Improving Learning Outcomes in Mathematics Education through Directed Use of a Generative AI Socratic Tutor
Location
Space Coast
Start Date
29-5-2025 9:30 AM
End Date
29-5-2025 9:55 AM
Description
To improve the learning outcomes among community college math students, Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) performed a preliminary study to explore the effectiveness of generative AI tools as aids to learning mathematics. Two sections (control and experimental) were selected from two math courses to undertake this study: Precalculus and Intermediate Algebra. The study employed Khanmigo, an AI Large Language Model (LLM) developed by Khan Academy in collaboration with OpenAI' s ChatGPT. HVCC was one of the first community colleges to deploy this tool in the classroom. Khanmigo can engage as a Socratic tutor for math students instead of just providing a final result. In the Socratic tutor approach, students ask plain language questions about a math problem, enter a learning conversation with the AI, and are guided toward the solution through a step-by-step iterative process rather than being handed the answer.
Recommended Citation
Lim, Linda and Glickman, Joel, "Improving Learning Outcomes in Mathematics Education through Directed Use of a Generative AI Socratic Tutor" (2025). Teaching and Learning with AI Conference Presentations. 22.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/teachwithai/2025/thursday/22
Improving Learning Outcomes in Mathematics Education through Directed Use of a Generative AI Socratic Tutor
Space Coast
To improve the learning outcomes among community college math students, Hudson Valley Community College (HVCC) performed a preliminary study to explore the effectiveness of generative AI tools as aids to learning mathematics. Two sections (control and experimental) were selected from two math courses to undertake this study: Precalculus and Intermediate Algebra. The study employed Khanmigo, an AI Large Language Model (LLM) developed by Khan Academy in collaboration with OpenAI' s ChatGPT. HVCC was one of the first community colleges to deploy this tool in the classroom. Khanmigo can engage as a Socratic tutor for math students instead of just providing a final result. In the Socratic tutor approach, students ask plain language questions about a math problem, enter a learning conversation with the AI, and are guided toward the solution through a step-by-step iterative process rather than being handed the answer.