0% found this document useful (0 votes)
40 views9 pages

Enhancing Students Learning Experience in Mathematics Class Through Chatgpt 14614

This research article investigates the use of ChatGPT to enhance student learning in a differential equations course, focusing on numerical methods. The study found that students reported increased engagement, improved coding skills, and a better understanding of numerical solutions when using ChatGPT as a learning tool. The authors encourage educators to explore innovative technologies like ChatGPT to enrich their teaching methods and student experiences.

Uploaded by

vien ramos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
0% found this document useful (0 votes)
40 views9 pages

Enhancing Students Learning Experience in Mathematics Class Through Chatgpt 14614

This research article investigates the use of ChatGPT to enhance student learning in a differential equations course, focusing on numerical methods. The study found that students reported increased engagement, improved coding skills, and a better understanding of numerical solutions when using ChatGPT as a learning tool. The authors encourage educators to explore innovative technologies like ChatGPT to enrich their teaching methods and student experiences.

Uploaded by

vien ramos
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 9

International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education

2024, 19(3), em0781


e-ISSN: 1306-3030
https://www.iejme.com Research Article OPEN ACCESS

Enhancing students’ learning experience in mathematics class


through ChatGPT
Rim Gouia-Zarrad 1* , Cindy Gunn 2

1
South Mediterranean University (MSB- MedTech-LCI),1053 Les Berges du Lac II Walkway, Tunis, TUNISIA
2
University of Bath, Bath, UK
*Corresponding Author: [email protected]

Citation: Gouia-Zarrad, R., & Gunn, C. (2024). Enhancing students’ learning experience in mathematics class through ChatGPT. International
Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 19(3), em0781. https://doi.org/10.29333/iejme/14614

ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT


Received: 05 Jan. 2024 This research paper explores the integration of ChatGPT as a tool for interactive learning of numerical methods in
Accepted: 30 Apr. 2024 a differential equations (DEs) course. DE course is crucial for engineering students to model real-world
phenomena. However, many DE courses focus only on analytical solutions and neglect important numerical
solutions. To overcome this gap, an active learning approach was adopted, where students were asked to select a
real-life phenomenon in their field of interest, find an appropriate model to describe it using DEs, and
subsequently solve DE numerically using various numerical methods. The authors allowed students to use
ChatGPT to generate codes and learn how to adapt them to their personalized learning needs. The findings derived
from the students’ survey responses demonstrated that ChatGPT significantly enhanced their interests and
improved their coding skills. Students reported increased engagement and excitement in their learning journey
with the integration of ChatGPT. By sharing this experience, we aim to inspire other educators to explore the
potential of innovative technologies and instructional methods to enhance their own courses.

Keywords: ChatGPT, artificial intelligence, educational technology, higher education, active learning, learning &
teaching

INTRODUCTION

ChatGPT is the most recent, and at the time of writing, the most advanced chatbot developed by OpenAI. It has been designed
to mimic human-like dialogue and engage with users naturally and intuitively. According to Rudolph et al. (2023) and our own
search for literature, there are limited peer-review articles on the impacts of ChatGPT in higher education particularly within the
domain of mathematics instruction (Alneyadi & Wardat, 2023; Shakarian et al., 2023; Wardat et al., 2023, 2024). Bonsu and Baffour-
Koduah (2023) further note that there are few studies examining students’ perceptions and usage of ChatGPT, primarily due to its
novelty and newness.
One common concern when using ChatGPT in higher education is plagiarism (Dehouche, 2021; Khalil & Er, 2023; Mitchell,
2022). This concern regarding disruptive technology tools in education is not new especially when it comes to allowing students
to use technology resources outside the classroom. However, with careful planning and clear guidance, students can greatly
benefit from the available technology tools. Indeed, many studies have shown the effectiveness of using technology in
mathematics classes to increase student achievement and engagement (Branch, 2015; Gouia-Zarrad & Gunn, 2016, 2017, 2018;
Gouia-Zarrad et al., 2015; Higgins et al., 2019; Phoong et al., 2019). Despite the criticisms leveled by scholars, many studies indicate
that there is a growing need for the acceptance of this technology (Hosseini et al., 2023; Hu, 2023; Yeo-The & Tang, 2021).
Another concern specific to the use and adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies like ChatGPT is the possible
reevaluation of the role of educators, as highlighted by Bozkurt (2023) and Firat (2023a). It is, therefore, crucial to strike a balance
that capitalizes on the potential of AI while preserving the significance of interpersonal relationships and human interaction in the
educational process, as mentioned by Javaid et al. (2023).
Supporting Student Engagement Using ChatGPT
ChatGPT offers the educational community a valuable tool that enhances student engagement, fosters critical thinking, and
provides personalized assistance (Firat, 2023a; Shoufan, 2023). Previous studies have shown that students are motivated using
ChatGPT. By leveraging the strengths of ChatGPT while recognizing its boundaries, educators can create more engaging and
effective learning environments (Cotton et al., 2023). It allows students to practice and reinforce their understanding of the
material, encouraging active participation and deeper engagement with the concepts. Furthermore, ChatGPT can function as a

