I began this column by asking Chat GPT a question. I wanted to know its views on teaching robotics to students, and it gave me these five reasons, which I will set out here:
- It encourages critical thinking and problem-solving: Robotics involves building and programming robots, which requires students to think critically and find creative solutions to any problems that may arise.
- It promotes creativity and innovation: Robotics enables students to design and build unique, personalised robots, which can foster their creativity and boost their ability to innovate.
- Develops technological skills: Robotics is an advanced technology that involves a range of skills, from programming to mechanics…
Well, I said there were five, but I only quoted part of three of them. If you’re curious, you can type in this very post “What is the point of students learning robotics?” and you’re bound to get similar results (with slight variations, but along the same lines). Give it a go!
The clarity and speed with which it summarised the reasons meant it took less than a minute. It would have taken me just under an hour to summarise and review these concepts so clearly. Chat GPT can undoubtedly replace me in this task, and I can’t think of many arguments against it. Writing and output are measurable, and it seems that the faster and more effective, the better.
But what about learning?
Can we measure the effectiveness of learning by response ability and response times? By speed? By results? Study and learning time is also organised by time, with blocks of 40 or 80 minutes set aside for study and interaction.
There is perhaps no task more complex than that of learning and teaching, as we do not all learn in the same way, nor do we all learn using the same resources. If there is one thing that school life focuses on (or at least aims to), it is the process. Integrating knowledge, elaborating and constructing are not instantaneous tasks. It is much more than simply presenting information on a screen. The process of understanding an idea, linking it to one’s own knowledge framework, developing a reflection based on those connections, or synthesising a new idea by relating these concepts is entirely different from the task performed by a language model, even though a functional and pragmatic perspective might view it in that way.
Learning is a different matter.
Some people need a pen and paper; others can do it perfectly well on a computer; for some, individual work helps them grasp the concept better than group discussion. Learning is not a one-way process. We learn from a variety of stimuli that “shape” our knowledge until it takes form and becomes firmly established, enabling us to take the next step.
The difference between artificial intelligence and human cognition is that in the latter there is always interaction: both involve memory and the formation of connections, but there is also an inescapable element of dialogue and creativity in the dynamics of interaction with content. And that gives human learning a unique characteristic, which makes the waiting involved and the time required for learning worthwhile.
Would you like to receive further information?
If you work at an educational institution and are interested in the project, we can arrange a presentation.
So, I wanted to give ChatGPT another go, and it occurred to me to ask it something else “”Can you wait?"
“As a language model, I am not capable of waiting, as I am a computer programme and have neither emotions nor consciousness. However, I can help you with any questions or problems you may have. Is there anything I can help you with?”
She can’t wait; I was struck by her self-awareness and sincerity, as well as her willingness to collaborate. However, I was left wondering whether it was worth continuing to call it ‘intelligence’, or whether it would be better to reclassify it… at least in my own glossary of technical terms.
But there are machines that do know how to wait…
When developing automated projects, it is sometimes necessary to allow for time, because in the physical world, processes do not happen instantly. “Wait” blocks are available to help digital systems “be patient”.
What is the “wait” command used for in robotics?
The «wait» command on a programmable board – whether it be an Arduino, Raspberry Pi or other – is used to make the programme wait for a certain amount of time before continuing to execute the following instructions. The command is used to introduce a pause or delay into the programme’s execution.
For example, if data is being read from a sensor, it may be necessary to wait for a short time before reading the next set of data, to ensure that the data has been processed correctly and that the new information does not overlap with the previous data; or if you wish to display information on a screen or interface, you will need to allow the user time to read the information before updating the screen.
The «wait» command on a programmable board – whether it be an Arduino, Raspberry Pi or other – is used to make the programme wait for a certain amount of time before continuing to execute the following instructions. The command is used to introduce a pause or delay into the programme’s execution.
For example, if data is being read from a sensor, it may be necessary to wait for a short time before reading the next set of data, to ensure that the data has been processed correctly and that the new information does not overlap with the previous data; or if you wish to display information on a screen or interface, you will need to allow the user time to read the information before updating the screen.
Are you familiar with this section from Book 2? We invite you to download this material to work on it with your pupils.
