During his visit to an AI conference in Ghana, a traveler had a surprising conversation at the immigration office. He was told that his attendance at the conference meant that he was among the people responsible for taking people’s jobs. The incident prompted him to ponder the fear of innovation common in African society. He admits that emerging technologies can be responsible, ethical, and unbiased, and the fear of losing jobs shouldn’t make Africans shy away from innovation.
The author has singled out ChatGPT, an emerging technology, and how it can lead to transformation in the education sector for African students. He highlights three ways in which ChatGPT can improve high-order thinking among African students;
Firstly, he notes that Google Search offers a broad range of search results. However, ChatGPT can retrieve precisely what the student is looking for instead of sifting through numerous web pages and articles. ChatGPT streamlines the process, saves time, and allows students to concentrate on understanding and applying information. In addition, ChatGPT can expand students’ access to scholarly papers and other valuable resources that may not be easily found through conventional search engines.
Secondly, he says that ChatGPT can personalize learning for students, catering to their diverse needs and learning abilities. Students can access tailor-made explanations, examples, and resource materials provided by ChatGPT to cater to their pace, level of comprehension, and learning style. This personalized nature of ChatGPT ensures that no student is left behind.
Thirdly, ChatGPT can help inculcate critical thinking among students, a vital quality of being a scholar. In contrast to the common classroom where sometimes students are reluctant to ask questions, ChatGPT engages students in dialogue, responding to their queries, and demanding thought-provoking questions from students, encouraging intellectual growth while unlocking innovative solutions.
The article emphasizes that African students must embrace the benefits of ChatGPT and use them to fuel their advancement, transforming their education landscape, and empowering them to become active learners, critical thinkers, and innovative problem solvers. While innovations may yield unintended consequences, embracing emerging technologies such as ChatGPT can potentially have enormous benefits.
In conclusion, innovative technologies bring new possibilities for advancement, and African students should use them to continue their intellectual growth and progress. By embracing revolutionary technologies and implementing them adequately, African students can transform their education landscape, and institutions can foster a community of active learners, critical thinkers, and innovative problem solvers.