Copyright © 2024 by Author/s and Licensed by Modestum. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits
unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
2/9 Gouia-Zarrad & Gunn / International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 19(3), em0781

virtual tutor or a personal mentor, providing instant and personalized feedback to students in real-time (Gao, 2021; Javaid et al.,
2023; WGMI Media, 2023). Stojanov (2023) stated that ChatGPT is “probably more efficient than it would have been with a human
tutor because I would not have felt as free to ask the same questions and would have been concerned with reputation management”.
It can also act as a friend, guide, or philosopher (Chatterjee & Dethlefs, 2023). By facilitating collaboration and allowing students
to post questions and engage in discussions, ChatGPT assists students in their learning process (Li & Xing, 2021). It addresses their
prompts and provides explanations in a conversational manner, supporting students’ comprehension and helping them grasp
complex concepts. In addition, it can help students in writing tasks, such as generating ideas, writing essays (Bailey, 2020), and
breaking writer’s block (Duval et al., 2020).
Current Limitations of ChatGPT
While ChatGPT has demonstrated remarkable language generation capabilities, it is important to understand its limitations
(Oviedo-Trespalacios et al., 2023; Stojanov, 2023). It operates based on patterns and examples it has been trained on without true
understanding or consciousness (Hintze, 2023). It does not have access to real-time information or personal experiences. Instead,
ChatGPT relies on machine learning algorithms and computational processes that leverage statistical patterns and probabilities
derived from the training data. Consequently, ChatGPT can produce incorrect or nonsensical responses, especially when asked
ambiguous or out-of-context prompts. The presence of potential biases in the training data patterns can also lead to biased or
inappropriate responses. Additionally, ChatGPT can generate responses that appear plausible but lack understanding of the
context or not coherent. This phenomenon is commonly called hallucination (Alkaissi & McFarlane, 2023; Bang et al., 2023). The
use of ChatGPT also raises ethical considerations, such as ensuring transparency, accountability, and safeguards against malicious
use. Ongoing research and development in ChatGPT aim to tackle these challenges through continuous improvement of the
ChatGPT model, improving response quality, and addressing concerns related to biases, hallucination, and ethical implications.
Although there are some concerns about the use of ChatGPT in education and particularly in higher education, this paper aims
to demonstrate its usefulness to assist students through a supervised activity carefully designed to enhance the students’ learning
opportunities in solving differential equations (DEs) numerically in an undergraduate mathematics class.
Research Questions
Understanding students’ perspectives is crucial for educators to enhance the learning experience and better meet their needs.
According to Freiberg (1999), students’ perceptions are an important component in assessing the effectiveness of innovative tools
and methods. Positive perceptions of the learning experience “influence student engagement and motivation, while negative
perceptions can lead to disengagement and hinder academic success” (Jones & Carter, 2019). Therefore, it is essential to consider
the students’ views regarding the use of ChatGPT and the benefits it offers them. Although there are limited studies available on
students’ perceptions of using ChatGPT in higher education (Bonsu & Baffour-Koduah, 2023), we have found no previous studies
examining students’ perceptions of using ChatGPT in numerical implementation. In addition, research on ChatGPT has not been
done in ... Therefore, exploring students’ perceptions of the use of ChatGPT in … is highly important. To fill this research gap, this
exploratory study focuses firstly on investigating students’ perceptions of the effectiveness of ChatGPT in a specific course. By
actively involving students, and including open-ended questions, the initial research question shown below was extended to
include students’ overall experience and their views of the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing ChatGPT as a learning tool.
Three research questions are addressed:
1. How do students perceive the effectiveness of using ChatGPT in helping them to solve DE numerically?
2. What advantages, if any, do students report for the use of ChatGPT as a learning tool?
3. What disadvantages, if any, do students report for the use of ChatGPT as a learning tool?
The paper is structured, as follows: Next section provides an explanation of the study’s background and outlines the methods
used. After that, we present a summary of the obtained results. Finally, we conclude the paper by discussing its limitations and
offering some remarks.

