I love this blog. It’s well written. But I think the democratisation of cheating is a good thing that’s going to lead to the watershed changes in education that are long overdue. Nothing as slow-moving as education changes without a cathartic crisis.
I’m surprised to find I agree with you Sofia. I am convinced AI can positively transform learning, and schools will resist this until it is impossible to ignore. But I’m also surprised that universities are so disinterested in learning that they ignore AI cheating.
I am surprised I agree with me too! I started out thinking cheating was a problem and have pivoted after months of school inaction and taking up useless wrappers.
A deeper problem is that degrees are mere credentials and most of what you “learn” is utterly worthless for employment. Just cut out the middleman at this point.
Great stuff. Beyond inertia or the fear of putting off prospective customers, do you have a theory for why more universities haven’t trialled in person assessment? I just think it’s so odd we haven’t seen at least some innovative piloting by a leading university - for PR value if nothing else!!
Cheating has always existed in most spheres of life. I can certainly remember kids copying other kids homework on the bus. And I 'borrowed' some one's essay at university although back in the dark ages of the 20th century I did have to copy it out by hand and add a few bits and bobs so it didn't look to like the original. I hope the spectre of AI doesn't mean yet more formal written assessments whether at school, F.E. or H.E. What's really needed are assessments that require the learner to demonstrate application of learned skills or knowledge. I did drama and English for my degree and a significant part of the drama assessment was practical. I'd like to see far more of this including at school level. There are plenty of different ways to create opportunities for learners to do this. Much harder to grade of course but grades are pretty pointless really. You don't get a grade when you take a driving test ; you pass or you fail. Getting firsts in your degree doesn't necessarily mean you'll be the best when you apply what you've done in a work situation.
I've been thinking deeply about this topic, and while I agree with your overall conclusion that LLMs are an existential threat for the current model of university education, I think you underestimated the diversity and heterogeneity of responses from universities. Some are putting their heads in the sand, as you implied, but others are working proactively to explore the post-LLM model of university education. Another perspective you missed is that not all academic disciplines are actually threatened by LLM; some actually view it as a transformative opportunity. The disciplines that teach their students how to critically evaluate evidence and have independent thoughts will likely thrive, whereas the disciplines that primarily act as gatekeepers and teach their students what to think will not.
I love this blog. It’s well written. But I think the democratisation of cheating is a good thing that’s going to lead to the watershed changes in education that are long overdue. Nothing as slow-moving as education changes without a cathartic crisis.
I’m surprised to find I agree with you Sofia. I am convinced AI can positively transform learning, and schools will resist this until it is impossible to ignore. But I’m also surprised that universities are so disinterested in learning that they ignore AI cheating.
I am surprised I agree with me too! I started out thinking cheating was a problem and have pivoted after months of school inaction and taking up useless wrappers.
A deeper problem is that degrees are mere credentials and most of what you “learn” is utterly worthless for employment. Just cut out the middleman at this point.
Great stuff. Beyond inertia or the fear of putting off prospective customers, do you have a theory for why more universities haven’t trialled in person assessment? I just think it’s so odd we haven’t seen at least some innovative piloting by a leading university - for PR value if nothing else!!
Cheating has always existed in most spheres of life. I can certainly remember kids copying other kids homework on the bus. And I 'borrowed' some one's essay at university although back in the dark ages of the 20th century I did have to copy it out by hand and add a few bits and bobs so it didn't look to like the original. I hope the spectre of AI doesn't mean yet more formal written assessments whether at school, F.E. or H.E. What's really needed are assessments that require the learner to demonstrate application of learned skills or knowledge. I did drama and English for my degree and a significant part of the drama assessment was practical. I'd like to see far more of this including at school level. There are plenty of different ways to create opportunities for learners to do this. Much harder to grade of course but grades are pretty pointless really. You don't get a grade when you take a driving test ; you pass or you fail. Getting firsts in your degree doesn't necessarily mean you'll be the best when you apply what you've done in a work situation.
I've been thinking deeply about this topic, and while I agree with your overall conclusion that LLMs are an existential threat for the current model of university education, I think you underestimated the diversity and heterogeneity of responses from universities. Some are putting their heads in the sand, as you implied, but others are working proactively to explore the post-LLM model of university education. Another perspective you missed is that not all academic disciplines are actually threatened by LLM; some actually view it as a transformative opportunity. The disciplines that teach their students how to critically evaluate evidence and have independent thoughts will likely thrive, whereas the disciplines that primarily act as gatekeepers and teach their students what to think will not.