New AI-based tools and ChatGPT are increasingly being used by teachers in the US to correct and/or grade their students' papers. While this obviously saves them time, it also raises ethical questions.

Artificial-intelligence-powered tools like Writable, Crowdmark, EssayGrader or Gradescope are alternatives to ChatGPT that help teachers grade their students' papers. In the US, this practice is becoming increasingly widespread, according to Axios.

It mainly concerns written assignments, and not just those handed in by secondary school students - whose use of ChatGPT to complete their work is often criticised. Elementary school teachers are also reportedly using these tools.

To enable this, students are asked to email their papers to their teacher, who then submits them to these generative AI programs. The online tool can then analyze the work and even provide a few comments to the teachers, who nevertheless retain control over the student's work. They can, of course, add their own observations before handing back the homework to their students.

The use of these programs raises questions in the United States, even though 45% of parents agree with the idea of AI being used to “evaluate students' academic performance”, according to a survey by the National Coalition for Public School Options, cited by Axios.

As for teachers, who already use AI to help them in their work - in the development of their lessons in particular - these tools are claimed to save time, which can be devoted to devising more creative lessons. But will students really benefit? How can we be sure they won't suffer from AI's involvement in their grading?

"Diligent teachers will probably use ChatGPT's suggestions as a starting point, but others may pass them along verbatim to students," Axios states.

In a sign that this is becoming a significant trend (at least in the US), Writable AI has recently been acquired by the renowned textbook publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Other publishers, starting with McGraw-Hill Education, are also said to be working on similar tools.

 - AFP Relaxnews