Brave new world: Hobart students, teachers cite gains with new AI pilot

Since April, a half-dozen Hobart High teachers and their students have been on the front lines of education’s new frontier, artificial intelligence, or AI for short.

There have been doomsday scenarios about this enhanced AI and its chatbots creating a cheating culture by giving answers to students, doing their homework and writing essays. For that reason, some school districts have already banned it.

It’s a different story in Hobart, though.

Hobart teachers and students, who are among 500 schools across the nation using software named Khanmigo, give it an enthusiastic thumbs-up.

Created by Sal Khan, who founded the nonprofit Khan Academy, Khanmigo has guardrails in place to prevent cheating.

Besides the one-on-one student engagement, Khanmigo is a teaching assistant, alerting teachers to stumbling blocks their students are encountering. It helps teachers prepare lesson plans and worksheets as well.

Hobart Superintendent Peggy Buffington said the district has been part of the Khan Academy’s online tutorial program since 2017 with positive results. She likes its ability to help students when their teacher might not be available.

Hobart High School student Isaac Smith uses the GPT-4 based Khanmigo to help form story ideas in teacher Kristen Musall’s math class on Friday, June 2, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

“The tutoring aspect of asking a question and being probed to answer and ask more questions to complete the objective … is such a wonderful asset and such a confidence builder,” said Buffington.

The technology world has come a long way since spell check introduced us to artificial intelligence. Businesses quickly latched onto its power to discern customer preferences and shill products. It’s an integral part of every field today from agriculture to high finance.

The AI stakes ramped up last year with the release of ChatGPT by a company called Open AI.

What separates it from previous AI software incarnations is its army of algorithms, which have scoured the internet to generate humanlike responses. In ChatGPT, the “G” means generative and it’s fueling excitement and grave worry.

“I think we’re at the cusp of using AI for probably the biggest positive transformation that education has ever seen,” said Khan in an April TED Talk.

After a challenge from the Open AI ChatGPT developers, who wanted to showcase the positive power of it, Khan created Khanmigo.

Hobart High English teacher Stephanie Franco said she has a wide range of students — some with learning disabilities and some just learning English.

Hobart math teacher Kristen Musall speaks about the role of AI in her curriculum and in assisting her students on Friday, June 2, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

“It has been a game changer,” she said of Khanmigo’s teaching assistant. “I’ve been able to differentiate in ways I haven’t been able to before.”

Franco said she reviews her students’ chat history and can see what they’re struggling with in her class.

“It’s controversial, but there are more benefits than drawbacks. It never gives them answers. It says, ‘Let’s try another way.’”

English teacher Ben Horjus said Khanmigo gives teachers a chance to unglue students from their cellphones.

“Engaging them is so hard today … if we see a learning tool, it’s a win,” he said.

Horjus said one of his students talked with a literary figure on Khanmigo and the student told him it was more fun than TikTok.

Even before the ChatGPT breakthrough, Horjus said students were savvy in using the internet to cheat.

He said Khanmigo includes a plagiarism check for teachers to detect cheating.

Hobart High School English teacher Ben Horjus speaks about getting ahead of AI and teaching students to use it ethically as he talks about his classroom’s participation in a pilot program for AI tool Khanmigo on Friday, June 2, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

Here’s a typical chatbot response to a student:

“As your friendly AI tutor, Khanmigo, I’m here to help you learn and understand the problem, not just give you the answer.”

Math teacher Kristen Musall said she used Khanmigo in preparing her final exams.

“There are good uses for teachers, but I’m somebody who likes to write my own questions. But I’m happy with the tutoring.”

On the district’s designated eLearning days, Musall said she’s usually peppered with math problem questions from frustrated students. With Khanmigo, the questions decreased.

“I love the voice of the AI, it’s very positive and uplifting. They did a lot of work with teachers to mimic them,” said Musall. “The takeaway is it’s all safe-school appropriate … We all found success.”

Not surprisingly, students love it also.

“My parents were like, ‘You’re using AI?” said freshman Isaac Smith, 15. “I told them it was good. And it takes you through step by step and doesn’t give you answers.”

“I feel it’s beneficial if we use it responsibly.”

Hobart High School student Jose Guerrero uses the GPT-4 based Khanmigo to check equations and get help with difficult math problems in teacher Kristen Musall’s math class at Hobart High School on Friday, June 2, 2023. (Kyle Telechan for the Post-Tribune) (Kyle Telechan/Post-Tribune)

His classmate, Jose Guerrero, 16, agreed.

“When I get a Khanmigo assignment, it has made a difference,” said Guerrero. “It describes the lesson step by step and walks me through it.”

In addition to academic tutoring, Khanmigo encourages students to plan for the future. Here’s some advice it offered:

“It’s great that you’re thinking about college in 10th grade! Here are some key things to focus on ….” It goes on to tell students to maintain good grades, stressing the importance of a GPA in college admissions and tells kids to explore interests and join clubs to discover passions and develop skills.

Khan plans to roll out his Khanmigo AI engine to schools across the country in the near future.

Buffington, a longtime technology leader, said Hobart will continue using Khanmigo.

“We have to teach how to use AI for the benefits it offers to our students. The possibilities are endless for learning and achieving greater.”

Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.