For this week’s reflection, I read the 2023 article “Speculative Futures on ChatGPT and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Collective Reflection from the Educational Landscape.” This article really got me thinking about AI in general, and, to be honest, I am not a fan. I very much dislike how normalized the use of generative AI such as ChatGPT is becoming. From writing essays to generating lesson plans, it feels like AI is taking over a growing number of tasks that were once deeply human-centered. While there are certainly some practical applications for AI, especially in areas like data analysis or automating repetitive tasks, the increasing reliance on AI to replace human effort, particularly in the educational field, raises a lot of concerns for me.

I find it especially concerning in my field of work. I am an aspiring teacher, and I feel that it is so inappropriate for educators to use AI in many of the ways that it is being used. For example, if teachers start relying on AI to create lesson plans or to respond to student questions, we risk losing the personal touch that makes teaching effective. While it may be true that AI can generate ideas or content quickly, it can’t understand the unique needs of a student who’s feeling overwhelmed, or know when to adjust the pace of a lesson based on the energy in the room. Education isn’t just about what students learn, it’s about how they learn and the relationships they build with their teachers. Without that connection, it’s hard to see how real learning can happen.

Further, teaching is already a profession that doesn’t always receive the respect it deserves. Too often, teachers are seen as “just” educators, with their work undervalued or misunderstood. If it becomes clear that teachers are leaning on AI to do large parts of their job such as lesson planning and grading, it could further fuel the perception that teaching is an easy job that doesn’t require much effort. This would be incredibly damaging, not just to the reputation of the profession, but to the value we place on genuine, human-centered education. If the public sees that teachers aren’t putting in the time and thought to craft lessons or interact with students personally, it could further diminish the respect that educators deserve.

What affects me the most, I think, is that it feels unfair to my future students and to the profession itself. It is my responsibility to put in the proper effort and care when working with my students, to adapt to their needs, and to guide them through their learning journey. Outsourcing my job to generative AI would be neglecting that duty. My students deserve more than just generic, machine-generated content; they deserve a teacher who is present, invested, and actively engaged in their growth. It would be a disservice to them and to myself if I allowed technology to replace the very personal and thoughtful work that makes teaching meaningful. Teaching is a calling, and it demands authenticity, passion, and real human effort. To outsource that would feel like taking the easy way out, and that’s something I can’t do if I truly want to make a difference in the lives of my students.

References

Bozkurt, A., Xiao, J., Lambert, S., Pazurek, A., Crompton, H., Koseoglu, S., Farrow, R., Bond, M., Nerantzi, C., Honeychurch, S., Bali, M., Dron, J., Mir, K., Stewart, B., Costello, E., Mason, J., Stracke, C. M., Romero-Hall, E., Koutropoulos, A., Toquero, C. M., Singh, L., Tlili, A., Lee, K., Nichols, M., Ossiannilsson, E., Brown, M., Irvine, V., Raffaghelli, J. E., Santos-Hermosa, G., Farrell, O., Adam, T., Thong, Y. L., Sani-Bozkurt, S., Sharma, R. C., Hrastinski, S., & Jandrić, P. (2023). Speculative Futures on ChatGPT and Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI): A Collective Reflection from the Educational Landscape. Asian Journal of Distance Education, 18(1). Retrieved from https://www.asianjde.com/ojs/index.php/AsianJDE/article/view/709