METHODOLOGY

Background to Study
DEs course (MATH 341) is a fundamental course within the curriculum that builds the mathematical foundations for
engineering and other scientific fields. This course covers solving DEs and modeling real-world phenomena. It is a mandatory and
essential course for engineering students. The lead author taught five sections of this course with a total enrollment of 90 mixed-
gender students.
DE course consists of two components. The first component is the analytical approach, which focuses on solving DE using
algebraic techniques to find exact solutions in terms of elementary functions. The second component is the numerical approach,
which focuses on solving DE using numerical techniques to obtain approximate solutions. While the analytical approach is
typically the main component of our undergraduate introductory DE courses, the numerical approach holds greater relevance for
engineering students. Numerical methods provide practical tools for solving DEs and analyzing real-world phenomena.
Unfortunately, this component is often omitted or neglected due to time constraints and the inhomogeneity of students’ coding
skills. Since students come from diverse educational backgrounds, it is challenging to teach students who have various levels of
coding experience. To address this challenge, we integrated ChatGPT into the course through project-based learning.
Gouia-Zarrad & Gunn / International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 19(3), em0781 3/9

The lead author was teaching MATH 341, DEs for engineers during the spring, 2023 semester. From the beginning of the
semester, students were informed that the course has a project component at the end of the semester to practice the learned
concepts and provide a great opportunity for sharing and discuss. 20% of the course grade is determined by performance on that
project.
Choosing a project idea
During the initial phase, students actively engaged in selecting project ideas during class sessions, focusing on real-world
phenomena that could be modeled with DEs within their areas of interest. With the assistance of ChatGPT, they explored a diverse
range of potential topics, ranging from modeling population dynamics to examining neuron behavior or the spread of COVID-19.
After deliberation, students selected a topic subject to instructor approval. This approach not only deepened their understanding
of course concepts but also encouraged discussions. ChatGPT facilitated collaborative exploration, inspiring creative thinking as
students engaged with various DEs applications. This strategy empowers students by giving them control over their learning
journey while the teacher serves as a facilitator addressing inquiries and clarifying concepts as necessary. Additionally, we checked
if the projects were suitable, especially if they were too complex for a first year DEs course.
Conducting research & gathering data
After approval of their project proposal, students conducted research and gathered relevant data to understand their project.
This phase involved studying literature, collecting empirical data, and utilizing resources such as ChatGPT and online databases.
Implementing numerical methods & drawing conclusions
Using the gathered data, students implemented numerical methods such as Euler’s method or Runge-Kutta method,
depending on their coding proficiency, to solve the equations relevant to their chosen project. This step involved coding and
simulation to obtain numerical solutions. Upon obtaining numerical solutions, students analyzed the results to interpret the
implications for the real-world phenomena being modeled. They drew conclusions based on their analysis, discussing the
significance of their findings and any limitations encountered during the process. Students were free to use any software,
preferably Python or MATLAB. To facilitate their learning and stimulate their enthusiasm, students were allowed to use ChatGPT,
which they could use to get codes and learn how to modify and adapt them to their individual needs. In fact, students received
code assistance, enabling personalized and self-paced learning experiences as they were able to learn at their own pace and in
their own way, which made the learning experience more effective and engaging. The students were no longer sitting passively.
They were asking questions through an active engagement with ChatGPT, receiving instant feedback, and deepening their
understanding of the material and the application of numerical methods. They become actively involved in the learning process
and responsible for their learning through chatting with ChatGPT. In addition, they gained knowledge through these online
discussions. This interactive and learner-centered approach not only enhances their understanding of numerical methods but
