Teachers and lecturers across many educational levels are afraid of ChatGPT‘s possible negative impacts on academic integrity. They fear that the chatbot is going to increase plagiarism and spread academic dishonesty.
For academics in the Rochester University, ChatGPT and other similar LLMs are in the “yellow” category of higher education online educational tools, meaning students should be careful while using them.1
Explore ChatGPT education use cases for teachers and students, and also explained its benefits and challenges to education.
Top 10 ChatGPT Education Use Cases
Structured Tasks in Education with ChatGPT
ChatGPT excels at handling structured tasks that require consistency, organization, and predefined formats. This makes it useful for educational work where clear organization matters.
Key Applications for Structured Tasks in Education:
- Lesson Plan Creation: Teachers can generate lesson plan templates with objectives, activities, and outcomes as a starting point (not a finished product).
- Grading Rubrics: Creates draft rubric frameworks that teachers can refine and customize.
- Quiz Generation: Generates quiz questions as a starting point, though teachers need to verify accuracy and appropriateness.
- Essay Outlining: Students can create basic essay structures, although this risk can become a crutch if overused.
- Study Scheduling: Can break down study tasks into time blocks, though students still need self-discipline to follow through.
- Content Summarization: Summarizes text, but may miss nuance or make errors—always verify against original sources.
For Teachers
1- Content creation
ChatGPT is a useful tool for creating engaging and effective learning experiences. It can assist teachers by generating ideas for lesson plans, classroom activities, and projects that align with defined learning goals and curriculum standards.
- Quizzes and Assessments: Teachers can quickly create quizzes with multiple-choice, short answer, and essay questions, tailored to specific topics and difficulty levels.
- Interactive Activities: ChatGPT can suggest interactive activities, such as group discussions, role-plays, or simulations, that engage students and enhance understanding.
- Multimedia Resources: It can help generate ideas for integrating multimedia elements like videos, infographics, and interactive presentations into lessons.
Also, teachers can use ChatGPT to create and curate educational materials, such as presentations, worksheets, quizzes, and other resources tailored to their students’ needs (Figure 1).
Figure 1. ChatGPT creates a quiz for a class
Explore more use cases and case studies regarding AI text generation.
2- Grammar and writing check
Another use case of ChatGPT for teachers involves leveraging the AI’s natural language understanding capabilities to assist in evaluating and improving the quality of written work. This can be implemented in several ways:
- Proofreading and editing: Teachers can use ChatGPT to quickly review and correct spelling, grammar, punctuation, and syntax errors in their own written materials, such as lesson plans, handouts, or email communications.
- Providing feedback to students: ChatGPT can assist teachers in reviewing student essays, reports, or other written assignments, identifying areas that need improvement and providing specific feedback on grammar, sentence structure, and word choice.
- Teaching writing skills: Teachers can use ChatGPT to generate examples and explanations of grammar rules, punctuation usage, and other writing conventions, helping students improve their writing skills.
3- Grading
ChatGPT can assist teachers in reviewing and grading student essays by analyzing the content, structure, and coherence of the writing. The AI can offer feedback on grammar, spelling, punctuation, and syntax, while also evaluating the strength of the argument or depth of analysis within the text. However, it is important not to rely merely on ChatGPT while grading.
Instead, teachers can use ChatGPT to help develop grading rubrics, ensuring consistent and transparent evaluation criteria.
- Automated Feedback: ChatGPT can provide initial grading of written assignments by assessing grammar, coherence, and content accuracy, offering detailed feedback that teachers can review and refine.
- Rubric Creation: Teachers can create detailed grading rubrics with criteria aligned to learning objectives, helping ensure consistent and transparent grading.
- Data Analysis: It can analyze student performance data over time, identifying trends and helping teachers adjust their instructional strategies accordingly.
4- Lesson Planning
ChatGPT can generate comprehensive lesson plans that include learning objectives, key concepts, step-by-step activities, discussion questions, and assessment methods.
- Curriculum Alignment: It can ensure that lesson plans align with state or national curriculum standards by cross-referencing objectives with required learning outcomes.
- Thematic Units: Teachers can create thematic units by using ChatGPT to suggest interdisciplinary connections, project ideas, and relevant resources.
5- Designing syllabus outline
Teachers can integrate ChatGPT into their workflow by using its capabilities to generate, organize, and structure course materials in a clear and effective way (Figure 2).
