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I remember when calculators arrived in schools. Some math educators thought that their use would weaken mathematical skills and thinking among students. Fast forward a few years, and here comes graphing calculators, a required tool for every American middle schooler! There is no doubt that graphic calculators rendered previous techniques and algorithms obsolete for many, but I believe that they enhanced mathematical pedagogy and student skills. (Side note: I had one year of baffling slide rule instruction back in high school – I won’t take time to share my thoughts on that . . .)
Now comes ChatGPT. I’m hearing echoes from the past about its potential negative impact on schools and students, along with much louder concerns about its potential impact on the future of work and human existence. It feels too soon for broad answers about this exciting and scary development.
As an example, a friend of mine, working in an independent school, relates that using ChatGPT, wisely, and iteratively, has improved his teacher and advisee comments, and his college recommendation letters. I believe it, and I can imagine how it frees up a busy teacher’s time for more personalization with students, lesson planning, etc. (Not to mention personal downtime from the rigors of the teaching life!)
In a different example, let’s say you are entering a search for a position in educational leadership, and you also want to use an AI tool to strengthen your presentation and improve your chances of success. As you start your cover letter and statement of educational philosophy (two standard submissions in school leadership searches), before using AI to aid your application, I would consider the following questions:
- Is there a chance that you are improving your submission but decreasing its ability to differentiate you from other candidates? (Especially if everyone starts using the same tools . . .)
- Will your submission be something that doesn’t actually represent you? And then, in the interview, search committee members might sit wondering about the difference between what they read and what they are hearing? Worse still, you get the job and there is a similar gap between the AI-Enhanced you and the real you?
- Are you plagiarizing in some sense if your materials were written based on the wide world of internet resources? If something written well by others appears in your submissions, have you taken something from them?
- Here is an aggressive thought: if you need AI support to tell your story, if doubts about having a story to tell send you to AI assistance, are you actually ready for leadership?
Notice that these ideas are all questions, not statements, as I’m not ready to say or think that I have the answers yet. Let’s check in again in a year or so and my position may be different. In the meantime, I’m curious to know how you have or will integrate AI into your job search.
Andrew Watson, Senior Talent Consultant
