Challenges and Opportunities of ChatGPT

The University of Technology and Applied Sciences (UTAS-Ibri), through the Staff Development Committee of the IT Department conducted a face-to-face seminar on the challenges and opportunities of ChatGPT for Educators on 24th May 2023 at 12 PM in the IT Meeting Room. The invited speaker was Dr. Francisco P Dumanig, an Assistant Professor at the University of Hawaii (Hilo), USA. Dr. Francisco outlined his presentation as follows: ChatGPT background, the benefits and challenges of ChatGPT, strategies for maximizing the benefits and overcoming challenges of ChatGPT. He mentioned that ChatGPT is an advanced language model developed by OpenAI which can support learners outside the classroom. Moreover, the presenter talked about some of the limitations of ChatGPT in classrooms such as it might provide incorrect or nonsensical responses and the responses are based on pre-existing data.
Similarly, ChatGPT provides potentials in teaching. It can assist in the research and writing tasks, as well as in developing critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Also, it has the ability to simulate authentic language interactions and it offers personalized feedback. Dr Francisco also shared some of the benefits of ChatGPT such as it enhances language practice and production and allows access to vast language resources. In contrary, there are challenges in the use of ChatGPT like for example, it encourages learners to cheat, bias and cultural sensitivity and accuracy and limitations of AI-powered tools. In conclusion, Dr Francis reiterated that ChatGPT offers promising opportunities for educators, offering a unique tool to support teaching and learning, and it provides learners with additional language practice, encourages reflection and analysis and offers opportunities for a collaborative learning. Towards the end of the presentation, some of the staff shared their experiences on the use of the AI powered app – ChatGPT and raised few queries where the presenter responded in a précised manner. There were 24 staff who attended the session and a feedback was taken after the talk. The speaker garnered a mean score of 4.23 in a scale of 1-5 where 5 was the highest, which implies that the audience were satisfied with the topic and the presentation session.