whole day. I decided to experiment and drop a legislation comparison question for another course assignment into ChatGPT. I was so surprised how fast it came back with 2 pages of information! Upon reviewing the information I can see that the quality is not great but it gave me a starting point. The information also does not replace the need to read the two legislation documents, however, I can see how some students might rely on this information in times of overwhelm to rush through work. I will consider these tools more consciously now and be more open to transitioning into AI in the future.