“With great power comes great responsibility.” Fans of the Marvel Comics franchise Spider-Man might recognize this phrase from the 2002 action movie of the same name. It is spoken during one of the film’s key scenes depicting a conversation between the fictional soon-to-be superhero Peter Parker and his uncle who cautions Peter that power should be used wisely to ensure it does good instead of harm. The simple message calling for the prudent and careful use of power to effectuate positive outcomes is especially important when it comes to the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in education. AI is a powerful tool that has enormous potential to achieve “the good” through the support it can provide to students that will enhance their learning. But for this to happen, AI in education must be used responsibly.
With AI finding its way into the classrooms of K-12 schools across the country, researchers in education are exploring how this technology can be harnessed in ways that will increase a student’s motivation to learn, even when the content or course assignment is difficult. Motivation requires a certain level of perseverance and grit. Both are behavioral traits that a student must possess to succeed academically. Some experts think that AI tools like ChatGPT can play a role in increasing a student’s desire or motivation to learn. Others take a more cautious approach, maintaining that in the absence of necessary safeguards, AI can potentially harm learning. Anthony (Eamonn) Kelly, professor in the Educational Psychology Program at George Mason University, shared his thoughts on the impact of AI on student learning and motivation, including the potential risks and benefits of this technology.
Large language models can infer meaning from text.
AI chatbots such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini are large language models (LLMs) that have been “trained” to identify keywords and patterns in language through the statistical analysis of enormous amounts of text “fed” into these systems. These programs can infer meaning from text and develop their own systems of knowledge, reasoning, and communication. Because LLMs analyze patterns in language (including grammar, word selection, context of speech, and related linguistic components), these applications can generate predictive responses when questions are posed to them.
This capability enables chatbots to provide instantaneous feedback and recommendations that can guide students in their learning and help them identify any gaps in content knowledge they may have. Chatbots can also provide students with remedial support that supplements their learning and helps them build content proficiency. In addition, when students use chatbots, they can learn at their own pace and revisit concepts covered in class that they may not have fully understood at the time they were first presented.
The Potential of Chatbots to Enhance the Student’s Motivation to Learn
As noted previously, some education experts believe that AI chatbots have the potential to motivate students to learn. Because chatbot algorithms can be customized to align with the individual student’s learning needs, that student will be able to focus their attention on the latest content, instead of material they are already familiar with. This can keep the student from becoming bored and losing interest. It can help them stay more engaged, excited, and motivated to learn so that they can achieve their goal of increasing their knowledge base. The interactive nature of chatbots is another feature that can enhance student engagement and increase motivation.
Potential Risks of AI
Despite these potential benefits, if not used responsibly these tools can pose risks that may negatively impact student learning and motivation. For example, rather than using AI as a tool that guides and supplements their learning, some students may utilize AI to do their assignments. Doing so defeats the purpose of learning. It means that students will avoid the “productive struggle” that comes with authentic learning and miss the opportunity to enhance their critical thinking skills and gain new knowledge. In addition, some education experts fear that students may become too dependent on AI, and that this could diminish the self-motivation and initiative they might otherwise possess which drives their passion for learning. Finally, experts point to another risk warning that students must remain vigilant in instances where an LLM may “hallucinate” or generate information that is erroneous or invalid. If a student accepts faulty outputs generated by AI as being true, this can harm their learning.
The safe and responsible use of AI chatbots in education can facilitate lifelong learning.
While ongoing research surrounding the potential risks and benefits of using AI in education continues in the field of educational psychology, one thing is clear. The rapid technological advancements in LLMs such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and others offer the hope that teachers and students will soon be able to leverage the capabilities of these tools—safely and responsibly—in enhancing knowledge and increasing motivation so that all individuals can become lifelong learners.
For more information about degree offerings in the Educational Psychology Program at George Mason University, please visit the program website.