1.
Minutes of the Teaching and Learning Ad Hoc Committee Meeting
Agenda Item 4.1: Dynamics (Benefits and Disadvantages) of Relying on Chatbots
When Writing Assignments
The meeting opened with Prof Song addressing the issue of declining student
performance due to academic dishonesty. The concern was raised regarding students
submitting assignments lacking originality, primarily due to over-reliance on chatbots.
Key Points Discussed:
Introduction by Dr Sibeko:
Dr Sibeko highlighted the trend of students relying on chatbots like ChatGPT for
generating assignment content.
She emphasized that while this practice might seem convenient, it often results in non-
original work, easily detectable by academics due to inconsistent writing styles and
unoriginal responses.
She stressed the need for students to engage with assignment contexts creatively
rather than relying on AI-generated content.
Student Representatives' Concerns:
Nthabiseng, representing student leaders, expressed concern that the approach of
'educating' students on chatbots might seem patronizing.
She emphasized that student representatives are present to share their opinions
equally with academics.
Dr Sibeko clarified her intent, stating that students need to adapt their use of chatbots to
avoid failure and develop better academic practices.
Discussion on Ethical and Effective Use of Chatbots:
Thabang highlighted the importance of guiding students to use AI tools ethically,
suggesting that academics should assist students in navigating these technologies
rather than threatening them with failure.
Dr Smith proposed that students could use chatbots to enhance learning by comparing
their original answers with AI-generated ones, treating the chatbot's output as a second
Page 1 of 10
, opinion for refining their work.
Ms Brown cautioned about the inaccuracies (AI hallucinations) chatbots might produce,
stressing the importance of integrating local and contextual knowledge into assignments
to ensure originality and relevance.
Conclusion and Way Forward:
Nthabiseng acknowledged the potential pitfalls of over-reliance on AI, agreeing that it
could stifle creativity and foster dependency.
Prof Song concluded the discussion by reiterating the superiority of the human mind,
enriched with personal experiences and intuition, over AI-generated content.
He urged student representatives and academics to disseminate the insights from this
discussion through their respective platforms to promote better academic practices.
The meeting was adjourned with thanks from Prof Song for the valuable contributions
from all participants.
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Minutes of the Teaching and Learning Ad Hoc Committee Meeting
Agenda Item 4.1: Dynamics (Benefits and Disadvantages) of Relying on Chatbots
When Writing Assignments
The meeting opened with Prof Song addressing the issue of declining student
performance due to academic dishonesty. The concern was raised regarding students
submitting assignments lacking originality, primarily due to over-reliance on chatbots.
Key Points Discussed:
Introduction by Dr Sibeko:
Dr Sibeko highlighted the trend of students relying on chatbots like ChatGPT for
generating assignment content.
She emphasized that while this practice might seem convenient, it often results in non-
original work, easily detectable by academics due to inconsistent writing styles and
unoriginal responses.
She stressed the need for students to engage with assignment contexts creatively
rather than relying on AI-generated content.
Student Representatives' Concerns:
Nthabiseng, representing student leaders, expressed concern that the approach of
'educating' students on chatbots might seem patronizing.
She emphasized that student representatives are present to share their opinions
equally with academics.
Dr Sibeko clarified her intent, stating that students need to adapt their use of chatbots to
avoid failure and develop better academic practices.
Discussion on Ethical and Effective Use of Chatbots:
Thabang highlighted the importance of guiding students to use AI tools ethically,
suggesting that academics should assist students in navigating these technologies
rather than threatening them with failure.
Dr Smith proposed that students could use chatbots to enhance learning by comparing
their original answers with AI-generated ones, treating the chatbot's output as a second
Page 1 of 10
, opinion for refining their work.
Ms Brown cautioned about the inaccuracies (AI hallucinations) chatbots might produce,
stressing the importance of integrating local and contextual knowledge into assignments
to ensure originality and relevance.
Conclusion and Way Forward:
Nthabiseng acknowledged the potential pitfalls of over-reliance on AI, agreeing that it
could stifle creativity and foster dependency.
Prof Song concluded the discussion by reiterating the superiority of the human mind,
enriched with personal experiences and intuition, over AI-generated content.
He urged student representatives and academics to disseminate the insights from this
discussion through their respective platforms to promote better academic practices.
The meeting was adjourned with thanks from Prof Song for the valuable contributions
from all participants.
Page 2 of 10
