The rise of generative AI tools like ChatGPT has revolutionized how students approach learning, making tasks like summarizing articles, generating ideas, and simplifying complex topics more efficient than ever. However, alongside the undeniable benefits, these tools raise significant challenges that warrant attention. In this blog post, we delve into the critical issues surrounding students’ reliance on ChatGPT, offering actionable advice to navigate these concerns effectively.
The Appeal of ChatGPT in Education
ChatGPT, with its ability to generate coherent and context-aware responses, has become a go-to resource for students at all levels. Its applications range from simplifying research to generating coding solutions and even summarizing entire research papers. According to recent studies, 85% of students regularly use AI tools for academic purposes, with many finding them invaluable for improving productivity and managing workloads.
For instance, from 2021 to 2023, the average hours students spent using AI tools increased significantly, reflecting a growing reliance on these technologies. Such trends illustrate how generative AI is becoming an integral part of modern education. However, as its use becomes more pervasive, deeper challenges emerge.
The Challenges of Generative AI in Learning (Problem)
Despite its advantages, the widespread adoption of ChatGPT has introduced several critical concerns:
1. Difficulty Verifying AI-Generated Content
A striking 42% of students report challenges in verifying the accuracy of AI-generated information. While ChatGPT can produce detailed responses, it is not immune to inaccuracies or biases. Students who fail to cross-check the content risk incorporating misinformation into their academic work, jeopardizing the credibility of their assignments and research.
2. Overreliance on AI Tools
Generative AI’s convenience can lead to overdependence, with 35% of students expressing concerns about relying too heavily on tools like ChatGPT. This overuse risks eroding critical thinking skills and independent problem-solving abilities—skills essential for academic and professional success. Over time, such dependency may hinder intellectual growth, reducing the ability to engage deeply with academic material.
3. Limited Improvement in Conceptual Understanding
Although AI tools streamline workflows, only 45% of students feel that ChatGPT enhances their understanding of complex concepts. This suggests that while the tool excels at simplifying and summarizing information, it may not always foster the deeper engagement necessary for meaningful learning and retention.
4. Ethical Concerns and Academic Integrity
The ease of generating high-quality content also raises questions about academic integrity. For instance, students may submit AI-generated essays or solutions without fully understanding the material, undermining the educational process and the value of their academic credentials.
Problem Evidence
Actionable Advice for Students (Solution)
To leverage ChatGPT effectively while addressing its pitfalls, consider the following strategies:
1. Balance AI with Traditional Methods
Use ChatGPT as a supplementary tool rather than a replacement for traditional learning methods. Engage in manual problem-solving and research to retain essential academic skills.
2. Verify Information
Cross-check AI-generated content with trusted academic sources to ensure its accuracy and reliability. This habit not only safeguards the credibility of your work but also enhances your critical evaluation skills.
3. Limit Dependency
Set boundaries for AI usage. For example, rely on ChatGPT for brainstorming ideas but take the time to write and refine your assignments independently.
4. Be an Active Learner
Engage actively with the material by asking questions and seeking multiple perspectives. Use AI tools to clarify doubts but prioritize developing your own understanding.
Final Thoughts (Recommendations)
Generative AI tools like ChatGPT hold immense potential to revolutionize education, but their use must be approached with caution. While they offer convenience and efficiency, they also present challenges that can undermine critical thinking, conceptual understanding, and academic integrity if not managed responsibly. By adopting a balanced approach and staying vigilant about the pitfalls, students can harness the power of AI to complement their learning journey rather than hinder it.
Lebanon’s university students, known for their determination and aspirations, are now enduring a convergence of unprecedented crises that have left their academic progress and mental health in jeopardy. The cumulative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, the devastating Beirut port explosion, and the ongoing war has created a precarious situation where the resilience of Lebanon’s youth is being tested.
Recent data highlights the toll these overlapping challenges have taken on students’ educational and emotional well-being. The shift to online learning during COVID-19 disrupted traditional academic structures, and the Beirut explosion further shattered stability with lasting trauma. Now, the ongoing war has introduced new levels of stress, displacing families, straining resources, and exacerbating financial difficulties. University closures and unstable learning environments have compounded the problem, with students reporting reduced engagement, declining academic performance, and heightened anxiety.
Quantitative indicators provide a stark picture. Stress levels among students have soared to unprecedented heights, with most reporting severe psychological distress. GPA trends illustrate a notable decline, underscoring the strong link between mental health challenges and academic outcomes. Qualitative feedback from surveys and interviews reveals a growing sense of hopelessness and the pressing need for institutional support.
