Creating Class Activity Based on a Novel

TBR AI EXCHANGE

AI Learning Collaborative

Creating Class Activity Based on a Novel

Submission Date

June 5, 2026

Submitter’s Name/Email

Institution/School

Department/Discipline

Activity Purpose (assessment, data collection, classroom management, etc.)

AI Tool(s)

Activity Details

Northeast State has just begun using a common read – a book selected for optional use in any class. The purpose is to generate interest in reading for pleasure. Faculty who wish to participate are tasked with creating at least one assignment based on the common read for use in their class. As the common read is intended to be optional for the students, the assignments created should be able to be completed whether the student has read the book or not. The assignments are designed to hopefully pique the student’s interest enough to encourage some to actually read the book. Our first selected common read was The Bear by Andrew Krivak, a decidedly “not-math” novel. I used AI to help me through several steps of developing activities for my Math 1010 course using the characters and setting of The Bear. Without the use of AI, I had ideas for maybe three problems. Using AI, I got enough ideas to create three separate assignments, two of which I used AI to help generate specific questions.

Comments

I used these assignments both semesters since they worked so well the first semester. Not only did the assignments work to generate interest in the book, but they seemed to remove some of the perceived stigma perceived by asking questions about the math. When we change books next year, I will continue to make this type of assignment as the student reaction to them was so positive, both in terms of the math and interest in the book. AI can definitely help find the connection between two seemingly unrelated topics!