- Preparing course objectives and goals
- Topic generation
- Lesson planning
- Identifying and curating relevant resources and materials for the course
Figure 2. ChatGPT creates a course design on cellular biology
6-Exam Preparation
ChatGPT can significantly assist teachers during exam preparation by streamlining tasks, improving exam quality, and ensuring fairness in evaluation. One of the key areas where GPT proves helpful is in creating exam questions.
Teachers can generate diverse types of questions, including multiple-choice, short-answer, fill-in-the-blank, or essay questions, tailored to specific topics or difficulty levels.
Teachers can focus on specific subject areas, cognitive levels, or formats by providing customizable prompts. Additionally, GPT can generate questions in multiple languages, making it easier to accommodate diverse classrooms.
Another valuable application is in formulating answer keys and grading rubrics. GPT can produce detailed answer keys with explanations for correct and incorrect options, saving time and improving accuracy. For subjective or essay-type questions, it can assist in designing grading rubrics that ensure consistent evaluation across student responses.
For Students
7- Help with homework
- Answering questions: Students can ask ChatGPT questions about specific topics or concepts they are struggling with, and the AI can provide explanations, examples, or resources to help clarify their understanding (Figure 3).
- Problem-solving: ChatGPT can increase the problem solving skills of students by guiding them through the steps of solving problems in subjects like mathematics, physics, or chemistry, helping them understand the underlying concepts and methods.
- Concept reinforcement: ChatGPT can provide additional examples, analogies, and explanations to reinforce students’ understanding of complex concepts or topics they are studying.
- Step-by-Step Explanations: ChatGPT can break down complex problems into manageable steps, helping students understand each part of the process.
- Resource Suggestions: It can recommend additional resources, such as videos or articles, to help students grasp difficult concepts more effectively.
- Instant Feedback: Students can receive immediate feedback on their work, allowing them to correct mistakes and learn from them in real-time.
Figure 3. ChatGPT breaks down complex topics into simpler terms, making it easier for high school students.
6- Research
ChatGPT can support and streamline the research process for various academic projects, assignments, or personal interests (Figure 4). It can facilitate many steps in a research process such as:
- Topic selection
- Background information about the topic
- Identifying relevant resources
- Organizing research
- Citation assistance.
Check out some real-life use cases and examples of generative AI in life sciences.
Figure 4. ChatGPT provides creative ideas for a term project
7- Language learning
ChatGPT can be a valuable tool for language learning, offering translations, grammar explanations, vocabulary practice, and conversation simulations to help students practice and improve their language skills.
Figure 5. ChatGPT schedules a program for improving language skills
- Conversation Practice: Students can engage in simulated conversations in various languages, helping them practice vocabulary, grammar, and pronunciation.
- Grammar and Translation: ChatGPT can explain grammatical rules, translate sentences, and provide examples of correct usage, aiding language acquisition.
- Cultural Context: It can introduce cultural nuances and idiomatic expressions, enhancing students’ understanding of the language in real-world contexts.
8-Personalized Tutoring
Personalized tutoring for students is a dynamic, 24/7 virtual tutoring solution that provides instant explanations and guidance on a wide range of academic subjects, from basic to advanced topics. This AI-driven tutor is designed to meet the unique needs of each student, offering an adaptive, interactive learning experience that enhances comprehension and retention.
It also helps bridge any gaps in knowledge by revisiting foundational concepts or offering additional resources when needed.
24/7 Availability and Instant Support: Students can access personalized tutoring at any time, whether it’s late-night study sessions, urgent homework help, or preparing for exams. The tutor is always available, providing immediate support when needed.
Tailored Learning Experience: The virtual tutor adapts its responses to fit the student’s individual learning style. Whether a student learns best by reading, watching videos, or listening to explanations, the tutor can adjust its teaching approach accordingly.
For example, visual learners may receive diagrams, mind maps, or video explanations, while auditory learners can benefit from detailed verbal explanations or audio lessons. Kinesthetic learners are engaged with interactive tools or exercises to physically work through problems.
9-Career Guidance for Students
Career guidance is an essential service that helps students navigate their way through the complex world of career choices. It provides personalized advice on how to explore various career paths and make informed decisions about their future professions.
Exploring Career Paths: The career guidance tool helps students discover different professions by providing detailed information about various career options. It offers insights into different fields, including what each profession entails, the daily responsibilities, and growth opportunities within each career.
For example, a student interested in healthcare can explore various roles within the field, from doctors and nurses to medical researchers, learning about the duties, salaries, and career advancement prospects for each.
Required Skills & Qualifications: The tool also outlines the necessary skills, qualifications, and certifications for each career path. This helps students better understand what they need to focus on during their studies and what kind of academic or extracurricular achievements will enhance their employability in the future.
