KOHIMA — The use of artificial intelligence (AI) is fast
becoming a common trend among students in Nagaland. This is in keeping pace
with global practices.
The theme for this year's International Day of Education on
January 24, ‘AI and education: Preserving human agency in a world of
automation,’ highlights this trend as well as concern.
To shed light on the influence of AI in studies and the
teaching-learning process, Eastern Mirror spoke to some students and teachers.
Most of the students use AI chatbots like Meta AI and
ChatGPT. They use them for references, summarising notes, simplifying complex
topics, class projects, assignments, etc. On the other hand, educators look at
the use of AI tools with concern.
Limits thinking
capacity
For Puja Kar from Nagaland, who is pursuing Bachelor of
Medical Laboratory Technology (BMLT) in Assam, the use of AI tools limits a
person's thinking capacity.
She prefers not to use AI, ‘except when looking for
information from time to time.’ But one must not completely depend on it, she
said.
“These days, everyone is so dependent on Google that they
get a lot of false information,” she added.
An English major in Kohima said that he prefers ChatGTP over
other AI tools mostly because it is more user-friendly and come with refined
writings. He, however, cautioned against being fully dependent on it.
“Some students tend to fully depend on it, affecting their
critical thinking capacity. They would put all their thoughts on the AI and
take it as correct information. That’s why teachers discourage it,” he said.
Sumit Suman, a Class 12 student at a government high school
in Kohima, said that he mostly uses ChatGPT. Besides that, he also uses
AI-generated images and videos, not only for studies but for project
presentations as well.
He started using the AI tools when he was in Class 9. During
the COVID-19 lockdown, he was into video and picture editing. From there, he
realised that ‘videos are easy to make.’
“People think editors take a lot of time to create all these
videos, but it’s not. There are precepts and templates available online that
one can reuse to make their own video,” he shared.
When asked about the teachers’ reaction to his using AI
tools, he said that some teachers have warned him, while some have encouraged him
“because it has become efficient in today’s world.” It all depends on how one
uses it, he said.
Dr. Longna Konyak, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at
NIMSR Kohima, pointed out the role of technological advancements, especially
AI, in the field of medical studies.
“It is very important in this new modern era, as one can
easily access information,” he said.
For instance, he said, if students want to study a human
eye, they can see 3D visuals through technology and can visualise it. That is
the advantage for them to grasp the concept, he added.
“To study a human being, a lot of procedures are involved,
such as the need for privacy, confidentiality, permission, etc. So nowadays, in
the new learning system, skill labs are set up in medical colleges where
demonstrations are done on mannequins or dummies. One such facility is also
present at NIMSR,” he added.
“Besides that, there are a lot of simulations and other
procedures—like how to give injections. So it helps students learn before
coming to real practices,” he said.
The doctor pointed out that AI is now being used for
treatment purposes too.
Loss of human touch
As a psychiatrist and a teacher, he felt that people
sometimes forget the “human touch” when they’re too focused on technology.
“How we understand human emotions, how to be
compassionate—all these come with direct contact with humans,” he said.
The first-year MBBS students at NIMSR Kohima also shared
their views. Surilila R Sangtam said that she also uses ChatGPT for all her
research and finds it helpful because “it summarises everything,” and she
doesn’t have to go for further research.
Whenever the students need 3D visuals, they use AI tools
‘and get it instantly.’
For better understanding, the teachers sometimes recommend
using AI tools “because everything cannot be just explained, and they need to
visualise it properly.”
For Chingshen Y Danyeng, he prefers WhatsApp’s Meta AI. “One
can ask Meta AI for references to articles and books,” he said, adding that
applying AI tools is fine as long as it is not used “for something wrong.”
Their classmate, Vikupu Assumi, also acknowledged the use of
AI chatbots occasionally. “It helps in summarising everything, which makes it
easier for learning,” he said.
In the medical field, he said, it’s impossible to completely
depend on AI “because 80% have to be self-learning.”
“Depending on AI would mean a person would forget how to
actually work for it,” he reasoned.
