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At UCLA, Professors See 'Exciting Opportunities' in AI Writing Tools
Nat Rubio-Licht
Nat Rubio-Licht is a freelance reporter with dot.LA. They previously worked at Protocol writing the Source Code newsletter and at the L.A. Business Journal covering tech and aerospace. They can be reached at nat@dot.la.
Generative AI is techβs latest buzz word, with developers creating programs that can do anything from writing an academic essay about guitars and elevators to creating photorealistic paintings of majestic cats.
ChatGPT, a platform built by DALL-E 2 and GPT-3 founder OpenAI, is the latest one of these tools to go viral. But this tool can go far beyond writing a version of the Declaration of Independence in the style of Jar Jar Binks. It has the capability to write full essays on almost any subject a college kid could desire β creating another layer of complex technology that humanities professors now have to consider when they teach and dole out assignments.
\u201cSo #ChatGPT can easily write college essays now. Turnitin won't touch this. So are we ready to rethink assessment yet?\u201dβ Colin D. Wren (@Colin D. Wren) 1670580381
While ChatGPT does have some limitations (It can only write up to 650 words per prompt), some students have taken to Reddit to talk about the potentialΒ uses and workarounds of the word limit to help them pass their classes. Ironically, another student even used the AI to write an apology email to his professor for using AI to write his emails.
One student wrote, βAs finals are hitting, Iβve written 6 papers for people and made a great chunk of change. Same day turnaround, any size paper with perfect grammar and in depth writing plagiarism free is a pretty lucrative way to advertise oneself to a bunch of cracked out stressed college students.β
But despite the toolβs internet virality among desperate college students, UCLA professors told dot.LA that they arenβt worried about ChatGPTβs capabilities. Rather than viewing the technology as something they have to shield students from using, they see it as another potential tool in their arsenal and something they can implement in their classrooms.
\u201cI asked ChatGPT to write an essay on mental health. Returned essay immediately. College professors don\u2019t need to worry; the essay contained mostly weak verbs and no advanced grammar.\u201dβ Heather Holleman (@Heather Holleman) 1670419435
βMy sense of ChatGPT is that it's actually a really exciting opportunity to reconsider what it is that we do when we write things like essays,β said Danny Snelson, assistant professor of English at UCLA. βRather than raising questions of academic integrity, this should have us asking questions about what kinds of assignments we give our students.β
Snelson tried ChatGPT out for himself, prompting the platform to write an essay about βthe literary merit of video games that cites three key scholars in the field.β As it does, ChatGPT instantaneously churned out an essay which answered the prompt accurately and synthesized the arguments of three scholars in a compelling way. But Snelson could spot flaws in its work. The writing style was repetitive and the scholars the AI chose were not diverse.
βI probably will give my students the assignment on the first day of class to write a ChatGPT essay about a topic they know nothing about,β Snelson says. βThen have them discuss the essays that ChatGPT has written for them and what the limits of their arguments are.β
Christine Holten, director of Writing Programs and the UCLA Undergraduate Writing Center, said that she and other instructors are currently having similar talks about how to integrate these tools in a responsible way.
βOne way is to allow students to use them,β she said. βBuild them into the course, and allow reflection about the bounds of their use, what their limitations are, what are their advantages? How does it change their composing?β
Along with dissecting the platformβs limitations, Snelson also sees using ChatGPT as a tool to propel studentsβ writing even further. For example, one of the hardest parts about writing an essay is the first line. Having an AI write it for you can be a great starting point to push past the βblank page dilemma,β he said.
And while ChatGPT can write a passable essay on almost any subject, Snelson said students still need to have an understanding of the subjects theyβre writing about. βHaving a live conversation about Chaucer in the classroom, a student is not going to be helped by an AI,β he said.
βIn the real world, you have access to information, you have access to writing tools,β Snelson added. βWhy should (academics) disavow or disallow those kinds of tools?β
To that end, Holten said she recognizes that ChatGPT βraises the stakesβ by circumventing tools that academics have relied on to detect plagiarism. But students turning in papers that arenβt their own isnβt new: Essay mills have existed for a long time, and Instagram is filledΒ withΒ pages that will sell students an academic paper.
βWe have to do our part by trying to craft assignments carefully and making sure that we're not assigning these open-ended prompts of the sort that could be bought from paper mills,β she said.
It helps, too, that ChatGPT may already be working on a solution. Scott Aaronson, who works on the theoretical foundations of AI safety at OpenAI, said in a blog post that heβs working on a tool for βstatistically watermarking the outputs of a text model like GPTβ that adds in an βotherwise unnoticeable secret signal in its choices of wordsβ to prevent things like academic plagiarism, mass generation of propaganda or impersonating someoneβs writing style to incriminate them, though it's unclear how far away this development is.
βWe want it to be much harder to take a GPT output and pass it off as if it came from a human,β Aaronson wrote.
