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posted by hubie on Monday March 11 2024, @03:43PM   Printer-friendly
from the complaints-department-5000-miles-> dept.

https://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2024/03/some-teachers-are-now-using-chatgpt-to-grade-papers/

In a notable shift toward sanctioned use of AI in schools, some educators in grades 3–12 are now using a ChatGPT-powered grading tool called Writable, reports Axios. The tool, acquired last summer by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, is designed to streamline the grading process, potentially offering time-saving benefits for teachers. But is it a good idea to outsource critical feedback to a machine?
[...]
"Make feedback more actionable with AI suggestions delivered to teachers as the writing happens," Writable promises on its AI website. "Target specific areas for improvement with powerful, rubric-aligned comments, and save grading time with AI-generated draft scores." The service also provides AI-written writing-prompt suggestions: "Input any topic and instantly receive unique prompts that engage students and are tailored to your classroom needs."
[...]
The reliance on AI for grading will likely have drawbacks. Automated grading might encourage some educators to take shortcuts, diminishing the value of personalized feedback. Over time, the augmentation from AI may allow teachers to be less familiar with the material they are teaching. The use of cloud-based AI tools may have privacy implications for teachers and students. Also, ChatGPT isn't a perfect analyst. It can get things wrong and potentially confabulate (make up) false information, possibly misinterpret a student's work, or provide erroneous information in lesson plans.
[...]
there's a divide among parents regarding the use of AI in evaluating students' academic performance. A recent poll of parents revealed mixed opinions, with nearly half of the respondents open to the idea of AI-assisted grading.

As the generative AI craze permeates every space, it's no surprise that Writable isn't the only AI-powered grading tool on the market. Others include Crowdmark, Gradescope, and EssayGrader. McGraw Hill is reportedly developing similar technology aimed at enhancing teacher assessment and feedback.

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  • (Score: 5, Insightful) by Freeman on Monday March 11 2024, @08:14PM (1 child)

    by Freeman (732) on Monday March 11 2024, @08:14PM (#1348299) Journal

    You have a lot more faith in LLMs and basic human actions than I do.

    Here's a possible scenarios off the top of my head:
    #1 Everything works perfectly! More teachers are fired and fewer are hired. Teachers have the same overworked, underpaid status. Everything stays the same.
    #2 Everything goes horribly wrong! More teachers are fired, because bad teachers! Principals/Boards/Governing bodies take no personal responsibility. Many students are negatively affected by the outcomes.
    #3 More likely, things go off the rails. Teachers are blamed for using the tools they were given and are accused of not doing their job. Teachers get fired. Many students are negatively affected by the outcomes.
    #4 Most likely, things will be just enough wrong, but not enough wrong to warrant stopping the use of the tool. Teachers praise the new tool, but parents don't trust that the system is doing a good job. In all likelihood things aren't better and many students are negatively affected by the outcomes. Though, in this instance, perhaps less than in the other two negative outcomes.

    --
    Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
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  • (Score: 4, Interesting) by SomeRandomGeek on Monday March 11 2024, @08:55PM

    by SomeRandomGeek (856) on Monday March 11 2024, @08:55PM (#1348311)

    You have a lot more faith in LLMs and basic human actions than I do.

    You mistake me. I am deeply cynical and pessimistic. However, I lack your status quo bias. The standard for going ahead with proposed changes is not perfection. The standard for proposed changes is merely "The best option of those that are available right now." I am sufficiently disenchanted with the status quo that I think changes are worth trying when the cost of failure is merely some children getting a bad education and some tax payer money wasted. Basically, there is no downside because bad education and wasted taxes are what we have now.