To address these challenges, Lebanon’s educational institutions must adopt both short-term and long-term strategies. Immediate measures could include offering remote mental health counseling, implementing flexible grading policies, and ensuring access to academic resources for displaced students. Longer-term solutions might involve building resilient support networks, integrating mental health resources into the academic framework, and fostering partnerships with NGOs and global organizations.
Global examples, such as post-conflict recovery initiatives in other countries, highlight the importance of coordinated action to safeguard students’ academic and emotional well-being during crises. For Lebanon’s youth, who are the foundation of the country’s future, creating a stable and supportive academic environment is not just an educational necessity, it is a moral imperative.
Chess, through history, has been used to determine someone’s intelligence; it has been used geopolitically in 1972 when the famous American Bobby Fischer defeated Boris Spassky from the USSR, signaling Western intelligence over Eastern one. Not only that, it was also the first time humanity was in danger from computers, after the fatal defeat of Gary Kasparov in 1996 vs. IBM Deep Blue, where many thought it was the end of humanity. But what if I tell you this game that has existed for more than 1500 years can also teach us about human psychology?
In our project, we decided to tackle multiple aspects of human behavior, by what and how it is affected, drawing some conclusions and hypotheses from the data collected (source: Lichess). For anyone who would like to see the complete visuals with a story. And if someone wants to familiarize with some chess terms please check the last paragraph.
1) What factors contributes to mistakes made during the game :
First, we studied the relationship between mistakes and different time formats. What was astonishing is that players tend to make almost the same amount of mistakes across all time formats even though they use more time in longer time formats.
This drew the obvious question: if we humans won’t perform better with more time, what factor would influence our results? Apparently, after studying the relationship between mistakes and Elo (players strength in chess), the higher the Elo of a player, the fewer mistakes he tends to make, dropping by a whopping 50% between the weakest and strongest category. This highlighted a key finding in our project: Expertise is attained by the number of hours and training we have, instead of the additional time given to think more.
2) Mental psychology in chess :
The other aspect we wanted to tackle is mental psychology. We want to see how probable a comeback is. We looked at the number of players that tend to win a game after having a piece disadvantage (which in chess is a big enough advantage); we found out that 37% of players who were first losing could turn the tables around by winning (25% of the time) or making a draw (12% of the time).
After these findings, we wanted to determine the percentage of resignation by Elo categories. Surprisingly enough, higher-rated players resign twice as much as their counterparts.
Aren’t we taught in chess and in real life to never give up? Then how do these successful players resign more while staying in the top 5%? After further examination, we discovered that stronger players tend to play more moves, meaning that they fight on average more than the average player. Resignation is just a sign of respect for their opponent, when they know that their situation is hopeless.
3) Time adaptability and the punishment of overthinking:
Another dimension was the average thinking time for each player and its consequences. After examining the longest think during the game, we found out that, on average, 35% of the time, players tend to use the mostamount of time only to end up making an inaccuracy or a mistake! This shows that in every game there is a 70% chance that one player will overthink his move and make a bad move:
“The more you overthink, the less you will understand.” ~ Habeeb Akande.
The second finding showed that higher-rated players are more adaptable; if given more time, they use it wisely, almost 3 times more than the lowest categories. But when rushed, they tend to use the least amount, knowing well that they should move fast, relying on their intuition and decision-making skills.
4) The consequences of low endurance:
In the final part we examined the effect of fatigue. We found out that games that tend to last longer, (above 300 sec) tend to have the most mistakes.We thought this was because of players’ endurance; they tend to be more tired the longer the game lasts; nonetheless, this could be due to other factors such as time pressure!
In addition, we studied the effects of different phases of the game, the opening is where players tend to make the least mistakes; they usually make more mistakes during the middlegame; finally the endgame is where players tend to have the most amount of mistakes, which is another evidence that this could be due to a lack of endurance, or it could be simply that we are more careful in the beginning than the ending.
“If you are as careful at the end as you are at the beginning, there will be no failure.” ~ Lao Tzu
Conclusion:
To conclude, chess is not simply a game, a war over the board, but it is a history of human beings, something that connects us with our inner selves. Whether you are chess enthusiasts or someone who has never considered the game, we cannot deny its teaching us the complexities of human psychology.
We demonstrated that expertise is about the training that we need, how to always fight because there’s always a chance, the effect of overthinking on our decisions, and how we human beings tend to make less optimal decisions when tired.
Further investigation, lead us to find out that when a stronger player competes against a weaker one, the later spend 44% more time thinking.
