Marina Adshade, The University of British Columbia

Fri. Oct. 25 02:30 PM - Fri. Oct. 25 04:00 PM
Location: 1BC09

"ChatGPT and Beyond: Ethical Approaches to AI in Economics Education"

Abstract: It is hard to imagine a technological innovation that has that has infiltrated our classrooms with the rapidity and ubiquity of ChatGPT. Within just weeks of its release, universities worldwide were contending with a critical question: "How do we prevent our students from using this tool?"

Eighteen months later, with the upcoming release of ChatGPT-5, it's clear that this initial question was perhaps misguided, even short-sighted.

The better question might be: "How can we adapt our learning approaches to incorporate this beneficial technology while simultaneously upholding academic integrity?"

The first half of this seminar will explore how AI technology can serve as a multifaceted educational tool, aiding in the development of essential economic competencies, including analytical thinking, software proficiency, quantitative analysis, research acumen, and communication. 

An interactive demonstration will provide a view of AI's utility in constructing arguments, analyzing and visualizing economic data, synthesizing existing economic research, writing code for statistical analysis, and shaping policy recommendations.

The second half of this seminar acknowledges that while AI technology presents a substantial array of benefits for university teaching, these do not come without substantial vigilance costs to educators striving to maintain academic integrity.

Here will discuss insights gleaned from challenge undertaken last summer at the Vancouver School of Economics: “Faculty vs. AI: Is your assessment unbeatable?” And discuss best practices for preventing the unauthorized use of AI in student work and strategies for detecting academic integrity infractions.

I look forward to joining you as we navigate the complexities of AI in education, fostering a dialogue on its responsible use to enhance learning and uphold the standards of academic integrity.