A Study on the Case of Using ChatGPT & Learners' Perceptions in College Liberal Arts Writing

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to confirm the possibility of using ChatGPT in college liberal arts writing education and to derive implications for the education field. To this end, cases of writing classes using ChatGPT were analyzed and the survey on learners' perceptions was conducted. In the liberal arts course of A university in Korea, an essay writing activity using ChatGPT was performed after subject-specific reading. A total of 62 learners decided on the guidelines related to the use of ChatGPT through discussion before writing the essay. From an analysis of the results after writing, text citation, prompt input, source verification, and revision were found, and educational implications were derived. In the subsequent survey, more than half of the learners positively recognized ChatGPT as a tool for saving writing time and improving process efficiency. It was also revealed that ChatGPT was most frequently used for idea generation and information gathering. However, learners pointed out problems concerning the quality, source, and credibility of the information. Therefore, education on the reinforcement ability to compare, contrast, judge, and synthesize information from various sources should be strengthened. In addition, clear and specific writing ethics standards and guidelines for the use of ChatGPT must be provided. This study has value as an empirical study using ChatGPT in college liberal arts writing activities.