Is this due to stress and underconfidence from the weaker player? Or is it simply because the other is just stronger, forcing the opponent to think more? But what we know for sure is that the next time you see some pieces of wood moving on a 8 by 8 square, it might be a game, but also it might be chess.
Familiarizing ourselves with some chess terms:
This part just covers some basic introductory to chess and terms that are used through out the project. First, achess game can end by time forfeit, which means one of the players has run out of time. Or mate, it’s when a player checkmates the other, meaning he won in chess terms. Draw is when neither player has clearly won the game and finally resignation is when a player decides that his situation is hopeless and won’t continue playing.
Time formats which are classical typically a game is around 20 mins for each player, rapid 10 mins, blitz isaround 5 mins and bullet between 1-2 mins.
Elo indicates a player’s strength, the bigger the number the stronger a player is with 1400-1600 category having the biggest player base.
In the quiet corridors of our family history, a common threat is spreading across generations: thyroid diseases; which are a whispered secret, passed down from mothers to daughters, as if it is a legacy of hormonal imbalances that affect our entire life. But as I delve into this intricate web of health, I realize that the story is not confined to feminine narratives alone. Thyroid diseases spreads beyond gender, age, and expectations.
The Silent Struggle
Females: The Familiar Faces
In my family, thyroid disorders have danced with the women for decades. My grandmother, her voice a gentle tremor, would recount her battle with hypothyroidism that comes with the fatigue, the weight gain, and the chill that clung to her bones. My mother, too, faced her own thyroid journey, navigating the delicate balance of hormones but in the form of hyperthyroidism.
But Wait, There’s More
Yet, as I dug deeper, I discovered that thyroid diseases don’t discriminate. They don’t care about gender. Men, too, battle with these invisible whispers. Their stories however, are often neglected and deserve illumination. So, let’s peel back the layers:
Male Thyroid Troubles: Yes, gentlemen, your thyroid matters too. While less common, thyroid disorders affect men as well. Hypothyroidism can drain their energy, cloud their minds, and leave them feeling the struggle. And hyperthyroidism? It’s like a caffeine rush on steroids including heart palpitations, anxiety, and a metabolism that races like a runaway train.
Ageless Affliction: Thyroid diseases don’t play by the rules of age. They’re not bound by the calendar. It’s a reminder that our bodies are delicate symphonies, and sometimes, a single off-key note can disrupt the harmony.
Hyperthyroidism Takes Center Stage: In other words, the rebel of the thyroid world, commands attention. It’s the rockstar, the one that cranks up the volume. It includes: wet palms, a racing heart, and a metabolism that burns through calories like wildfire. It’s a dance with chaos, a tango on the edge.
The Data Unveiled
To understand the true scope, we turn to the numbers. Thyroid diseases ripple through our communities, leaving no demographic untouched. Here’s what the data insinuates:
Gender Balance: While more women face thyroid woes, men aren’t immune. It’s a 70-30 split, a delicate seesaw where hormones sway.
Ageless Grasp: From teens to seniors, thyroids hum their mysterious tunes. The young grapple with Graves’ disease, while nodules grow in size in the throats of elders.
Hyperthyroidism Reigns: The spotlight shines on hyperthyroidism. It’s the diva, the one that commands attention. But let’s not forget its quieter sibling, hypothyroidism who is the steady calmer hum in the background.
A Call to Action
As I emotionally write this blog, I realize that our perception needs an upgrade. Thyroid diseases aren’t gender-exclusive; they’re human experiences. So, let’s break the silence. Let’s educate, empathize, and empower. And perhaps, just perhaps, we’ll unravel the mysteries of our thyroid symphony, note by note starting with spreading awareness around this sensitive topic. Especially with the finding that thyroid medication is relatively unpopular, especially among diagnosed males.
Understanding Your Thyroid Spectrum: Decoding Test Results
To break down the thyroid examination, let’s delve into the essential tests:
FTI (Free Thyroxine Index): This measures the amount of free thyroxine (T4) in your blood. It’s a crucial marker of thyroid function.
T4U (Thyroxine Uptake): This assesses how well your thyroid gland absorbs iodine to produce T4.
T3 (Triiodothyronine): T3 is the active thyroid hormone. It helps analyze your metabolism, energy levels, and mood.
TBG (Thyroxine-Binding Globulin): TBG carries thyroid hormones in your bloodstream. Think of it as the conductor guiding the thyroid symphony.
TSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone): TSH is the maestro. It cues the thyroid to produce T4 and T3. High TSH? The orchestra slows down. Low TSH? We’re in overdrive.
T4 (Thyroxine): The backbone of thyroid hormones. It’s like the bassline which is the origin/base of the melody.
