A great post, Terry. It will be interesting to see how this chatGPT (and its successors) play out in teaching and learning. I know that it will help many who are stuck in a rut of thought, but I expect that the AI will tend to be conventional -- it's derived from text that's lying around everywhere on the Interwebs, after all. A bit of a remix, plopped into conventional (and often lifeless) prose, and there you have it! It's the liveliness of the human mind that might be the distinguishing factor.
How many classes have turned subjects into grey gravy and zombie-inducing dreck with lifeless presentation. ChatGPT isn't a complete bore, but I wonder how much will appear valuable after it becomes less a novelty and more an appliance?
Thank you, Sire. Yes, I think you're right. I've sometimes found it hard to start with a course outline, but I think getting ChatGPT to fire off the first draft could be a great help. You could move the bits around, take some out, maybe be inspired to add some things you hadn't previously thought of and, as you say, make it actually sound interesting.
That's cool Terry. Didn't know you were doing a course. Are you just working on it, or do you have students already? I think by modifying the prompts for ChatGPT, you can get a pretty good outline. You could then ask it to write the course, section by section. Then edit and modify. Thanks for sharing!
I've run the blogging course three times: once as a whole day course in a classroom, the last two times (since covid) as an online course over two evenings. The Oulipo course: I've run a 2.5 hour taster course on that, which people enjoyed, so I've persuaded the powers that be to let me run a one day/five hour online course (2 x 2.5 hours) in June. Your idea of getting it to write each section is good in theory, but I tried that with the science fiction course and it didn't come up with any new. What seems to happen is that when you give it a topic it splurges out everything it "knows" without regard to time, type of students etc. I daresay those nuances will come in time, or perhaps my instructions have been too general. I'm learning myself
It's fun to play with, for sure. I find it will give you what you want if you ask it - say explain that thing in two sentences. Then edit, and away you go...
I prefer your course! Especially the comfort breaks. I guess an AI doesn’t value those and I guess will never appreciate the after lunch dip when everyone falls asleep!
A great post, Terry. It will be interesting to see how this chatGPT (and its successors) play out in teaching and learning. I know that it will help many who are stuck in a rut of thought, but I expect that the AI will tend to be conventional -- it's derived from text that's lying around everywhere on the Interwebs, after all. A bit of a remix, plopped into conventional (and often lifeless) prose, and there you have it! It's the liveliness of the human mind that might be the distinguishing factor.
How many classes have turned subjects into grey gravy and zombie-inducing dreck with lifeless presentation. ChatGPT isn't a complete bore, but I wonder how much will appear valuable after it becomes less a novelty and more an appliance?
Thank you, Sire. Yes, I think you're right. I've sometimes found it hard to start with a course outline, but I think getting ChatGPT to fire off the first draft could be a great help. You could move the bits around, take some out, maybe be inspired to add some things you hadn't previously thought of and, as you say, make it actually sound interesting.
But, then again, see https://makeshiftmobility.substack.com/p/are-you-an-n-e-o-c-o-l-o-n-i-a-l for an inventive, chatGPT-created interpretation of an article introduction in the style of Lin-Manuel Miranda. Maybe there is some unfettered expression in the AI after all.
Those comfort breaks, Terry - your students will thank you!
Seriously, very interesting post - all this AI stuff is definitely food for thought.
Students? The comfort breaks are for ME! 😂 🤣
🤣
I guess we all need a comfort break. I'm not into AI--but maybe I'll learn???? and what is that other acronym? I'm sticking with you! xo ~ Mary
Do you mean ChatGPT? I'm not sure. Oulipo: Ouvroir de littérature potentielle = workshop of potential literature. See https://terryfreedman.substack.com/s/oulipo
That's cool Terry. Didn't know you were doing a course. Are you just working on it, or do you have students already? I think by modifying the prompts for ChatGPT, you can get a pretty good outline. You could then ask it to write the course, section by section. Then edit and modify. Thanks for sharing!
I've run the blogging course three times: once as a whole day course in a classroom, the last two times (since covid) as an online course over two evenings. The Oulipo course: I've run a 2.5 hour taster course on that, which people enjoyed, so I've persuaded the powers that be to let me run a one day/five hour online course (2 x 2.5 hours) in June. Your idea of getting it to write each section is good in theory, but I tried that with the science fiction course and it didn't come up with any new. What seems to happen is that when you give it a topic it splurges out everything it "knows" without regard to time, type of students etc. I daresay those nuances will come in time, or perhaps my instructions have been too general. I'm learning myself
It's fun to play with, for sure. I find it will give you what you want if you ask it - say explain that thing in two sentences. Then edit, and away you go...
Yes, it can be a good starter
I prefer your course! Especially the comfort breaks. I guess an AI doesn’t value those and I guess will never appreciate the after lunch dip when everyone falls asleep!
Actually, that's a great point. I always schedule post-lunch activities that will get the students active, not just listening, for that reason.
I wonder if asking chatGPT to schedule comfort breaks in a follow up prompt would have an effect.
Hi, Mark, I tried your suggestion and it did. Thanks! See the section of the post from the heading Update' onwards.