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Course with employment: "The profession of a methodologist from scratch to PRO"
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The computer science teacher at GBOU Secondary School No. 139 in St. Petersburg, a laureate of the "Educational Prompt" competition and the winner in the "Yandex Education Mentors" nomination, stands out thanks to her achievements in the Yandex Uchebnika program, which is aimed at the professional development of teachers. Her experience and expertise contribute to effective teaching and the integration of modern technologies into the educational process.
The emergence of numerous generative neural networks has become both a useful tool for teachers and a source of new problems. Students have quickly mastered artificial intelligence technologies, using them not only to help with homework but also to obtain ready-made solutions without any effort. This negatively impacts the learning process and comprehension of the material. How can this situation be overcome? In this text, I will share my experience. Although my recommendations are specific to computer science assignments, they may inspire colleagues to apply similar approaches in other subjects.
How to recognize that a student has completed an assignment in a neural network
Pedagogical observation is an important tool in the educational process. When a child submits homework, the teacher checks and analyzes the submitted answers. At this stage, a number of signs can be identified that indicate the use of neural network technologies behind the assignment. These signs include features of the writing style, the structure of the answers, and typical errors that may indicate automated execution of the work. The use of pedagogical observation allows us to identify such cases and promotes a deeper understanding of the learning process.
- The text does not correspond to the student's level.
The text is written in a scientific language or in a language too complex for schoolchildren; it contains unusual terms and phrases that children do not use in everyday life. Students often do not rewrite it, but bring it in its original form, with short repetitive sentences generated by the neural network. This complicates the understanding and perception of the material, which negatively affects the learning process.
- The sentences are similar in meaning.
It is clear that in certain texts, simple paraphrasing of the semantic part occurs. This is especially noticeable in works that contain an introduction and a general conclusion. Such approaches can reduce the originality and uniqueness of content. It is important to strive for original ideas and in-depth analyses to provide readers with new and valuable information.
- Complex and long variable names.
In computer science, a variable is an identifier that refers to a memory location that can change its value during program execution. This can be compared to mathematical variables, such as x or y, which are used to represent unknown quantities. Variables play a key role in programming, as they allow you to store and manipulate data, providing flexibility and dynamism to applications.
Neural networks, when solving computer science problems, often use complex variable names. Instead of simple notations such as a and b, they offer more complex options, such as d_weights or init. This clearly indicates that such work is not at the level of a student and may be the result of cheating or an automated solution using artificial intelligence. The use of neural networks in the educational process raises questions about the fairness and originality of assignments.
- Complex explanations when solving problems.
Children typically don't include explanations in their problem solutions, while the neural network actively adds comments. For example, when I ask children to write a Python program, I notice that comments with examples appear after the pound sign. This is a clear sign that the solution was generated by artificial intelligence.
Sometimes a task may seem simple, but the solution presented in Python can be formulated in a complex single line, instead of the twenty lines of code a schoolchild is used to. In such cases, I politely ask the child to explain the meaning of a specific line of code. Their answer makes it clear whether the student used artificial intelligence. This not only allows us to assess their level of understanding but also to identify technology dependence, which is important for developing programming skills.
My children and I actively practice Python programming and often use assignments from Yandex Textbook for practice. These assignments offer unique problems with unusual scenarios, making them interesting and challenging to solve, including for artificial intelligence. This is an excellent way to develop programming and critical thinking skills in children.
When homework is completed correctly, but I suspect it was created by a neural network algorithm, I invite the student to the board to explain the solution to the class. This allows us to determine whether the student actually completed the task independently or whether the neural network merely complicated the task. I give a positive grade if the solution is correct and the student is able to explain it. Even if they used a neural network, it is still their own solution. My goal is to evaluate not only the student’s knowledge, but also his ability to use modern technologies in teaching.
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In order for a teacher to determine that the text was generated by a neural network, it is necessary to pay attention Several characteristics are observed. Firstly, such texts often have a monotonous style of presentation, lacking individuality and emotional coloring. Secondly, logical inconsistencies and repetition of phrases may be observed, indicating a lack of deep understanding of the topic. The level of language complexity should also be considered: neural networks can use complex constructions, but they are not always applied correctly.
Furthermore, texts generated by neural networks sometimes contain factual errors or outdated information, which can also be an indicator. Teachers should analyze the text for uniqueness and originality, as content generation can lead to plagiarism. Using specialized tools for text verification will help identify its source and degree of originality. It is important to remember that although neural networks are capable of generating high-quality content, their output cannot always replace the deep understanding and creativity of a human.
How to Adapt Homework to Help Children Solve It Theirself
There are many effective methods for helping children complete homework independently. It's important to create an environment conducive to learning and to instill habits that motivate children. One way is to establish a clear schedule to help your child organize their time. It's also helpful to create a comfortable, distraction-free study space. Parental support and encouragement are key to fostering independence. Instead of doing homework for your child, encourage them to search for solutions and help develop critical thinking skills. Regular discussions about their learning process and achievements can increase their interest in learning. It's important to remember that completing homework independently helps develop responsibility and self-discipline in children.
