AI For Word Problems Part 1.

 

If you don't already know, I am currently teaching at a small 2 teacher school in Alaska.  I teach all subjects to middle school and high school students.  Since the history text I'm using is a bit advanced, I've been playing with AI to revise the printed text to something my 6th and 7th graders can read and understand.  This lead to playing with the idea of using AI to rewrite math problems in Math.

I tried using AI to rewrite a 6th grade word problem.  I chose one on proportions - "A car travels 120 miles in 3 hours (with a constant speed). How long will it take to travel 200 miles?'  I asked it to rewrite this problem for an Algebra I class.  This is how it came back with suggestions.

Here are a few ways to revise the 6th-grade word problem for Algebra I:

1. Introducing Variables:

• Revised: A car travels at a constant speed and covers 120 miles in 3 hours.
  • a) Find the car's speed in miles per hour.
  • b) How long will it take the car to travel 200 miles?

This revision introduces the concept of speed as a variable and requires students to calculate it before solving the second part.

2. Using Algebraic Expressions:

• Revised: A car travels at a constant speed of 'r' miles per hour. If it covers 120 miles in 3 hours,
  • a) find the value of 'r'.
  • b) How long will it take the car to travel 'd' miles, where 'd' represents the distance?

This revision uses algebraic expressions for speed and distance, encouraging students to use variables and formulas.

3. Introducing a More Complex Scenario:

• Revised: A car travels 120 miles in 3 hours. However, due to traffic, its speed decreases by 10 miles per hour for the next part of the journey.
  • a) Find the car's original speed.
  • b) How long will it take the car to travel an additional 80 miles at the reduced speed?

This revision introduces a change in speed, making the problem more challenging and requiring students to consider multiple scenarios.

4. Open-Ended Exploration:

• Revised: A car travels 120 miles in 3 hours.
  • a) Write an equation that represents the relationship between distance, speed, and time.
  • b) Use your equation to determine the time it would take to travel any given distance at the same speed.
  • c) Graph the relationship between distance and time. What does the slope of the graph represent?

This revision encourages deeper exploration, requiring students to derive a formula, apply it to different scenarios, and analyze the graphical representation of the relationship.

These revised problems aim to:

• Increase complexity: By introducing variables, multiple steps, and changing conditions.
• Develop algebraic thinking: By using algebraic expressions, equations, and formulas.
• Promote critical thinking and problem-solving skills: By requiring students to analyze, interpret, and apply concepts.
• Foster deeper understanding: By exploring the relationship between distance, speed, and time in various ways.

By adapting simple word problems in this manner, teachers can effectively transition students from 6th-grade arithmetic to the more abstract and challenging concepts of Algebra I.  

So it gave me several possibilities including an open-ended exploration.  This gave me a wonderful starting point and suggestions to make things easier.  I am going to continue this discussion on Wednesday with turning the same problem into a performance task. On Friday, I'll look at taking a harder problem and redoing it for a lower grade. Let me know what you think, I'd love to hear.