ChatGPT for Special Educational Needs Learners

 Technology helps safeguard the Special Educational Needs (SEN) students learning, increasing their independence, accommodations, and personalized learning. Access to technology also allows SEN students to build their self-esteem and self-efficacy, saving educators and parents time and money.

Though there is much debate around ChatGPT, its use in education can be controversial, as it has potential benefits and drawbacks.

As an Educational Psychologist, I have explored its use with my SEN students. My observation is that individuals with exceptional needs benefit from personalized learning and feedback unique to their needs; it is an essential component of education that AI learning cannot do justice to. Also, using AI, such as ChatGPT, discourages students from engaging in critical thinking and independent research, as they may rely too heavily on the model's responses instead.

However, after exploring ChatGPT for the past few months, I see its benefits in the following areas that can be used in any classroom to support the learning of SEN learners.

ChatGPT can provide students with immediate responses to questions that may not be possible in a mainstream classroom. This support helps reinforce students' understanding of the course material. SEN students struggle in mainstream schools due to their learning gaps. ChatGPT fills those learning gaps for SEN students and helps them keep up with others.

I have used ChatGPT to assist my students in finding information and resources related to their studies. It is beneficial for students as a research assistant. Yes, students may become dependent on its use, but for students who need help keeping pace with the amount of work required, ChatGPT is an excellent assistant. It does immensely help students improve their productivity, especially for students who struggle with the speed of working or need extra help.

 I also tried using ChatGPT to supplement my traditional instructions, helping my students explore topics more in-depth and at their own pace. Sometimes SEN students struggle with comprehension because of the speed at which information is shared in the classroom. ChatGPT can help students keep up at their own pace without missing out on learning. Each student explores areas of the topic they are interested in and gathers all the essential information. My students became more interested in reading and researching as learning became more accessible through ChatGPT.

SEN students do need assistive help with reading, writing and communication. ChatGPT can provide SEN individuals with assistive features such as text-to-speech and dictation software. It can also predict and complete words or sentences, helping students who struggle with typing or writing to communicate more efficiently.