Class exercises that use ChatGPT to strengthen students’ learning

Generative AI has given students new opportunities to engage dynamically with subject material. Tools such as ChatGPT have the potential to not only assist in their understanding but also significantly strengthen learning during classroom activities. Even as the education landscape evolves, fostering critical thinking remains an essential priority for university teachers, enabling students to evaluate, adapt and apply information effectively. 

I have previously explored ways that ChatGPT can enhance students’ critical thinking, focusing on its use for problem-solving, creative brainstorming and debate preparation. This article focuses on three practical ways to use ChatGPT in the classroom to reinforce student learning, highlighting methods to boost comprehension, retention and engagement in diverse educational settings.

1. Practise scenarios with ChatGPT

Real-life scenarios often provide the best opportunities for learning, as they encourage students to apply knowledge in a practical context. ChatGPT can simulate interactive, scenario-based exercises tailored to specific disciplines, making this approach particularly effective for classes that aim to strengthen applied skills.

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How the exercise works: The teacher presents a scenario relevant to the subject matter – for example, ordering coffee in an Italian restaurant (for a language class) or diagnosing a hypothetical patient based on their symptoms (for a medical class). The teacher can provide a structured prompt for all students to use in their ChatGPT screens. Students interact with the GenAI, which acts as a participant in the given scenario (for example, an Italian-speaking waiter or a virtual patient). Students type their responses or questions into ChatGPT and receive real-time feedback or follow-up prompts, creating a dynamic and engaging learning experience. Teachers can guide the session either by moderating the scenarios and providing additional feedback to ensure that the learning objectives are met, or by asking students after their conversation with ChatGPT to discuss an aspect of their interaction based on their own critical appraisal (“What was your diagnosis for your virtual patient?” for the medical class example).

Advantages: 

• Encourages active engagement and participation
• Provides instant feedback in a simulated real-world setting
• Reinforces theoretical knowledge through practical application
• Promotes creativity and problem-solving 

Considerations: 

• Requires careful design of the scenarios to align with learning goals
• Risk of students becoming overly dependent on ChatGPT for responses
• Time constraints in class may limit the scope of scenarios

2. Structure Q&A sessions for conceptual understanding

Interactive Q&A sessions using ChatGPT can enable students to explore complex topics, receive immediate answers and so deepen conceptual understanding. This method encourages curiosity and critical enquiry in a guided classroom environment.

How the exercise works: Students generate questions or use questions from the teacher, related to a topic in class. Using ChatGPT, students input their questions and analyse the AI-generated responses. The teacher sets boundaries for the Q&A session (such as a time limitation) and encourages students to refine and critically evaluate the answers. For instance, in a physics class, students might ask ChatGPT about applications of Newton’s laws in real-world scenarios and the teacher then facilitates a discussion to review and expand on the AI’s responses, ensuring conceptual clarity and addressing inaccuracies.

Advantages: 

• Promotes independent enquiry and critical thinking
• Provides immediate feedback and diverse perspectives on questions
• Encourages active learning and engagement with the material
• Reduces the teacher’s immediate workload in large classrooms

Considerations: 

• Requires teacher guidance to ensure accurate interpretation of AI-generated responses
• Potential for students to misinterpret answers without review
• Limited scope for addressing highly nuanced or context-specific queries

3. Concept mapping and knowledge organisation

Organising knowledge visually can help students understand complex relationships between concepts. GenAI tools can assist students in creating content for concept maps, making them a valuable aid for strengthening learning during and after class.

How the exercise works: In class, students focus on a sub-topic of what was taught and use ChatGPT to identify key concepts, definitions and relationships. For instance, in a biology class, students might want to explore the components of the immune system and their interactions. They then critically appraise this AI-produced information and transform it into a visual concept map using visual tools such as PowerPoint. The teacher can review the generated content in class and encourage students to evaluate the connections critically. Students can then create a larger, more comprehensive concept map as homework, incorporating the day’s full material or expanding into neighbouring concepts.

Advantages: 

• Encourages synthesis and organisation of knowledge
• Strengthens understanding of relationships among concepts
• Provides a visual aid for memory and recall
• Promotes active learning and critical evaluation

Considerations: 

• In-class time constraints may limit the scope of maps
• Requires students to translate ChatGPT’s text-based responses into visual formats
• Risk of students over-relying on AI-generated content without critical assessment

By incorporating these three strategies, educators can effectively use ChatGPT to strengthen learning during classroom activities. These approaches not only engage students in dynamic and interactive ways but also reinforce key skills such as critical thinking, conceptual understanding and knowledge organisation. As with any technological tool, success lies in balancing AI’s potential with the educator’s expertise, ensuring that it complements traditional teaching methods while enriching the learning experience.

Nikolas Dietis is an assistant professor of pharmacology in the Medical School of the University of Cyprus.

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