Everybody is talking about ChatGPT: Should educators be excited or apprehensive?

Artificial intelligence in education (AIEd) opens new opportunities, potentials, and challenges in educational practices. This article investigates the potential of ChatGPT and Artificial Intelligence (AI) on the theme of effective pedagogy and applying research in practice.

Research has demonstrated the potential of AI-powered technologies, such as chatbots and virtual assistants, to enhance teaching and learning through personalized support to learners and adaptive learning experiences while also reducing the workload of educators. This article, however, also highlights ethical considerations of AI in education, such as its potential use for academic misconduct. Educators are concerned that ChatGPT’s capability to produce text on demand will be used by students to cheat on assignments, largely on essays and research papers. It is necessary to consider the use of ChatGPT and other chatbots in the classroom, to determine whether it can make educators more effective in the classroom and if students can somehow gain from it, exploring the correct application of this technology and ensuring academic integrity.

Overall, this paper concludes that the integration of AI and ChatGPT can provide valuable support to educators, enhance pedagogy, and improve learning outcomes. The article emphasizes the importance of a balanced approach in implementing AI to support effective pedagogy, taking into account ethical considerations and ensuring that technology supports rather than replaces the teacher's role in education and that AI can prove very beneficial to students when applied correctly.