Harvard Introduces AI Teacher for CS50 Course
Harvard University has adopted AI as an official learning tool for its introductory course on computer science. Students enrolled in the CS50 course will have access to the AI teacher from September, which can answer individual questions, help find bugs in their code, and explain error messages.
Alex Banks
Building a better future with AI.
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Harvard’s new computer science teacher is a chatbot.
— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) June 27, 2023
Students enrolled in the university’s flagship CS50 course will have access to the AI teacher from September.
Here's the breakdown: pic.twitter.com/K3uOMhZrE8 -
Harvard is adopting AI as an official learning tool for its introductory course on computer science.
— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) June 27, 2023
CS50 professor David Malan wrote in an email statement students can use the AI to:
• Answer individual questions
• Help find bugs in their code
• Explain error messages -
This enables the most critical near-term application of AI: personalisation.
— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) June 27, 2023
As reported by the Harvard Crimson, David Malan wrote:
“Our own hope is that, through AI, we can eventually approximate a 1:1 teacher:student ratio for every student...” -
Harvard didn't have an AI policy at the end of the fall 2022 semester.
— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) June 27, 2023
Now, a 1:1 learning experience could:
• Provide tailor-made learning experiences
• Address strengths and weaknesses
• Optimise learning styles
No more boredom or falling behind. -
Their new AI strategy will not use programs like ChatGPT or GitHub Copilot.
— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) June 27, 2023
Malan states they are “currently too helpful”.
"CS50 bot" will instead be “leading students toward an answer rather than handing it to them”. -
Yet AI has its pitfalls.
— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) June 27, 2023
Malan said students should “always think critically” when presented with information.
"Always think critically" of AI is akin to the "drink responsibly" of alcohol.
People often blindly trust what a tool says (even non-AI). -
I feel this is still a shortcoming where a solution is still non-obvious.
— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) June 27, 2023
Nonetheless, AI for education is going to be as commonplace as using the internet for research. -
In the future, an "AI for everyone" will fundamentally change education and the global economy forever.
— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) June 27, 2023
Follow me @thealexbanks for more on AI.
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— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) June 27, 2023 -
You can read the full article here: https://t.co/IX0oiUdGA9
— Alex Banks (@thealexbanks) June 27, 2023