By the Numbers: How Students Outperformed Teachers in Using Generative Neural Networks / ITech content

In Russia, ChatGPT became the subject of discussion and criticism in the educational environment at the beginning of 2023. While in the US, where this generative neural network bot was developed, its popularity began to grow in late 2022, ChatGPT was significantly easier to access in the US, contributing to its rapid adoption. However, in Russia, progressive students also quickly adopted the tool. In addition to ChatGPT, other services are also available in Russia, such as YandexGPT on Yandex's Alice app and GigaChat from Sber, which is currently in closed beta but is planned to be publicly available soon. There are also many similar services in Russian, making generative AI technologies more widely accessible.

Digital tools powered by generative artificial intelligence have become an integral part of our daily lives, just as personal computers and internet access once were. The debate over whether to ban the use of these technologies in education or train students in their effective use has quickly become moot. This is the equivalent of debating whether to ban the internet in educational institutions. As Cynthia Breazeal, professor of media arts and sciences at MIT, noted, "the AI genie is out of the bottle." This phenomenon affects not only computer science and programming but all aspects of society. It is important for all students to develop AI literacy, as the use of computers and technology has become part of everyday life. A new form of literacy is emerging before our eyes—AI literacy—which is being actively discussed in the education field. This highlights the need to integrate AI skills into curricula to prepare students for today's challenges.

The emergence of generative AI technologies could exacerbate the digital divide between younger generations, which include students, and older representatives, most often teachers and educators. Young people are likely to master new tools more quickly and integrate them into their daily lives, while the educational sector may not have time to adapt to these changes. This highlights the need to update teaching methods and improve digital literacy among educators to ensure equal opportunities for all participants in the educational process.

The study "Time for Class 2023", conducted by Tyton Partners in collaboration with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, confirms the relevance of integrating generative AI into the educational process. The study, conducted in spring 2023, collected data from 2,048 students, 1,748 faculty, and 306 university administrators across three surveys. Results showed that students were 20% faster at integrating generative AI-powered text tools like ChatGPT into their instructional practices. While this difference may seem small, it highlights the growing interest and active use of technology in education.

Banning the use of certain services at universities, as happened in Japan, isn't always effective. Research shows that 46% of students still intend to use such services even if they are restricted. This suggests that bans aren't effective in completely preventing students from accessing resources they find useful. It is important to consider alternative approaches that can help integrate technology into the educational process rather than exclude it.

Infographics: Olya Ezhak for Skillbox Media

The analytical report reveals an interesting trend: teachers and students who actively use generative AI tools perceive their impact on the educational process significantly more positively. Experimenting with such technologies fosters an optimistic view of the future of teaching and learning.

Some teachers, especially those who struggle with new technologies, tend to make pessimistic predictions that tools like ChatGPT could negatively impact education. However, research conducted by Russian scientists from Moscow State Pedagogical University and the Belarusian State Pedagogical University named after M. Tank shows that teachers' attitudes toward the digital educational environment generally depend on their personal qualities. In particular, openness to new experiences and agreeableness play a key role in the perception and use of technology in teaching. This underscores the importance of professional growth and a willingness to adapt to changes in the educational environment.

By the Numbers: How Students Outperformed Teachers in Using Generative Neural Networks / ITech content

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