All of which explains why even despite claims that high-school English and the student essay are nearing their death knell, Holten thinks, ultimately, βThe availability of ChatGPT is not likely to change very much.βFrom Your Site Articles
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Nat Rubio-Licht
Nat Rubio-Licht is a freelance reporter with dot.LA. They previously worked at Protocol writing the Source Code newsletter and at the L.A. Business Journal covering tech and aerospace. They can be reached at nat@dot.la.
nat@dot.la
Fuel Innovation: 7 Unforgettable Team Building Experiences in LA
02:58 PM | July 10, 2024
Image Source: Discover LA
In today's competitive business landscape, team building activities have emerged as a crucial tool for fostering a positive work environment, enhancing productivity, and crucially, improving employee retention. Studies have shown that such activities help employees feel valued, with one report indicating that 93% of those who felt appreciated were more motivated at work. Importantly, team building events may improve retention rates, as employees who feel connected to their colleagues and company culture are more likely to stay long-term. With these benefits in mind, let's explore some of the most engaging and effective team building activities available in Los Angeles.
Pickleball
Image Source: Modern Luxury Angelino
Pickleball is a fantastic team bonding activity because of the easy-to-grasp rules and gentle pace make it perfect for everyone, regardless of age or fitness level. The game thrives on communication and teamwork, as players must collaborate and strategize to outplay their opponents, boosting team cohesion. Plus, the lively, fast-paced action sparks friendly competition and laughter, creating a fun and spirited atmosphere that brings everyone closer together. Los Angeles boasts numerous pickleball courts that are easy to rent if you have your own equipment. If you need additional assistance organizing your pickleball outing, there are plenty of full-service companies ready to handle every detail for you.
Resources: Pickle Pop, Corporate Pickle
Escape Room
Image Source: The Escape Game
Escape rooms are a great way to build camaraderie. They require participants to work together, combining their problem-solving skills and creativity to overcome challenges and puzzles. The immersive and time-sensitive nature of escape rooms fosters collaboration and communication. Additionally, the shared experience of tackling complex tasks and reaching a common goal helps build trust and foster positive emotions among colleagues.
Resources: The Escape Game, 60Out
Day Trip to Catalina Island
Image Source: Love Catalina
Catalina Island is a perfect day trip for a team because it provides a break from the usual work environment, allowing team members to relax and connect in a new setting. Shared experiences during the trip, such as exploring new places and participating in fun activities, help build stronger relationships and foster a sense of camaraderie. There are numerous team-building activities such as an arboreal obstacle course, an island tour, scavenger hunts and more.
Resources: Catalina Island Group Activities
Top Golf
Image Source: Topgolf
Topgolf is an excellent team building event because it provides an inclusive, relaxed atmosphere that accommodates players of all skill levels, fostering personal connections and improving team morale. The unique blend of competition and entertainment creates an ideal setting for building trust, enhancing communication, and revealing hidden skills among team members. Additionally, Topgolf offers structured team building packages with guided activities, discussion prompts, and lessons on culture, change, collaboration, and strategy, making it a versatile and effective platform for strengthening relationships and boosting overall team performance.
Resources: Topgolf El Segundo
SoFi Stadium Tour
Image Source: Discover LA
A SoFi Stadium tour offers a unique, behind-the-scenes experience of one of the world's most advanced sports venues, allowing team members to explore exclusive areas like premium suites, team locker rooms, and the player tunnel together. The tour provides a shared, memorable experience that can foster camaraderie and spark conversations among team members, regardless of their interest in sports. Additionally, the stadium's state-of-the-art features and impressive architecture can inspire creativity and innovation, while the group setting encourages interaction and collaboration, making it an engaging and enjoyable activity for teams of various sizes and backgrounds
Resources: SoFi Stadium Group Tours
Corporate Volunteering
Image Source: L.A. Works
Volunteer work serves as an excellent team building activity by uniting employees around a shared, meaningful cause, fostering a sense of purpose and collective accomplishment. It provides opportunities for team members to collaborate in new ways, often revealing hidden strengths and leadership qualities that may not be apparent in the regular work environment. Additionally, engaging in community service can boost morale, enhance the company's reputation, and instill a sense of pride among employees, leading to improved workplace relationships and increased job satisfaction.
Resources: Habitat for Humanity, L.A. Works, VolunteerMatch
Corporate Improv Sessions
Image Source: Improv for the People
A corporate improv class encourages spontaneity, creativity, and quick thinking, skills that are valuable in the workplace. It promotes active listening and collaboration, as participants must work together to create scenes and respond to unexpected situations, fostering better communication and trust among team members. Additionally, the playful and often humorous nature of improv helps break down barriers, reduces stress, and creates a shared positive experience that can improve team morale and cohesion long after the event.
Resources: Improv-LA, Groundlings, Improv for the People
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