Human-Computer Interaction Talk Series: Dr. Jennifer Cromley: "Using ChatGPT for Writing: When does it not harm learning?"
- Sponsor
- Research Area of Interactive Computing
- Speaker
- Dr. Jennifer Cromley
- Contact
- Allison Mette
- agk@illinois.edu
- Originating Calendar
- Siebel School Speakers Calendar
Abstract: Student use of generative AI might to some extent harm learning because it deprives learners of the opportunity to practice, and at the same time might help learning because it relieves learners of many tedious aspects of academic tasks. We test to what extent these explanations hold true when post-secondary students (N = 120) read a set of texts and then write using either ChatGPT or Word. Participants completed pretest, think-aloud protocols during reading and writing, and 2 posttests. We show that these tasks yielded two very different routes to learning, but learning did not differ between conditions.
Bio: Jennifer Cromley is Professor of Educational Psychology. Her research on generative AI effects on learning builds on two decades of research in reading comprehension and STEM achievement. Her research has been funded by NSF, the US Department of Education, and UIUC.