Tag: grant writing

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Can ChatGPT write a #SciComm grant proposal?

Image displays screenshot of author's interaction with the ChatGPT AI bot. This screenshot was an attempt to recreate the initial chat, because I didn't think to take a screenshot before I ended the chat and logged out. But, the bot responded slightly differently from the transcript linked to in the blog post. So, here's a transcript of the recreation attempt, which only involved 3 comment/response pairs. Me: I'd like to show you some writing I did, to see what you think. ChatGPT: Sure, I'd be happy to take a look and provide my thoughts. Please share your writing with me. Me: Can I paste in text? ChatGPT: Yes, you can paste the text here, and I'll take a look. (Note, the first time, the bot added a caveat that I could paste text if it wasn't too long. It did not clarify that this time.) Me: It's about 2400 words. Is that too long to paste in? ChatGPT: That might be a bit long to paste in here, but you can try to paste it, and we'll see if it works. Alternatively, you can upload the text file to a file-sharing service, such as Google Drive or Dropbox, and share the link with me.
This screenshot was an attempt to recreate the initial chat, because I didn’t think to take a screenshot before I ended the chat and logged out. But, the bot responded slightly differently from the transcript linked to in the blog post. My recreation attempt, only involved 3 comment/response pairs. (Detailed alt text provided)

Origins of a Friday-morning “rabbit hole”: Can’t we make/let writing be easier?!

We’ve been hearing a lot of handwringing and concern about ChatGPT up-ending education. We’ve also been hearing a lot of innovative ideas about how to engage with ChatGPT as a teaching tool (which is, let’s be clear, mainly an effort to make sure ChatGPT doesn’t become the beginning and end of student work and writing).

Of all the approaches I’ve heard, the one that seems most straightforward is to have students use ChatGPT to generate first drafts. That would get developing writers past the daunting blank page, wrangle some initial thoughts into a form that can be refined and enhanced, etc., etc.

But, there’s been a thought tickling the back of my mind as I’ve listened to all these discussions, chatted a bit about it with colleagues, and even shared some commentaries with folks looking for perspectives: “Are we really only going to set up these frameworks of expectation and standards of use/engagement for students?”

Yes, there are already some cite-the-bot or attribute-co-authorship policies coming online.

But, I’m actually thinking more of our own writing, at our own keyboards.

Surely, even the writery writers among us would love to have that first draft be easier.

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