Let's do an "AI/ChatGPT Experiment"!
What a great way to jump start your class for the New Year!!
I just had an idea this morning and since so many teachers are looking for a fun way to start up after the New Year, I thought it would be perfect!
I am the former (and current co-coordinator) for the NYC Middle School Science Olympiad program (SciOly). Prior to “coaching” the team, I had never really been involved in team sports at all. I will write more about the importance of academic competition and how its elimination from our schools has suppressed our students desire to work harder and reach higher in future articles, but for now, let’s talk about one of my favorite Science Olympiad events - Experimental Design (ExpD). This event is where “participants are given 50 minutes to use a set of given materials and a provided scientific topic to design, execute, and report the findings of a scientific experiment.” It is the evaluation of Cause and Effect in an experiment. In other words, competitors are given materials and a theme for an experiment then they create and experiment (Objective, Hypothesis, Materials, etc…), run the experiment, collect data, and see if their conclusion supports their hypothesis. We consistently take 1st place as I understand this process inside and out… and I still coach the event.
This event (and Science Olympiad in general) is a fantastic opportunity for students to learn how to view real-life problems through a critical eye. It takes out the “I think that…” or the “It might be because…” ways of thinking when solving a problem. It is a great way to teach students right from wrong. There is a right way (though not only one way) to run an experiment and there is a right way (though not only one way) to collect data and draw a conclusion. It is all very exciting!
As a result of coaching this event for years I eventually developed my science curriculum based on Experimental Design. Each week: Day 1 was introduce materials to students with a prompt (friction, measurement, gravity, etc…) and have them develop/write up an experiment. Day 2 had them run the experiment and collect data to confirm/deny their experiment. Day 3 they did a formal write-up in class that would be handed in at the end of class. By the end of the year, I would put my 6th grade students’ lab write-up skills up against those of any high school or college science student! And I made sure they knew this. Every middle school student should leave 8ith grade with this skill (Scientific Method) in their bag of tricks!
As many know, I am not a big fan of AI/ChatGPT. I don’t want to get into a discussion about that now (as I have already posted on the subject), but I would like to put this awesome and amazing technology to a test and one that will help students decide what they think might be a better choice. Since most everyone has already jumped on-board the AI/ChatGPT train and have left the station, let’s see if our kids can put to use some of their current skills to come to a definitive (or close to definitive) answer.
So I propose a “Science AI/ChatGPT Experimental Design Challenge”. (Any content can do this, but I am using science as that is my niche.) Science teachers: In accordance with the Experimental Design protocol stated above, separate your class into two groups:
Group A - given the materials, they will use AI/ChatGPT to develop their experiment (Objective, Hypothesis, Materials, Procedure, Data Collection & Conclusion)
Group B - given the same materials, they will do it the old fashioned way: Brainstorm Objective & Hypothesis, choose which materials to use from those given, Create a numbered Procedure, Run the Experiment, Collect Data and draw Conclusion.
Choose an experiment using a handful of materials and present them to the students. For example:
Topic: Gravity
Materials: (they may use all or just a few)
3 rubber balls(different sizes and colors)
30 cm of masking tape
10 rubber bands
1 meter stick
1 plastic spoon
1 block of styrofoam
10 popsicle sticks
(You can find a variety of examples as well as how the Experimental Design event should be run at https://scioly.org/wiki/index.php/Experimental_Design - This is the Science Olympiad National website.
Or pick another example at https://scioly.org/wiki/index.php/Experimental_Design/Practice
** Here is a video I made going over one of the labs my 6th grade classes did and I wanted to show them what I expect. You can use this as a reference for both groups so they can start out on equal footing
Since I have never done an “AI/ChatGPT vs. No AI/ChatGPT Experimental Design” lab, feel free to try this any way you like. This might be a good way to fire your classes up for the New Year instead of just jumping into your curriculum. Use the Day 1, 2 & 3 format as shown above (yes, this takes three classes, but is very well worth the time invested.) And feel free to choose any other set of materials as well. Also, if you would like a “guest speaker” to help guide them through this, feel free to contact me at drcubbin@gmail.com and I will Zoom with your class! Remember, I am an Experimental Design expert and can help you over any hurdles.
So how do you see which method of lab writing is better or more effective? Have two classes do this experiment (One using AI/ChatGPT and a second using their brain power!) then exchange papers and have students grade the other class’ papers. Make a rubric to show what you will be asking for. Or consider having your science teachers grade the other classes lab write-ups and present their findings to both classes!
This is an example of how I would engage my students and get them thinking! I am sure there are creative ELA, Social Study, or other content teachers out there who can use this same format to do a fun activity for the kids (and find out more about AI/Chat GPT instead of just hearing “ChatGPT is better than doing it by hand!”) And these other contents could always ask the science department to help guide them through.
Good luck and Happy New Year!!
Dr. Cubbin - School Goals Work!
Website - schoolgoalswork.com
Substack posts - schoolgoalswork.substack.com