The Fear of AI Writing Tools and What Can Be Done About It

Settling into my living room on Sunday morning with " The Hindu " newspaper and sipping coffee, I noticed the intriguing article “The Love of Longhand” written by Shelley Walia. As I began reading, I was filled with nostalgia. In our family, we have always been known to honor momentous occasions with classic ink pens. Although technology may be advancing quickly, taking over traditional analogical tools such as journals and longhand writing, my father felt eager to gift my son an ink pen to help improve his handwriting - proving that longhand will never truly go out of style. Even more interesting was the evidence presented in the article surrounding ChatGPT challenging the likes of Google - a testament to technology’s quick advancements even within longhand writing.

My dad may not have a clue about the tool ChatGPT and other AI writing tools, but our local radio jockey sure knows his stuff. Yesterday while I was driving in the car, RJ was going on and on about how longhand assignments are soon becoming obsolete; with devices like ChatGPT allowing students to copy-paste their information without actually having to learn anything. As a result, the teachers and educators left behind in the lurch will be forced to find ways of bringing themselves up to speed technology-wise. It's a bit of a scary thought but one that certainly can't be avoided!

I think it all started during the pandemic when online classes first began. Many of us found ourselves in unfamiliar territory, trying to make sure our children could complete their homework and still get the quality education they deserved. My wife and I insisted that our son at least strive to complete his assignments by himself--and if he had any difficulties we were there to help in whatever areas necessary. But my wife often voiced her suspicions. Were the other students' projects truly their own or was parental influence unduly involved? This comparison caused a lot of anxiety among us. However, as normal school resumed in full swing, we observed that class activity results changed drastically, but home assignments still had the same top-level standard. It confirmed my wife's suspicions that her worries about cheaters were valid.

The fear teachers and professors are feeling toward ChatGPT is understandable. But to stay relevant in a rapidly evolving world, we cannot afford to stop the progress of technology. AI writing tools are becoming more and more popular, regardless of opposition from teachers. However, schools should promote the balance between tech tools and handwriting; this allows teachers to judge students based on their performance rather than simply plagiarised information. Instead of being intimidated by such tools, teachers ought to accept this as an inevitable part of modern education while teaching students how to retrieve information responsibly - where technology should be used only as an aid. Let's embrace the future in a way that works best for us: it is possible to control the power of technology and channel it in our favor with responsible use!

"It is essential that we do not impede the advancement of technology, but rather welcome and direct it to our advantage"

It is possible to harness the power of AI writing tools without sacrificing the quality of education by providing students with safe, effective, and responsible ways to use these tools. With the right approach, technology can be used as a positive force in education--one that helps students become more creative and innovative thinkers. It is up to teachers, parents, and schools alike to make sure this happens.

By staying mindful of our current situation with AI writing tools, we can ensure that any future advancements in technology don't come at the cost of quality education. At the same time, let's not let this fear hold us back from taking advantage of opportunities presented by AI!

Following are a few simple solutions to overcome this fear and we should be willing to rise and embrace: -

Entry of Longhand

Longhand is a dying art form, but I'm a believer that writing with pen and paper provides benefits that no digital alternative can provide. There's something about the physicality of forming words with a pen or pencil that helps to cement the writer's thoughts and feelings into the page. Longhand fosters creativity and focus because it requires active concentration on connecting thoughts to paper. This added level of deep engagement encourages higher levels of clarity in expression and reflection. Additionally, Longhand can be an excellent tool for developing skills in areas such as problem-solving, project planning, and organization. Ultimately, Longhand is an exceptional means to engage with language in a manner that is both powerful and gratifying.?

College Competition

College Competition can be a great time for students to showcase their intellectual and creative skills, but no one wants ChatGPT swooping in and interfering with such events. For the student who loves creative writing, essay or poem competitions gives them the perfect opportunity to practice and challenge themselves without needing to worry about AI interference. The competition encourages students to take pride in their work and progressively higher their standards on each subsequent project. These sorts of activities not only bring out creativity but also help establish a sense of camaraderie with fellow competitors and allows each individual to showcase their unique talents.

The comeback of Caligraphy?

In a world that is highly reliant on computers and technology, caligraphy has unfortunately become a lost art form. It is ironic that calligraphy, which has been around for centuries and was considered such an important skill in the past, has recently been thrown in the shadows.?Despite this, caligraphy still holds importance for our modern society and should be brought back into the mainstream. Caligraphy encourages creativity, with artistic scrawls of ink making up beautiful words. It also increases hand-eye coordination as you write, something that we often take for granted due to the use of keyboards when typing. Finally, calligraphy has a certain charm that no computer font can replicate; the effort and precision it takes to make it look perfect are worth its admiration! So why not take some time out of our day and pick up caligraphy - start practicing and remembering one of the oldest forms of writing!

Tap-tap-tap, my computer keys clatter as I try to wrap up my concluding paragraph. It's certainly much easier pounding away on a laptop than it is writing by hand. Don't get me wrong though, I still love taking out a pen and paper and using good old-fashioned handwriting. Computer technology has come such a long way! And, speaking of computer technology, how can I not mention social media? Even though I'm pressed for time and the speediness of the computer wins this round, I feel obligated to bring it up. It's one of those things that has taken over our everyday lives and continues to evolve every day in fascinating ways. Of course, something for me to explore at another time. But for now, with that bit of tech talk out of the way, here comes a full stop – the only thing left to do is press 'Publish'!

If you enjoyed my writing, make sure to check out my blog fresherblog.com for an abundance of advice and guidance on surviving college life and more. ?? Take a look and let me know what you think - I'm eager to hear your opinions! ???

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