- Explain the benefits of homework.
I believe that educational work with children plays a key role in their education. It's important to convey to them that it is through learning that they shape and develop their thinking. Without active participation and effort on the part of the children themselves, this process may be ineffective. I always begin my work with the class with this principle, striving to create a conscious attitude toward learning and motivate them to develop independently.
- Change the wording of assignments.
Students often turn to artificial intelligence to help them write computer science code. While testing various neural networks, I noticed that they encounter difficulties processing more complex formulations. To avoid this, I try to formulate assignments using complex sentences, which allows the neural network to misinterpret the requirements. At the same time, I take into account the students' level of knowledge and try to design tasks that are understandable and easy to complete.
Simple option: "Develop a program that identifies the word that appears most frequently in a text." Complex option, suitable for tenth-graders: "Create a program that will analyze a large set of data on online store sales for the last period and identify the most popular product among customers. The program should calculate the number of sales of the most popular product and display its name as a result."
- Assign an assignment that uses neural networks.
I realize that children will continue to use neural networks, so I offer them creative tasks. This allows them to apply their knowledge in practice, experiment with artificial intelligence settings, and learn how to effectively use this tool in various areas. For example, I might ask them to create a crossword puzzle on a topic of interest to teenagers or develop a test for the whole class. Such activities help develop creative thinking and skills in working with new technologies.
Children can be asked to write a novella, after first explaining the literary genre and its characteristics. Afterwards, neural networks can be used to generate text in this genre. The idea is to involve neural networks in the creative process, allowing children to experiment with different ideas and concepts. This approach not only develops creative skills, but also introduces children to modern technologies in literature.
Working with images can be successfully adapted for the educational process. It is recommended to conduct such tasks only for senior grades, having previously selected suitable tools and trained students in their use. In grades 10 and 11, a variety of engaging tasks can be offered. For example, students can be asked to create a portrait of their favorite literary character, generating it based on their own description using a neural network. This not only develops creative skills but also introduces high school students to modern technologies.
- Make tasks interactive.
Various platforms, such as Yandex Concept, can be used to organize interactive learning. This tool allows students to take tests, complete teacher assignments, and answer questions. It also facilitates collaborative discussion of topics on a dashboard, which initiates active participation and teamwork. Using interactive whiteboards like Yandex Concept promotes more effective learning and increases student engagement in the learning process.
Holst and Flip are services with virtual whiteboard templates, ideal for brainstorming and research. These platforms allow you to add tables, images, and collaborate on projects. However, please note that the free version has a limit on the number of available whiteboards.
Allowing students to use neural networks in specialized subjects may be a feasible decision. This depends on the teacher's qualifications and their ability to effectively manage the educational process. The key is the correct selection of tasks that will integrate neural networks into the learning process, promoting the development of critical thinking and analytical skills in students. Neural networks can be a powerful tool for in-depth study of subjects if their use is properly organized.
Functional literacy plays a key role in the educational process, as it includes a child's ability to effectively use reference materials and work with textual information. An example is the Peryshkin problem set in physics. This tutorial presents tasks that require students to independently analyze tables, determine values, and identify relationships. This approach complicates homework and emphasizes the importance of critical thinking, where neural networks cannot replace human intuition and the ability to analyze information.
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Quote of the week emphasizes the need The role of knowledge relay is changing to a more modern and relevant one – that of a "cognitive engineer." In the context of rapidly developing technologies and an abundance of information, professionals must not only transmit knowledge but also actively participate in its processing and adaptation to new requirements. Cognitive engineers are able to analyze, structure, and optimize knowledge to make it more accessible and useful for various audiences. This transformation is important for improving the effectiveness of learning and development in the digital age.
A Few Personal Observations
With the advent of neural networks, I assumed that students would stop doing their homework independently. However, the reality turned out to be less dramatic. I observe that students realize that homework is necessary to consolidate the knowledge they have acquired. It is important to remind them of this regularly.
Many have already learned from personal experience that neural networks do not always work perfectly. It's often easier to write code from scratch or create a presentation yourself than to investigate the causes of errors that arise when using AI. In any case, data verification remains necessary. Furthermore, some topics in fields such as physics, chemistry, and geography still pose challenges for neural networks. Children actively use neural networks to generate ideas and create step-by-step plans, which brings them tangible benefits. For example, when preparing for the Unified State Exam, high school students study combinatorics, and a neural network helps them understand the theory by suggesting various problem-solving options. This allows students to gain a deeper understanding of the material and improve their chances of passing the exam. The use of neural networks in the educational process is becoming an increasingly relevant and effective tool for achieving educational goals.
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- Examples of queries in ChatGPT for teachers
- A large selection of services based on neural networks for teachers and methodologists
- 12 free neural networks in Russian
