ChatGPT: A Practical Guide for Curious Parents

The goal of this post is to 1) share cautious optimism about the use of chatGPT as a learning tool and 2) provide practical tools for curious parents who want to help their children navigate this new technology.

This is the first in a 2 part series about ChatGPT and generative AI. Check back May 1, 2023 to get Part 2 or sign up to get a link in your inbox when it’s released.

Let’s explore this ultramodern, hyped technology together…

Contents:

What is ChatGPT?
Why should parents care?
Is ChatGPT an educational tool that parents can use?
Takeaway: A logical approach to ChatGPT

1. What is ChatGPT?

Artificial intelligence (AI), the creation of intelligent computer programs using science and engineering¹ is not a new concept. It is the backbone of modern computing advances. Evolutions in AI capability have led to generative AI–computational models that produce “human like text” ² that is “convincingly fluent”³ and even images or videos.

Generative AI has been used predominantly in research or academic contexts.

Until, on November 30, 2022, when a California-based company named Open AI released something called chatGPT, initially free, for public use. ChatGPT is form of generative AI. It allows users to enter text prompts and receive responses in personal language.

It’s basically a conversational exchange of information between you (or your child) and an intelligent bot.

ChatGPT is one of the most powerful, largest language processing AI models the world has ever seen.²

Since its release, the world has been abuzz with both excitement… and concern. And similar products are being released from competitors around the world, in a vast array of applications.

Simply put, even though it isn’t the only form of generative AI, the public interest in and acceptance of chatGPT has changed things. We will see ripple effects of generative AI moving more swiftly across many different disciplines.

2. Why should parents care?

ChatGPT has implications for the structure of education, the creation of novel academic work, and academic integrity.

LIke chatGPT, generative AI is becoming more easily accessible. Understanding how it works and training students how to use it is important for parents, because as AIs role expands, students are highly likely to encounter programs like chatGPT any time they go online.

How we respond to questions or comments from our children about generative AI matters. Your knowledge of chatGPT and similar AI and the way you speak about it reflects your own thinking processes. Children take note of the thoughts and opinions of respected adults. This means as parents, we must watch our words and consider how we communicate with our children about this new technology.

ChatGPT is here to stay. How do parents move forward?

By learning basic information about what chatGPT is and how to use it intentionally, parents can mitigate fear and demonstrate curiosity.

A lack of knowledge can sometimes lead to fear. Fear of the unknown can lead to controlling behavior to minimize a perceived threat. For a parent who is unfamiliar with generative AI and only sees news articles with polarizing descriptions about the potential malicious uses of new tech, there may be a temptation to deny its existence or control every aspect of its use.

As a parent, you can’t control the algorithm that directs a chatbot. But, you can prepare the child who is going to use it, by exploring it together and teaching them strategies to use it wisely and successfully.

3. Is chatGPT an educational tool that parents can use?

Yes…with caution and oversight.

One of the reasons for the massive reaction and excitement for chatGPT is because of its expansive utility. It is a clever and useful tool. “History has shown us that when used appropriately and with discretion, technologies generally enhance education rather than detract from it”(emphasis mine)^.4

Here are a few of the many ways it can be used in education:

Ask the right questions
- When working with chatGPT or similar AI, the prompt given by the user initiates the entire conversation. So working with chatGPT is a great way to introduce the importance of asking great questions, and determining how to frame the prompt.
Introduce information literacy
- Practice the ability to evaluate the quality of information provided by chatGPT. (Here’s a free guide to helping your child do just that)
Find out more
- Use chatGPT to dive deeper into a topic that you already have some familiarity with and see if it provides new insights or novel resources you haven’t previously considered
Spark a flame
- Use chatGPT to explore a novel topic your child or student is interested in

So yes, chatGPT is a tool. BUT…some tools are dangerous if you put them in the hands of a novice.

A scalpel in the hands of a surgeon can carve out cancer and change someone’s life. A scalpel in the hands of a toddler could lead to danger and injury. A hammer wielded by a carpenter can create a work of art. A hammer in the hands of a novice with no guidance isn’t going to produce a quality outcome and will probably cause frustration and confusion.

And, a tool is only helpful if it is suited to your task. A hammer isn’t the best choice if you need a screwdriver or a chainsaw. ChatGPT is a tool, but it may not be useful if it doesn’t bring value to you (or your child’s) particular work.

Amidst the frenzy over chatGPT, there are also many concerns. Here are a few to consider:

Misinformation
- There is no guarantee that the information provided by generative AI is accurate, because it pulls from potentially inaccurate internet sources. The human-like tone and plausible response can lead to a tendency to believe the information provided, whether it is actually true or not.
Bias
- Generative AI has produced racial, political, and gender bias in responses.⁵
- ChatGPT’s training data is “likely to encompass the entirety of the web” which includes inherent biases from authors and content creators because all humans are biased.
- While all learning processes are susceptible to bias, there is concern for the algorithms behind generative AI and their potential for programmed bias. There is a push for OpenAI to make their programming transparent for ethical oversight to mitigate this risk.
Plagiarism
- There are currently no references in the responses of chatGPT, and the program’s parent company and others are working to generate new software to detect text generated by AI. There are concerns for academic integrity and the ability of students to find workarounds to assignments using chatGPT. Some schools are banning chatGPT from campus and others are embracing it as part of the modern classroom environment.

Given the potential problems with chatGPT, along with its numerous uses, parents would be wise to approach the conversations about this tool with both curiosity and caution.

In his book Digital Minimalism, computer scientist Cal Newport describes a common sense approach to “decide what [digital] tools to use, for what purposes, and under what conditions.“⁶ He states “Technology is intrinsically neither good nor bad.” Technology is a tool. This way of thinking “…is not a rejection of technology or a reactionary act of skepticism; it is, by contrast, an embrace of the immense value these new tools can offer…if we’re willing to do the hard work of figuring out how to best leverage them on behalf of the things we truly care about.“⁷

4. Takeaways: A logical approach to ChatGPT

If you are a parent who is unfamiliar with ChatGPT, here are some things to thoughtfully consider as you explore new tech:

Model curiosity and wisdom as you learn about ChatGPT and process questions with your child.
- Ask questions and start a dialogue. (Want an easy to follow discussion guide? Click here for a list of questions parents can print and use to chat about chatGPT)
Do not parent out of fear. Watch your words.
- When you read about ChatGPT in the news or hear about it from friends or family, take notes of what words they choose to describe it. Pay special attention to polarized thinking (the use of all or nothing or black and white thinking) or fear based language. Polarized thinking labels concepts as all good or all bad. In reality, there are usually shades of gray when evaluating something new. If you only say that it’s the best thing since sliced bread, or in contrast, completely ban it from your household, then you are modeling and promoting polarized thinking.
Set up structured learning experiences to foster experimentation with ChatGPT for you and your child in a hands on-way.
- Whether it’s sparking the flame of a new academic interest, learning the art of asking great questions, or evaluating the quality of information that AI provides, there are ways to use ChatGPT intentionally and productively.

Summary

Parents can approach chatGPT with cautious optimism as they commit to learning more about this new and popular tool.
There are both benefits and concerns to using generative AI.
Start an open ended conversation with your student about chatGPT and how they can use it with integrity. Use the printable discussion guide to get started.
Evaluate the output of ChatGPT for accuracy and quality. Use the free student workbook and the C.R.A.A.P. method of analysis to evaluate output from ChatGPT.