Therefore,
Get Checked: If you suspect any thyroid irregularities whether you’re male, female, seek professional guidance. Consult an endocrinologist like Dr. Alissa Kivan who was my credible source learning about this topic or your primary care physician. They’ll run the tests we discussed earlier: FTI, T4U, T3, TBG, TSH, and T4. Remember, early detection can be a lifesaver.
Spread Awareness: Be a thyroid advocate. Share your newfound wisdom with friends, family, and social circles. Let’s break the stigma and encourage open conversations about thyroid health. Knowledge is contagious.
It’s been for 5 years in my life that I live in a country where is located in Mediterranean coast and I felt a paramount difference in quality of life in the sense of what you breathe into your body and lungs. All my life until reach 18 years old, I lived in a Russian city which is a place for many defense factories and chemical plants, and that city is also a leader in statistics list for cancer incidents among other Russian cities. I was sick more often that is should be for a young man who has no chronic and/or severe disease. During these 5 years of my life on a Mediterranean coast free from harmful emissions, my life has changed, and my immunity increased.
Air Pollution side effects on Health
Air Pollution is one of the most severe burdens that the society, the Government, the healthcare system and future generations have to face it. Irrespective of the social and governmental response to the issue, it still carries a lot of damage to public health and quality of life.
According to some studies, the burden of air pollution stands at the top as a deadly risk factor with cardiovascular diseases and smoking [1]. “Air pollution – the combination of outdoor and indoor particulate matter and ozone – is a risk factor for many of the leading causes of death, including heart disease, stroke, lower respiratory infections, lung cancer, diabetes, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)” and “Air pollution is one of the leading risk factors for death. In low-income countries, it is often very near the top of the list (or is the leading risk factor)”. Some other scholars highlighted special influences effects by increasing the chance of being exposed to lung cancer [2].
All of the facts mentioned above lead to some questions: which regions of the world exposed the most it and what is the trendline of it?
Question 1: Geography
Looking at the geographical analysis of the world regions exposed to air pollution issue are the ones which have one of the lowest levels of income among the population, such as Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia.
Another analysis has the ratio of the metrics to be affected by for each region of the world, adding up as well the percentage of burden from tuberculosis incidents, as an example of respiratory infections.
Question 2: Trends
By looking at the trendline for each region of the world, we can surely say that the trends on air pollution exposure go on decline. Moreover, it is evident that there is correlation between high levels of pollution and incidence of tuberculosis.
Solutions to the problem: WHO Opinion
Some materials from the WHO propose solutions dedicated to two levels of responsibilities: the social and the Governmental ones [3]. In the social level, WHO recommends people to drive less a car, start recycling waste, using renewable energy resources at home, turning off electricity when it is not used, and finally, to start driving an electric vehicle [4]. In the Governmental level, to support the regulations on the low levels of emissions and usage of fossil fuels in the manufacturing sector and switching as well to the renewable energy sources, in order to reach the milestone of ending the issue by 2050.
Solutions to the problem: My Opinion
There is criticism of some of the suggestions that I would like to make. Electric vehicles do not actually decrease the environmental burden but instead overload the working capacity of electric stations and may lead to instabilities of electricity supply to households. Especially, if the stations work on fossil fuels, it evidently will have zero effect on improving the whole situation.
Speaking of choosing a vehicle type, it would be wiser to develop the complex structure of public transport (i.e. buses, subways, trams) that will have the capabilities to reach any point in a country and it is important for this to be affordable. This could be a solution because it will support large families where a car is in a high demand and using of other environmentally friendly vehicles such as bicycles would not much contribute to family.
In the sense of energy policies, the Government could also review options of building more nuclear plants to decrease the pollutions together with having high coefficient of effectiveness of producing energy. France is an example who managed to implement this concept in reality successfully.
Final Thoughts
Together with implementing the right governmental policies, it is extremely crucial to have high level of social responsibility in order to decrease the pollution. So, take a deep breath, go and fight for your future!
Hannah Ritchie and Max Roser (2021) – “Air Pollution” Published online at OurWorldInData.org. Retrieved from: ‘https://ourworldindata.org/air-pollution’ [Online Resource]
WHO newsroom, n.d.- “How air pollution is destroying our health” Published online at WHO.int. Retrieved from: ‘https://www.who.int/news-room/spotlight/how-air-pollution-is-destroying-our-health’ [Online Resource]
Navigating Insurance Challenges in Lebanon: A Strategic Roadmap
The insurance sector in Lebanon, like many of its economic facets, is navigating through a period of significant challenge and change. This crisis is rooted in political instability, economic downturns, and the aftermath of the Beirut port explosion in 2020, among other factors. These elements have collectively put unprecedented pressure on all sectors, including insurance, driving the need for strategic resilience and adaptation.
