Victorian public schools block ChatGPT AI program amid cheating fears
ChatGPT has been blocked in Victorian public schools while the AI technology is assessed, with fears students could use it to cheat on written assignments
READING LEVEL: GREEN
Victorian state schools have blocked students and staff from ChatGPT while they assess the implications* of the popular AI technology.
The Department of Education confirmed that access to the site “at Victorian government schools has been blocked from Department servers and devices as an interim* measure due to ChatGPT’s terms of use specifying that users must be at least 18 years of age”.
“The department is undertaking* further analysis* of the implications of these emerging* technologies and is preparing advice for schools,” a spokesman for the department said.
It comes as educational officials in other states, including Western Australia, NSW, Queensland and Tasmania, have blocked students from accessing ChatGPT on school servers.
Many international education bodies have banned the website, fearing students will use it to generate written work, although a number of educational experts have argued it has potential to help improve the work of disadvantaged students.
University leaders from across Australia have in the past week held emergency meetings on how to tackle the new plagiarism* threat. They are set to meet again this week for further discussions.
Andrew Dalgleish, president of the Victorian Principals’ Association covering primary schools, said the Victorian Education Department had not brought in a blanket ban but was “hastening* cautiously to assess the benefits for teachers and children, but also the risks”.
“We want to see schools work with the department to see how we can use this technology if we can get through the 18+ age issue. There is the potential for it to change education for the better and increase the quality of students’ work,” he said.
“We want to see them nurture and support the safe and appropriate use of these tools.”
Australian Primary Principals Association president Malcolm Elliott said it was “sensible” for schools to block access to ChatGPT.
“We need to approach this with our eyes open and with a degree of caution. We have to understand this technology well and have very clear rules and protocols* around how it’s used,” Mr Elliott said.
“The place of ever developing information technology continues to raise issues and challenges for teachers, principals, students and families.
“Clearly artificial intelligence is here to stay and we need to come to grips with it because it will have an impact on all of our society.”
GLOSSARY
- implications: the things that are likely to happen as a result of something
- interim: for the time being
- undertaking: agreeing to do something
- analysis: detailed examination or investigation
- emerging: new and becoming more obvious or popular
- hastening: moving or acting quickly
- plagiarism: taking someone else’s work or ideas and pretending they are your own
- protocols: official procedures, rules or ways of doing something
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QUICK QUIZ
- ChatGPT has been blocked in schools in which state?
- How old must ChatGPT users be, according its terms of use?
- Name two other states that have also blocked ChatGPT on school servers.
- Who believes the ChatGPT technology could change education for the better?
- Who is the Australian Primary Principals Association president?
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CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Digital technology issues
The ChatGPT program that some schools have blocked, produces essays, poems, scripts and many other tasks.
The Department of Education worries that the user terms of agreement say it is suitable for 18+, which most of the students with access are not.
Work with a friend and brainstorm some possible issues that the 18+ warning might apply to in schools:
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Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Digital technologies, Personal and social, Critical and creative thinking
2. Extension
Do you think Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology is the future of education? Will learning be more about how to use and apply this technology, rather than learning subject content and writing essays and doing exams?
Write a paragraph in favour, or against, schools using this new AI technology.
Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Digital technologies, Personal and social, Critical and creative thinking
VCOP ACTIVITY
To sum it up
After reading the article, use your comprehension skills to summarise in a maximum of three sentences what the article is about.
Think about:
- What is the main topic or idea?
- What is an important or interesting fact?
- Who was involved (people or places)?
Use your VCOP skills to re-read your summary to make sure it is clear, specific and well punctuated.