Debated in Parliament on 6 Feb 2023.
Mr Melvin Yong Yik Chye asked the Minister for Education with the advent of ChatGPT and other artificial intelligence technologies readily available to students of all levels, what safeguards will schools and educators put in place to ensure the integrity of online examinations and assignments.
As with any technology, ChatGPT and similar generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools present both opportunities and challenges for teaching and learning. When used judiciously, these tools can help teachers in the planning and delivery of lessons and can support students in their learning. While there is potential for students to misuse these tools, schools and Institutes of Higher Learning (IHLs) have adopted a range of practices that help to guard against the misuse of AI technology for academic cheating.
First, students are reminded that there are clear rules and regulations pertaining to dishonesty and plagiarism in schools and IHLs and that there are consequences for breaching any of the stipulated rules and regulations.
In schools, students sit for online examinations in a supervised environment using a secured network environment with features that prevent students from accessing unauthorised materials. In IHLs, students required to take examinations online are supervised remotely to prevent use of other tools.
In their daily work, students are taught the importance of integrity and the harmful impact and consequences of plagiarism. In addition, through daily interactions with students and from using multiple modes of assessment, teachers are able to gauge students' proficiency and detect uncharacteristic responses that could be AI-generated.
Our schools and IHLs will continue to remind their students of the importance of academic integrity and to equip schools to safeguard the integrity of assessments and assignments. Our approaches will evolve as we adapt to the use of new AI tools.
PAPERCUTS