Overview

• AI chatbots like ChatGPT are being perceived as potential homework assistants rather than threats by some math and computer science teachers, who believe AI can strengthen instruction at a time when math scores are plummeting.
• ChatGPT can serve multiple roles, including acting as a tutor by providing immediate feedback to struggling students, assisting teachers in planning lessons and crafting math problems suited for varying instruction levels, and even showing new computer programmers sample code.
• While some schools are debating the banning of AI chatbots, many teachers are welcoming them as they evolve with the technology; acknowledging that as the nature of math has changed over the years, so too should the tools used to teach it.
• ChatGPT can tailor mathematical problems to students' proficiency levels, making it a valuable tool for teachers, particularly ones new to the profession or dealing with students of diverse needs. It also offers initial ideas and highlights potential problem areas for students, aiding teachers' preparation.
• AI in computer science education allows students to skip basic code writing and focus on bigger picture concepts. ChatGPT provides accurate code examples, eliminating the frustration of debugging simple code errors and allowing professors to teach higher level skills.
• Professors Daniel Zingaro and Leo Porter argue that reading code produced by AI aids learning in a similar way to how reading assists in improving writing skills. They stress the importance of students finding practical applications to their coding tasks.