COL recently hosted a webinar on  “ChatGPT: Implications for Teaching and Teacher Training” featuring a panel of four eminent speakers who explored the potential and implications of this technology for developing country contexts. The experts included Dr V Balaji, Vice President of COL; Professor Freda Wolfenden, The Open University, UK; Dr Bimali Indrarathne, University of York, UK; and Dr Paul Birevu Muyinda, Makerere University, Uganda.

A total of 380 participants from 47 countries attended the webinar, which attracted ministry officials, teachers, teacher educators, lecturers and education technology enthusiasts, among other professionals.

Besides a general introduction to ChatGPT, discussions included the impact of this technology on assessment,  the training required for applying ChatGPT to specific subjects, and how it might be used for deep learning and AI policy in teaching,  as well as teacher training within universities and schools.

Participants raised questions regarding the potential of ChatGPT to cause a paradigm shift in teaching and the evolving role of teachers in collaborative and inclusive learning.

It emerged that learners, teachers and pre-service teachers in countries like Jamaica, Kenya and Uganda are already using ChatGPT for various learning activities while pointing to the need to undertake further research towards policy and institutionalisation of AI.

COL’s Education Specialist, Teacher Education, Dr Betty Ogange, who moderated the event, remarked, “Our objective at COL is to not only explore and leverage new technologies but also to create a platform for informed discussions on emerging areas such as AI in education.”

COL’s ChatGPT webinar represents a stride in the right direction, contributing to a broader understanding and appreciation of AI technologies for developing countries.

 Image courtesy: Photo by Matheus Bertelli from Pexels