Key points:
AI plays a supportive educational role for nearly 70 percent of top-performing math students asked about their study habits, according to a new survey.
The survey, conducted by Philadelphia-based Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (SIAM), surveyed more than 1,300 11th and 12th grade students from across the U.S. and sixth form students in England and Wales–comprising some of each country’s top young math minds–to get a glimpse into the motivation and practices behind their academic success.
The students are participants in this year’s MathWorks Math Modeling Challenge (M3 Challenge), an annual internet-based, intensive math modeling contest organized by SIAM.
Survey results
According to the survey, 68 percent of the students turn to AI tools for math assignments or exams, with 10 percent using them daily, 20 percent weekly, and 38 percent using them once in a while.
Why do they use AI for math? Almost half (48 percent) of respondents said it helps them understand concepts or subjects without having to get a tutor, and a third use AI to quickly check answers before handing in assignments or homework. Nearly a quarter (24 percent) turn to AI for help with assignments and homework.
Still, 49 percent of those queried said that while they believe there’s a place for AI in math education, it’s best used in coordination with human education from teachers to help them create a bridge between prior and new knowledge.
Other findings of the survey:
When it comes to studying in general, 75 percent of students do their homework in a room by themselves.
Fifty-seven percent of respondents said their love of the thrill of problem solving sparked their interest in math, while 41 percentsaid the interest came from an inspiring teacher. A third of students were incentivized by better university and career prospects.
Fifty-eight percent of students reach out to a teacher for help when grappling with a math problem, half of respondents say they ask a friend or classmate, and almost 40 percent turn to AI for help.
Learnings for national math scores
“The survey results give us a glimpse into the students’ practices and how they are engaging with the technology. These insights may be helpful to guide other students,” said Dr. Suzanne Weekes, SIAM Chief Executive Officer, noting recent studies that show declining math rankings in both the U.S. and U.K.
“In today’s data-driven world, the next generation must be competitive and innovative to thrive and research shows that math and analytical skills are key to securing career opportunities in high-growth sectors–from technology and finance to healthcare,” she said.
The majority of those surveyed suggest students can improve their math scores by practicing questions regularly (67 percent) and keeping up with homework (58 percent). Other tips they shared include tackling complex math problems in small, manageable steps, applying math to real life situations to better understand concepts, and meeting regularly with the teacher to review material. Additionally, 40 percent of those queried believe AI tools have the potential to revolutionize math education by reducing math anxiety among students and increasing depth of knowledge.
“I certainly believe that AI has a role to play if integrated thoughtfully and in the right way,” Weekes said.
Teachers weigh in
In a parallel SIAM survey, 250 U.S. and U.K. math teachers echoed the students’ views on ways math scores can be improved. Educators’ top suggestions include doing practice questions regularly (62 percent), avoiding falling behind with homework (59 percent), and taking a step-by-step approach to tackling complex math problems (45 percent). A quarter of teachers recommended doing puzzles or playing cards and board games that involve using math skills.
What can strengthen students’ interest in math? The majority (79 percent) of educators cite an effective and engaging teacher, while more than half recommend exposing students to challenges, games, and puzzles that promote the thrill of problem solving as well as making math fun and relevant in the classroom by connecting concepts to real-life applications. Encouragement from a parent or mentor was cited as being key by 41 percent of teachers.
Now in its 21st year, M3 Challenge involves high school juniors and seniors, and sixth form students, working in small teams for 14 consecutive hours to devise a solution to a real-world problemusing mathematical modeling. Of the hundreds of participating teams, nine finalist teams were selected from across the U.S., England, and Wales, after having their submissions judged by an international panel of mathematicians. Finalist teams will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City to participate in the competition’s final judging event, which will take place on April 27.
Sponsored by MathWorks, developer of mathematical computing software, M3Challenge spotlights applied mathematics and technical computing as powerful problem-solving tools and viable, exciting professions. This year’s competition – which will award more than US$100,000 (~£75,000) in scholarship prizes – asked students to use math modeling to assess the personal, societal and financial effects of online and mobile sports gambling, which has exploded in popularity across the U.S. and U.K. over the past decade. It drew the participation of more than 3,400 students on 770 teams.
This press release originally appeared online.