It can suggest the most relevant degree programs, training, or online courses to develop the skills needed for a specific profession, such as technical certifications for IT roles or internships in finance.
10-Collaboration and Group Work
Collaboration and group work are vital aspects of modern education and help students develop teamwork, communication, and problem-solving skills. Key Features:
ChatGPT promotes continuous engagement by encouraging group members to check in on each other’s progress, suggest improvements, and provide feedback. This ensures that the group stays connected and that no one falls behind.
Generating Discussion Prompts and Ideas: GPT can provide discussion prompts and project ideas that encourage critical thinking and collaboration.
For example, suppose a group is tasked with creating a report on environmental sustainability. In that case, the AI can suggest various angles to approach the topic, like investigating renewable energy, waste reduction, or the impact of policy changes.
It also helps brainstorm ideas for creative group projects, ensuring that each team member has a clear direction and a productive starting point for their contributions.
Facilitating Teamwork: It provides collaborative tools for group communication, like creating shared notes or task lists, setting up group meetings, and tracking progress.
It can even suggest tools for file sharing, like Google Drive or collaborative platforms like Slack, ensuring smooth coordination between members. It can also provide tips for effective teamwork, such as delegating tasks, managing group dynamics, and resolving conflicts within the team.
ChatGPT Edu in Higher Education
ChatGPT Edu is a specialized version of ChatGPT designed for universities and educational institutions to integrate AI into their academic environments responsibly. It provides students, faculty, and researchers with access to advanced AI capabilities powered by GPT-4o for enhanced learning, research, and administrative tasks.
Benefits of ChatGPT Education Use Cases
Time Savings (When Used Appropriately)
For Teachers: Can reduce time spent on administrative tasks like creating assignment templates, generating first-draft rubrics, or brainstorming activity ideas. This potentially frees time for direct student interaction.
For Students: Provides immediate explanations when stuck, potentially reducing frustration and keeping momentum during study sessions.
Accessibility Support
Language Support: Helps non-native speakers with explanations and translations, though accuracy varies.
Different Learning Styles: Can present information in multiple formats—text explanations, suggested videos, breakdown of complex topics.
24/7 Availability: Students can access help outside school hours, which matters for students with jobs, family responsibilities, or different schedules.
Challenges of ChatGPT Education
Although the chatbot has many capabilities, it also has some limitations and challenges. The video below shows how ChatGPT can fail in some educational tasks.
Documented Problems:
Accuracy Issues
ChatGPT regularly makes factual errors, provides incomplete information, or presents confident-sounding explanations that are completely wrong. This is especially problematic in technical subjects like math, science, and programming.
Bias in Training Data
AI inherits biases from training data, which can show up in examples, explanations, or suggestions. This can perpetuate stereotypes or provide culturally limited perspectives.
Critical Thinking Concerns
The ease of getting instant answers can discourage the struggle that leads to deep learning. Students may optimize for getting answers rather than developing problem-solving skills.
Plagiarism and Academic Dishonesty
The line between “help with homework” and “having AI do your homework” is blurry. Many students don’t understand this distinction, and detecting AI-generated work is increasingly difficult.
Equity Issues
Access to paid ChatGPT versions (like GPT-4) creates advantages for students who can afford it. Free versions have limitations that impact educational quality.
Discover all legal concerns, ethical issues, and other risks of generative AI and how to mitigate them.
Risk of decrease in original and critical thinking skills
The convenience and speed of ChatGPT might lead to an over-reliance on AI-generated content and reduce critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity in the educational process.
Discover all legal concerns, ethical issues, and other risks of generative AI and how to mitigate them.
Reference Links
Cem's work has been cited by leading global publications including Business Insider, Forbes, Washington Post, global firms like Deloitte, HPE and NGOs like World Economic Forum and supranational organizations like European Commission. You can see more reputable companies and resources that referenced AIMultiple.
Throughout his career, Cem served as a tech consultant, tech buyer and tech entrepreneur. He advised enterprises on their technology decisions at McKinsey & Company and Altman Solon for more than a decade. He also published a McKinsey report on digitalization.
He led technology strategy and procurement of a telco while reporting to the CEO. He has also led commercial growth of deep tech company Hypatos that reached a 7 digit annual recurring revenue and a 9 digit valuation from 0 within 2 years. Cem's work in Hypatos was covered by leading technology publications like TechCrunch and Business Insider.
Cem regularly speaks at international technology conferences. He graduated from Bogazici University as a computer engineer and holds an MBA from Columbia Business School.
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