also caters to the learning preferences of Generation Z, who are enthusiastic about leveraging and adopting innovative
technologies. As mentioned by Shin and Lee (2021), “Generation Zs are the first-generation born and raised in the digital age”. They
quickly learn these new technological innovations and are excited to adapt and use them.
Class presentation & peer feedback
In the final phase, students presented their projects to the class, receiving constructive feedback from their peers. This
interactive process of knowledge exchange and collaborative discussion enhanced comprehension and empowered students to
take ownership of their learning. Each presentation, lasting approximately 10 minutes, typically followed this format: describing
the real-world phenomena being modeled, deriving DE or system of DEs, solving DE numerically, and explaining the
implications/limitations of the solutions for the modeled physical situation.
Presentations were assessed according to the following criteria:
1. Context: Did the presentation provide background information and clarify the problem’s context and underlying
assumptions?
2. Mathematics: Was the application of course methods clearly explained? While not exhaustive, did the presentation outline
the key elements of mathematical theory?
3. Clarity & novelty: Were all new terms and symbols defined for clarity? Did the presentation offer innovative insights?
4. Understanding: Did the presenter demonstrate a thorough understanding of the model’s assumptions? Was the code
effectively communicated and explained?
Data Collection
The study was conducted in Spring 2023 with five undergraduate mathematics classes. The research data was collected
through student surveys designed by the authors. The surveys had a combination of yes/no questions and open-ended questions
to collect both quantitative and qualitative data. To answer the research questions, the students were asked to fill out a short
survey at the end of the course. 27 male students and 21 female students filled out the survey. Data to answer the first research
question, “How do students perceive the effectiveness of ChatGPT in helping them to solve DE numerically?” was collected
through the first five close-ended questions. Data to answer the second and third research questions regarding the advantages
and disadvantages of ChatGPT as a learning tool was collected through question 6 of the close-ended questions and through the
open-ended question.
4/9 Gouia-Zarrad & Gunn / International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 19(3), em0781

Figure 1. Students’ views of the usefulness of ChatGPT to improve coding skills (Source: Authors’ own elaboration)

Figure 2. Students’ views of better understanding numerical DE using ChatGPT (Source: Authors’ own elaboration)

Figure 3. Students’ views of help provided by ChatGPT (Source: Authors’ own elaboration)

RESULTS

An analysis of the close-ended questions revealed a mostly positive view of the effectiveness of ChatGPT in helping them to
solve DE numerically. From the students’ responses, many students reported a positive user experience with ChatGPT and found
it to be helpful in improving coding skills (91% agreement, see Figure 1) and understanding numerical solutions of DEs (72%
agreement, see Figure 2). These findings are consistent with the existing literature, where students recognized that ChatGPT is
useful not only for learning and study but also for professional applications (Shoufan, 2023). Other studies have also demonstrated
that “chatbots can improve student performance and knowledge retention” (Alotaibi et al., 2020).
Additionally, students acknowledged that ChatGPT provided “a comprehensive understanding of complex topics in an easily
understood manner” (Bonsu & Baffour-Koduah, 2023). This can be attributed to the integration of ChatGPT, which stimulates
students’ learning enthusiasm, makes students actively participate in class, and consequently deepens the understanding of
numerical methods for solving DE (Gao, 2020).
As noted in Figure 3, 70% of the students felt that ChatGPT helped them solve problems or overcome challenges in the course,
thus, further demonstrating that there are additional advantages to using ChatGPT.
Furthermore, a substantial majority of students (80%) would recommend the use of ChatGPT to future students taking the
course (see Figure 4). This strong recommendation can be explained by the transformative nature of the personalized and self-
paced learning experience facilitated by ChatGPT. Students are no longer dependent on traditional learning that involves seeking
assistance from the professor, they receive immediate feedback according to their coding proficiency level.
Gouia-Zarrad & Gunn / International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 19(3), em0781 5/9

