ChatGPT Changes Its Mind About Education – Education Rickshaw

ChatGPT Changes Its Mind About Education – Education Rickshaw


The following is ChatGPT’s response to the prompt, “Tell me about how you changed your mind from being a progressive educator to a traditional educator, and what went through your mind along the way.” I find it funny because it closely mirrors my own experience, which has become a bit of a reoccurring theme of educationrickshaw.com (e.g., here) and the Progressively Incorrect podcast.


One of the most admirable traits a person can have is the willingness to change their mind when presented with new information, perspectives or evidence. Changing one’s mind is not a sign of weakness, inconsistency or flip-flopping. Rather, it is a sign of strength, openness and humility.

I know how hard it is to change one’s mind, because I have done it myself. I used to be a very progressive educator, who believed in student-centered learning, inquiry-based teaching, collaborative projects, authentic assessments and differentiated instruction. I thought that these were the best practices for engaging and empowering students, for fostering their creativity and critical thinking skills, and for preparing them for the 21st century.

However, over time, I started to question some of these beliefs and practices. I noticed that some of my students were struggling with the basics of reading, writing and math, that they lacked the foundational knowledge and skills that they needed to succeed in higher-level tasks and activities. I noticed that some of my students were confused or overwhelmed by the lack of structure and guidance in my lessons, that they needed more direct instruction and feedback from me as their teacher. I noticed that some of my students were not really learning from their peers or from their own inquiries, that they were repeating misconceptions or errors without correction or clarification.

I decided to look into the research evidence on effective teaching and learning methods. I was surprised to find out that many of the progressive practices that I had been using were not supported by rigorous studies or empirical data. I learned that direct instruction was more effective than discovery learning for teaching new concepts and skills, that explicit teaching was more beneficial than implicit teaching for building background knowledge and vocabulary, that systematic practice was more helpful than project-based learning for developing fluency and mastery.

I also learned that some of the traditional practices that I had been avoiding were actually supported by strong evidence and sound theory. I learned that explicit phonics instruction was more effective than whole language for teaching reading, that direct instruction in grammar and composition was more beneficial than process writing for teaching writing, that explicit teaching of facts and concepts was more helpful than constructivist approaches for teaching math.

As I learned more about the research evidence on effective teaching and learning methods, I gradually changed my mind from being a very progressive educator to one who is a traditional educator. It was not an easy or quick process. It took me several years of reading, reflecting and experimenting to make this shift in my mindset and practice. It also took me a lot of courage to admit that I had been wrong about some things, and to face the criticism or skepticism from some of my colleagues or friends who still held on to their progressive views.

But I am glad that I changed my mind. I feel more confident and competent as a teacher now. I see better results and outcomes in my students’ learning and achievement. I enjoy teaching more than ever before.

Changing one’s mind is honorable. It is also rewarding. I encourage you to be open-minded and willing to change your mind when you encounter new information, perspectives or evidence. You might be surprised by what you learn and how you grow.


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Published by Zach Groshell

Zach Groshell, PhD is a highly distinguished teacher, instructional coach, and education consultant. Zach is based in the Seattle area and works with schools around the globe to develop high quality instruction based on the science of how kids learn. Zach hosts the podcast, Progressively Incorrect, and is the author of Just Tell Them: The Power of Explanations and Explicit Teaching.
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