I remember sitting at my desk with my Bloom’s Taxonomy verb list trying to write questions for tests or discussions. It would take me hours to create a good list (at least according to me) of high level questions. I’d refer back to a text and that list of verbs to make sure I had them just right.
I’ve been playing around with ChatGPT over the last few days. What I’ve learned in just a few minutes could save teachers so much time! It could actually make you a more effective teacher.
I know critics will say I’m wrong, that it will make a teacher lazy. But…if you are using a tool to “up your game” by challenging your students and by better meeting the needs of individual student, isn’t it worth a look?
Over the next few posts, I’ll be sharing some things I’ve learned about ChatGPT. Today’s focus is on creating questions.
| Getting Started with ChatGPT Setting up your account with ChatGPT is fairly simple. I just Googled the term. The link, chat.openai.com, will take you there as well. I signed up using my Google account. Follow the prompts, and in a minute or two you are ready to start. Click “New Chat” or type your query in the box at the bottom of the page. With ChatGPT, the thing to remember is that you get out what you put in. In other words, if you put in a vague request, you will receive a less specific answer. |  |
Generating Content Questions with ChatGPT
To test the use of ChatGPT, I wanted it to create a 10 question quiz for Chapters 1 and 2 of one of my favorite books, Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty. I love this book and the series so much that I took a trip to the Biltmore House to get a better feel for the setting.
In the chat box I typed: Create a 10 question quiz for Chapters 1 and 2 of Serafina and the Black Cloak by Robert Beatty. Here are a few of the questions it generated:
- What is Serafina’s secret ability that she shares with her father?
- What is the Black Cloak that the title refers to?
- Who is Braeden Vanderbilt and what is his role in the story?
- What does Serafina see while hiding in the basement of the Biltmore Estate?
These were mainly memory type questions and pretty low on the Bloom’s Taxonomy level of questioning.
As educators, just like with ChatGPT, we get out of students what we put in. In order for students to really think about the topic we are teaching, we have to ask thought provoking questions.
So, I dug a little deeper in my query and asked this, “generate a 10 question test for chapters 1 and 2 of Serafina and the Black cloak with questions at the higher levels of bloom’s taxonomy.”
Here are 3 of the questions I received:
- Analyze the relationship between Serafina and her father and compare it to the relationship between Serafina and Braeden.
- Evaluate the significance of the setting and how it contributes to the plot of the story.
- Apply your knowledge of the plot and setting to predict what might happen next in the story.
What a difference, right!?!
Now I have questions that will challenge my students – and myself. I need to be prepared to discuss these questions with my students and grade their answers.
In just a matter of minutes, I’ve upped the level of expectations for my students and myself with the assistance of ChatGPT.
I Challenge You!
I have a challenge for you if you’re willing to accept it. Take any test that you’ve have already given or plan to give in the future or look at discussion questions you had planned to use for a topic you’re teaching. Type this text: “Rewrite the following questions using higher levels of Bloom’s Taxonomy:” then copy and paste your original questions after that text.
Look at your original questions and the questions that were generated by ChatGPT. Can you use them based upon what you’re teaching? Which ones will challenge your students more?
Tip of the Iceberg
While this is just the tip of the iceberg of what ChatGPT can do, I’ll bet your wheels are turning! Stay tuned for more posts regarding ways to use this tool to make you a better teacher!
P.S.
While I didn’t use ChatGPT to generate this article, I could have. 😉