A mile high and an inch deep: Exploring <scp>ChatGPT</scp> as a mathematics curriculum development tool

Abstract Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has issues, including inherent bias and inaccurate information, yet it has not stifled individuals' use of this technology in the mathematics classroom. Thus, we conducted a document analysis to investigate ChatGPT, a generative AI chatbot, constructing elementary mathematical tasks to determine how mathematics teacher educators (MTEs) can support this implementation. We analyzed 191 text responses constructed by ChatGPT, each corresponding to a task created for one of the elementary Common Core mathematical standards from kindergarten to fifth Grade to answer the research questions: What are the associated levels of cognitive demand of the ChatGPT's text responses, is there a statistically significant difference between lower‐level mathematical tasks and higher‐level mathematical tasks, and what are the common characteristics of AI's tasks? We found significantly higher‐level cognitive demands across the tasks, but many activities were repetitive and inappropriate for the specified grade level. Finally, we explored how MTEs could support teachers using this tool in their classrooms using Mathematical Critical Curation Questions.

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Publication Details

Journal
School Science and Mathematics
Published
2025-02-22
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1111/ssm.18348
Primary Topic
Online Learning and Analytics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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article

A mile high and an inch deep: Exploring ChatGPT as a mathematics curriculum development tool

Amanda G. Sawyer, Zareen Gul Aga
School Science and Mathematics
Online Learning and Analytics
article

A mile high and an inch deep: Exploring ChatGPT as a mathematics curriculum development tool

Amanda G. Sawyer, Zareen Gul Aga
article en

Abstract

Abstract Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology has issues, including inherent bias and inaccurate information, yet it has not stifled individuals' use of this technology in the mathematics classroom. Thus, we conducted a document analysis to investigate ChatGPT, a generative AI chatbot, constructing elementary mathematical tasks to determine how mathematics teacher educators (MTEs) can support this implementation. We analyzed 191 text responses constructed by ChatGPT, each corresponding to a task created for one of the elementary Common Core mathematical standards from kindergarten to fifth Grade to answer the research questions: What are the associated levels of cognitive demand of the ChatGPT's text responses, is there a statistically significant difference between lower‐level mathematical tasks and higher‐level mathematical tasks, and what are the common characteristics of AI's tasks? We found significantly higher‐level cognitive demands across the tasks, but many activities were repetitive and inappropriate for the specified grade level. Finally, we explored how MTEs could support teachers using this tool in their classrooms using Mathematical Critical Curation Questions.

School Science and MathematicsVol. 126(1)
James Madison University (US)
National Science Foundation
Openalex Percentile: Top 97%
Online Learning and Analytics
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A mile high and an inch deep: Exploring <scp>ChatGPT</scp> as a mathematics curriculum development tool — Amanda G. Sawyer, Zareen Gul Aga · School Science and Mathematics (2025) | TGRS Research Map | TGRS