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Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly evolving and is increasingly being used in classrooms. Several different forms of artificial intelligence have gained popularity within the past, one form of AI with widespread use in the classroom is Generative Pre-Trained Transformer (ChatGPT). This paper explores how the recent surge of popularity of ChatGPT has caused concerns of ethical use in the classroom. Additionally, this paper explores the capabilities and strategies for students to use AI, specifically in nursing.
ChatGPT can offer extraordinary resources to students through capabilities such as essay writing and editing, generation of answers to questions instantly from a vast database, and can aid in studying by creating study guides and practice questions of any subject. Additionally, AI is being implemented in institutions to guide students in areas where improvement is needed. Although AI can enhance learning in different ways, there are ethical considerations that need to be made.
This paper examines the ethics of ChatGPT through the lens of key ethical principles which include as non-maleficence, autonomy, veracity, and justice. Responses from ChatGPT that are inaccurate could put patient safety at risk, which makes evidence-based practice a better solution for patient care. Students who use ChatGPT can have an overreliance, which can lead to missed learning opportunities or even plagiarism, which undermines the purpose of higher education. Additionally, AI is not available for everyone, which raises concerns of equity in the classroom.
In order to combat some of these ethical concerns, students are recommended to use evidence-based practice. Students should also recognize risks for plagiarism and always use original work. When a student uses ChatGPT responsibly, they can have improved learning outcomes. Students should use ChatGPT as a tool rather than a replacement for learning. Strategies include concept understanding, study guide creation, grammar correction, and personalized learning support. AI is rapidly evolving and will continuously be under ethic consideration.
Kos, Kyle, "Ethics of AI in the classroom" (2024). Honors Theses. 3882.
Honors Thesis-Open Access