ChatGPT in the Training Room: A Thinking Tool or a Substitute for Thinking?

by | Sep 28, 2025 | General | 1 comment

The story began during a teacher training workshop. I handed out the first tasks with enthusiasm, but soon noticed something strange: every time I gave an activity, some teachers immediately turned to ChatGPT to write the answer for them. After just three attempts, I stopped and said with a smile mixed with seriousness: “I’m here to deliver training for you—not for ChatGPT. Please stop handing the tasks over to the tool instead of doing them yourselves.”

Some laughed shyly, but the situation raised deep questions for me: Have we truly become addicted to quick answers? Are we at risk of replacing real thinking with machine-generated lines?


The Tool Is Not the Problem

From my perspective, ChatGPT is not an enemy of the educational process; it can actually be a critical friend, helping to push thinking deeper and broaden perspectives. The problem does not lie in the tool itself, but in how it is used.

In some workshops, for example, I ask teachers to use AI to draft central ideas or generalizations—but only after I have explained the steps and we have discussed the concepts together. In that case, ChatGPT becomes a tool for rephrasing or enriching the discussion, not a substitute for understanding.

But if the teacher does not understand the connections within a unit, or does not know how to teach it, then even the most elegant wording from ChatGPT will not change the classroom reality. A teacher cannot borrow understanding from a machine.


Questions That Arise

  • If a teacher relies on ChatGPT to do the work for them, will they accept their students doing the same?
  • Do we need clear policies to regulate the use of AI in schools?
  • How can we ensure that the tool serves as a stimulus for critical thinking, not a crutch for shallow thinking?
  • And in the age of artificial intelligence, does authenticity mean polished form—or deep understanding?

Rethinking Education

The existence of tools like AI compels us to redefine the essence of teaching and learning. It is no longer enough to judge the quality of work by its appearance or wording; we must make sure that behind the words lies critical thinking and genuine understanding.

In the end, ChatGPT is not a competitor to the teacher, but rather a mirror that helps reveal the boundaries of one’s own thinking. Yet the most important question remains:

Will we use artificial intelligence to broaden our horizons and deepen our understanding—or to escape the effort of thinking?

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Doha
Doha
12 days ago

Exactly what needs to be said! A sad truth is that some have become addicted to quick answers! Balanced use is key!