Using AI to Develop a Statistics Worksheet for a Common Read Program

Context

Northeast State Community College’s Center for Teaching and Learning, in collaboration with the Library, developed a program called the Common Read. The purpose of the program is to encourage students to engage in more reading outside of the curriculum.

Faculty members were encouraged to develop classroom activities that used the selected book to illustrate how their disciplines connect to real-world topics.

As a mathematics instructor, I was unsure how to design an assignment that incorporated the book into my Introductory Statistics course.

Application

During an AI workshop, I used ChatGPT to help develop a worksheet for my Introductory Statistics class that connected course concepts with the Common Read.

The worksheet was designed to review material from the first four chapters of the statistics textbook while integrating ideas inspired by the Common Read program.

Outcomes

The worksheet proved to be an effective review activity for students while also providing an opportunity to discuss the capabilities and limitations of generative AI.

One question on the worksheet intentionally resulted in a situation where a statistically valid answer was not possible. This created an opportunity to discuss AI hallucinations and the importance of verifying AI-generated responses rather than accepting them at face value.