A ChatGPT AI-implemented compound didactic scenario and pedagogical reflection theory

Περίληψη

Individual and social development through school learning highlights a crucial need in the current era, especially within the Greek educational context. However, the need to support new teaching practices and innovations in the education system, while also implementing strategies to assist students with mild Special Needs within the same educational environment, makes this task even more challenging. Additionally, a game-changing leader in innovation is Artificial Intelligence (AI), which steadily but aggressively builds a strong presence in educational practice by bringing the future into the present. Consequently, a substantial academic debate has developed. It continues in the field, with varying optimistic or even restrictive views on how AI could positively impact humanity- articularly among middle school students -by enhancing cognitive skills, addressing learning difficulties, and fostering intrinsic and mental development through the mature use of AI as a learning tool. Nonetheless, many key factors could significantly influence this area. In the current context, possible skepticism about education is being closely examined through the implementation of a teaching approach that combines religion classes with modern Greek history for 3rd-grade Junior High School students, using the ChatGPT AI tool for instructional purposes. The focus topic is: “Athanasios Diakos’ contribution to the Greek Revolution of 1821 ACE and his relation to the church, presented using ChatGPT”. ChatGPT is a well-known AI tool that students can easily access, allowing a religion teacher to adopt a different teaching and learning approach. Students can subsequently reflect on their active participation in uncovering information and critically applying it to build understanding. This reflection theory process is a broad psychological and pedagogical tool that distinguishes between AI’s function and human engagement. The latter plays a significant role in the long-term development of Greek students, both individually and socially.