Artificial Intelligence is a hot topic nowadays, and especially ChatGPT. The flatform answers your question in seconds and leaves you usually with the information you want to know. In education, enhancing of cognitive skills are crucial. This is among other the reason why students enroll in educational institutions (Chan, 2016). A big question I am wondering is if using ChatGPT is affecting the critical thinking skills of students negatively. I already have done research on a similar question where it was not clear if ChatGPT affected the critical thinking skills negatively, so there probably should be more variables included to test this.
The interesting part of why critical thinking skills is being affected negatively is because open-mindedness and intellectual humility is affected by critical thinking for example. It also affects problem solving, logical reasoning, identifying biases and independent judgement (Ennis, 1987). If ChatGPT is directly or indirectly affecting these skills, it needs to be considered how to cooperate with these type of AI technologies. The role of education is meant to improve these skills and if ChatGPT is being used in education (which is something that is unavoidable) it would be contradictory with the goal of education.
This means that research about this topic is crucial in this world where there is a shift towards AI. If the critical thinking skills is being influenced by ChatGPT and possibly other GAI (Generative Artificial Intelligence), certain principles of the current education system will be necessary to be changed. This is What ChatGPT says about it:
Since there is no reference for this piece of information, the question if we can rely on this information remains. It does sound logical, but how do we need to critically judge this answer of ChatGPT?
Chan, R. Y. (2016). Understanding the purpose of higher education: An analysis of the economic and social benefits for completing a college degree. Journal of Education Policy, Planning and Administration, 6(5), 1-40.
Ennis, R. H., & Weir, E. (1985). The Ennis-Weir Critical Thinking Essay Test: An Instrument for Testing and Teaching. ProQuest. https://www.proquest.com/openview/c276907d387feded6ac6c65788b73bef/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=42001