Lebanon’s insurance industry, historically robust and competitive within the region, has faced increasing pressures from several fronts. The devaluation of the Lebanese pound, hyperinflation, and the banking sector’s liquidity crisis have severely impacted the operational capabilities of insurance companies. Policyholders are finding it increasingly difficult to keep up with premium payments, while claims costs are rising due to the economic situation and inflation. Additionally, the regulatory framework and oversight of the insurance sector have been areas of concern, requiring enhancements to ensure stability and trust among policyholders.
Despite these challenges, the Lebanese insurance sector also showcases a remarkable capacity for resilience. Companies are exploring innovative strategies to navigate through the crisis, including digital transformation, product diversification, and revising pricing models to adapt to the economic context. Moreover, there’s an increasing focus on risk management and solvency to ensure long-term sustainability. This article showcases the portfolio insights of the company in the Property and Casualty department.
Balancing Premiums with Risk Exposure
Insurance is not a static field; risks evolve, and new risks emerge. Therefore, insurers must adapt by regularly reviewing their underwriting criteria, leveraging new data analytics technologies, and staying informed about changes in the environment that could affect the risk landscape. Furthermore, it’s vital for insurers to develop comprehensive risk mitigation strategies.
The emphasis on the importance of thorough underwriting before pricing an insurance policy cannot be overstated. Underwriting is the process where insurers assess and evaluate the risk associated with an insurance policy. The goal is to price the risk accurately, ensuring that premiums collected will cover the claims and the operational costs, while also allowing the insurer to make a profit.
It is observed from regional data that the volume of insurance policies and the corresponding financial outcomes vary considerably. Some areas demonstrate a higher concentration of policies, indicating a robust customer base, while financial metrics suggest that premium levels do not consistently match up with the risks incurred. This variability highlights the importance of leveraging top-notch risk mitigation methods to enhance the sustainability and financial health of insurance operations.
The data provides a clear view on the policies distribution within the company. The left graph, demonstrates the diversity in policy types offered, with ‘MUC’ related to all commercials type and emerging as the predominant category, accounting for nearly 6,000 policies in our portfolio. This indicates a robust demand for this particular insurance product line, suggesting that our underwriting efforts in this segment have been well-received by the market. In other hand the count of policeies issued from the head office is still significntly higehr than thos ein otehr branch suggesting taht and effort should be put to increase the roductivity there vene that during the past 5 years the policy has been increasing however the effort should be kept in order to maintain the portfolio of the company.
On the right, the second graph represent the Distribution of policies based on currency which presents a financial landscape shaped by currency dynamics, a crucial factor given Lebanon’s economic flux. The stark predominance of policies denominated nowadays is definitely the USD fresh keeping the LBP out of reach.This also reflects our strategic positioning to offer policies by providing a safeguard against hyperinflation and reinforcing the financial robustness of our portfolio.
Strategic Insurance Operations
The company expanded its presence in Lebanon over the past years, establishing multiple branches to increase its portfolio. Despite the expansion, the headquarters significantly outperformed all other branches combined over the last five years, holding approximately 78% of the total policies.
The fluctuating trends of annual endorsements from 2018 to 2023 for the ten most insured risk locations, highlights the insurance behavior post the Beirut blast with a notable peak in Achrafieh and the strategic success reflected by the rising trend in Zahle. Complementing this, This comprehensive analysis underscores the importance of accurate data management and strategic branch placement in the dynamic landscape of insurance endorsements.
The analysis of short-term insurance policies has uncovered irregularities, especially policies with a recorded duration of zero days, pointing to possible data entry errors. This issue emphasizes the critical need for system improvements to ensure data accuracy and to implement a detailed tracking feature for the reasons behind policy cancellations. Such enhancements are particularly crucial in light of a recent incident involving a disputed policy issued in September 2023, which could have led to complications in claim processing.
Strategic Data-Driven Enhancements
To navigate the complexities of the Lebanese insurance market, it’s recommended to enhance system capabilities, focus on strategic locations with high engagement potential, and continuously analyze policy data to inform decision-making. With these strategies in place, the company is poised to better manage risks, optimize its portfolio, and maintain its leadership position in Lebanon’s insurance sector. The extensive data repositories maintained by insurance companies are invaluable for Data Analysts and Data Scientists. They provide a rich foundation for constructing sophisticated predictive models and developing automated tools that enhance efficiency and streamline daily operations effectively.
