ChatGPT revolutionizes studies, and now the baccalaureate?

While the baccalaureate results will be unveiled tomorrow, suspense and anticipation reach their peak. At the heart of this turmoil, ChatGPT, the artificial intelligence-based conversational assistant, has played a predominant role for many high school students this year. In an era where digital innovation is transforming the way we learn, how has this tool influenced preparation for the bac?

In a previous article, we explored how students can consult their results online. Now we're going to look at another dimension of digital education. Earlier this year, we also described how students can use ChatGPT to revise for the bac. Today, we're going to dig deeper into this topic to understand how this tool has influenced student performance and, above all, how it has reshaped the educational experience of today's generation.

We need to adapt to this new reality and understand its impact on the world of education. ChatGPT is here, and it could well change the way we perceive learning and exam preparation (including thelanguage learning with ChatGPT or Bard from Google). So hang in there and join us on this fascinating adventure into the age of AI in education.

What is ChatGPT and how can it be used in education?

In a world where technology is developing at a rapid pace, we have witnessed the emergence of a revolutionary new invention: ChatGPT from openAI. This artificial intelligence-based conversational assistant, created by Californian start-up OpenAI, made its appearance on the French educational scene last November.

Put simply, ChatGPT can answer questions on a multitude of subjects. It can summarize a book, formulate an essay outline, translate a text and even produce an effective commentary. Simply ask a question and, within seconds, ChatGPT can provide a thoughtful, accurate answer.

The implementation of ChatGPT in education is not without its questions, however. Could the use of this technology be seen as an escape from the hard work of traditional learning? Or is it an effective way of facilitating learning and making education more accessible? These and many other questions deserve to be asked and explored.

Using ChatGPT in education is a delicate balancing act. On the one hand, we need to integrate technological advances into education to keep pace with the changing world. On the other hand, we need to ensure that these tools are not used to bypass the learning process.

ChatGPT, a digital companion for high school students

In our modern world, AI tools such as ChatGPT, a conversational agent developed by OpenAI, a Californian start-up, are making their way into students' daily lives. This highly sophisticated virtual assistant offers informative answers on a multitude of subjects.

That said, high school students' initial use of the tool was often light-hearted and playful. Over time, however, they discovered ChatGPT's potential as a study resource and began to rely on it for their academic work. Some students, like Gabriel* (a fictitious name given by the 20minutes website who interviewed high school students), even admitted that it's hard to resist the ease offered by this new tool.

ChatGPT: a debatable homework help tool

The use of ChatGPT has rapidly evolved from entertainment between friends to a genuine homework assistance tool. Students use it to prepare essays, obtain summaries of information, or even complete an entire assignment. It's an astonishing fact, and one that sparks discussion among educators and school administrators.

Most of us would think that the use of such a tool by students could be seen as a form of cheating. However, the Ministry of Education, headed by Pap Ndiaye, has yet to issue any specific guidelines or recommendations regarding its use. For the moment, there are no clear guidelines on how to manage the use of ChatGPT in the educational context.

Promising results, but at what price?

ChatGPT seems to have a significant impact on the academic performance of students who use it. Students such as Doria and Gabriel have achieved exceptionally high marks with the help of this tool. All in all, these excellent marks obtained with the help of ChatGPT raise questions about how teachers detect and manage this use.

That said, so far none of the students we've interviewed have been caught using ChatGPT to cheat. Some teachers have even encouraged the use of this tool, as long as the students' oral presentations are successful.

The future of teaching with ChatGPT

As you can see, we're at the dawn of a new era in education, where AI tools like ChatGPT are playing an increasingly important role. In fact, some teachers have adapted their teaching methods to incorporate this new reality, seeing ChatGPT as a modern version of Wikipedia.

Overall, we need to learn how to navigate this new environment. Considering the progress of AI and its intrusion into school life, high school students can expect to see more classroom testing in the years to come.

*First names have been changed to protect the identity of students.

Note: This article is based on information from the article published on the 20minutes website on 03/07/23, written by Melvil Pinet and Delphine Bancaud.

ChatGPT on the baccalaureate philosophy exam: a passable mention

L'artificial intelligence ChatGPT was put to the test on a baccalaureate philosophy subject in an experiment organized in Paris, as reported by a AFP article published on the Le Point website. The topic, "Is happiness a matter of reason?", was presented to ChatGPT and philosopher Raphaël Enthoven as part of a "match" organized by the Paris School of Technology & Business.

ChatGPT produced an essay deemed passable, with a score of 11/20, while Raphaël Enthoven achieved the perfect score of 20/20. The marks were awarded by Éliette Abécassis, agrégée de philosophie and author, and a high school teacher known as Serial Thinker on TikTok.

Despite a blind evaluation, it was possible, according to Ms. Abécassis, to guess who had written what. The copy produced by ChatGPT was criticized for its lack of issues, long, hollow sentences and use of vague quotes as evidence.

ChatGPT mentioned philosophers such as Aristotle, Kant, Freud, Nietzsche and Camus, but erred in his references and failed to address the issue. His conclusion stated, "There is no universal answer, but a myriad of paths to happiness (...) Happiness may well be a matter of reason... and much more besides."

According to Raphaël Enthoven, philosophers are among the professions least likely to be replaced by artificial intelligence. "The teaching of philosophy is not threatened (...) I bet we could have given him [ChatGPT] a whole book of recommendations, without making him a philosopher," he declared.