Math Education and AI


Since ChatGPT burst onto the scene a few short months ago, there's been a lot of speculation about how artificial intelligence (AI) is going to change our lives. Is it coming for our jobs? Will there be any need for humans in this brave new world?

I told a friend recently I think AI tools like ChatGPT will eventually become so commonplace, it'll just be assumed everyone is using them to automate the more mundane part of our lives, sort of how the leaf blower replaced the rake and the automobile replaced the horse and buggy. Sometimes I worry people will use it for the wrong things, but this just means the detection software will have to be as good as the tool itself.

If you haven't given ChatGPT a whirl yet, I encourage you to go to the OpenAI website, create a free account, and try it out! Here's a list of some things teachers can get ChatGPT to do:

  • Create Classroom Activities: If you're stuck trying to figure out some activities for your class associated with a certain learning outcome, put ChatGPT to work. For example, here's a prompt I entered just now and ChatGPT's answer: 
    My prompt: Please generate a list of classroom activities fourth graders could do to learn how to convert from fractions to decimals and vice versa.
    ChatGPT's response: Certainly! Here's a list of classroom activities for fourth graders to learn how to convert between fractions and decimals:
    1. Fraction-Decimal Match: Create a set of fraction cards and decimal cards. Distribute the cards randomly to the students. Ask them to find their matching partner (e.g., 1/2 and 0.5). Discuss the matches as a class.
    2. Fraction Walk: Mark a number line on the floor and label key fractions (e.g., 1/4, 1/2, 3/4). Have students walk along the number line and stop at different fractions. Then, ask them to write the corresponding decimal for each fraction they stop at.
    3. Fraction-Decimal Bingo: Create bingo cards with fractions and decimals. Call out either a fraction or a decimal, and students mark the corresponding value on their cards. The first student to get a line or a full card shouts "Bingo!"
    4. Fraction-Decimal Sorting: Provide a set of fraction and decimal cards to each student or group. Ask them to sort the cards into two categories: fractions and decimals. Encourage discussions about equivalences as they sort.
    5. Fraction-Decimal Conversion Chart: Provide each student with a blank conversion chart. Ask them to fill in the missing fractions and decimals. Use this as an opportunity for students to discover patterns and relationships between the two number systems.
    6. Fraction-Decimal Relay: Divide the class into teams. Each team has a set of fraction cards and decimal cards placed at the opposite end of the room. One student from each team runs to the cards, converts the fraction to a decimal (or vice versa), and runs back to tag the next teammate. The relay continues until all the cards are converted.
    7. Fraction-Decimal Puzzles: Create puzzles with fraction and decimal pairs. Cut out the puzzles and mix them up. Provide each student or group with a set and ask them to match the fraction and decimal pieces together.
    8. Fraction-Decimal War: Divide the class into pairs or small groups. Give each group a set of fraction and decimal cards. Students take turns flipping their cards and comparing the values. The player with the higher value keeps both cards. The game continues until all the cards have been played, and the player with the most cards wins.
    9. Fraction-Decimal Art: Assign each student or group a fraction or decimal value. Have them create artwork using that value. For example, if the value is 1/4, students can draw a picture divided into four equal parts and color one part.
    10. Real-Life Applications: Engage students in real-life scenarios where fractions and decimals are used, such as cooking recipes, measurements, or shopping. Have students convert the fractions to decimals or vice versa to solve the problems.

      Remember to adapt the activities based on the specific needs and abilities of your students. Encourage active participation, collaboration, and discussions to reinforce their understanding of fraction-decimal conversions.

While this is a pretty good list of engaging activities, it still falls to the teacher to find, buy, or create puzzles, cards, problem sets, etc. Plus I'd say most of these activities are better suited for practicing a skill already learned, wouldn't you? Hmmm. Let me see what ChatGPT comes up with for word problems, at least:

  • Word Problem Examples: Looks like ChatGPT has that covered as well:
    My prompt: What are some examples of math word problems involving fraction to decimal conversions to use in the fourth grade classroom?
    ChatGPT's response: 
    1. Emily has baked a pie, and she wants to divide it equally among her friends. She cut the pie into 8 equal slices. What decimal represents the fraction of the pie each friend will receive?
    2. The school cafeteria sold 3/5 of the pizza slices during lunch. What decimal represents the fraction of pizza slices sold?
    3. Jasmine wants to buy a toy that costs $15. She has saved 2/3 of the money. What decimal represents the amount of money Jasmine has saved?
    4. During a field trip, the students walked 3/4 of a mile to the museum. What decimal represents the distance they walked?
    5. A bag of marbles contains 5/8 red marbles. What decimal represents the fraction of marbles that are red?
    6. Tom filled his fish tank with water. The tank is currently 7/10 full. What decimal represents the fraction of the tank that is filled with water?
    7. The school library has 4/5 of its shelves filled with books. What decimal represents the fraction of shelves that have books on them?
    8. Sarah scored 7 out of 10 on her math test. What decimal represents her test score?
    9. The basketball team made 3/6 of their free throws during practice. What decimal represents the fraction of free throws they made?
    10. Lisa read 4/9 of a book in one day. What decimal represents the fraction of the book she read?

      These word problems provide opportunities for students to apply their understanding of fraction to decimal conversions in real-life contexts. Encourage students to solve the problems by converting the fractions to decimals or vice versa, and to explain their reasoning and strategies.

These word problem examples scratch the surface but are a step in the right direction. Teachers could, with the right combination of prompts, generate entire assessments, quizzes, practice tests, and lessons using ChatGPT. The technology is only going to get better as it evolves.

So, while everyone else is worrying about the robots taking over, you could be using ChatGPT to save you time in the classroom right now! And if you are still concerned about the android doomsday scenario, go check out this free link to a Wall Street Journal article about Po Shen-Loh, a genius mathematician who is touring the country, evangelizing about math and reminding us that the human element can never truly be replaced. And that's a comforting thought.

 

 

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