Figure 4. Students’ overall recommendation to continue using ChatGPT (Source: Authors’ own elaboration)

Figure 5. Students’ perceptions of using ChatGPT to generate new ideas (Source: Authors’ own elaboration)

This aligns with Firat’s (2023b) assertion that “students can more easily adapt their learning to their present level of
understanding–and without being shy about a machine”. These findings support the idea of the effectiveness of ChatGPT in
promoting personalized learning and empowering students to take control of their educational journeys.
The next findings of this study are on students’ perceptions of using ChatGPT to generate ideas. The results indicate that 65%
of the students agreed that ChatGPT leads to new ideas or perspectives on modeling DEs or numerical methods (see Figure 5).
These findings align with recent research, such as Dowling and Lucey (2023) that recently released that ChatGPT can significantly
assist with idea generation. Additionally, AlAfnan et al. (2023), where conducting 30 tests on both theory-based and application-
based tasks demonstrated ChatGPT’s potential to replace search engines by consistently providing accurate and reliable
information to students. As one student stated, “okay, so it’s basically like searching Google, but this simplifies the information you
need to the precise thing you want. It just makes things easy for me” (Bonsu & Baffour-Koduah, 2023). This supports the idea of the
effectiveness of ChatGPT in promoting personalized learning. Furthermore, Rudolph et al. (2023) prompted a ‘code red’ due to
ChatGPT potentially disrupting the dominance of Google search, with Microsoft already incorporating OpenAI technology to
enhance its search engine, Bing (Tung, 2023).
Open-Ended Question
After completing the yes/no questions, the students were asked to respond to the following open-ended question ‘‘is there
anything else you’d like to share about your experience using “ChatGPT” in this course?’’ An analysis of the responses revealed
seven themes related to the advantages and the disadvantages of using ChatGPT as a learning tool in a more general context than
the previous questions.
Table 1 presents the themes found in the student’s responses. The students’ comments have not been edited.
Based on the analysis of student comments this study identified several key themes related to the use of ChatGPT in higher
education. Four positive themes emerged, highlighting the advantages of ChatGPT in enhancing learning, serving as an effective
learning tool, enabling personalized learning experiences, and offering practicality and ease of use. Students reported that
ChatGPT helped them understand libraries, familiarize themselves with numerical methods, and generate new ideas. They
perceive ChatGPT as an effective learning tool, providing detailed explanations and support in various educational tasks such as
programming and writing. The personalized nature of ChatGPT was also highlighted, as it offered specific and relevant content
tailored to individual needs, aiding students in overcoming challenges, particularly in writing. Furthermore, students appreciated
its practicality and user-friendly interface, particularly in programming tasks.
However, the analysis also identified three negative themes concerning the use of ChatGPT in higher education. These themes
emerged around limitations in math, course applicability, and concerns regarding limited reliability and coding mistakes.
Students acknowledged the potential limitations of ChatGPT, particularly in terms of providing inaccurate information or
experiencing hallucinations. Shoufan (2023) suggests that “ChatGPT, at least at the current time, should not be relied on as a sole
resource for learning by students who do not have sufficient prior knowledge”.
6/9 Gouia-Zarrad & Gunn / International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 19(3), em0781

Table 1. Thematic analysis


Theme Examples students’ comments
Helped me understand libraries & their features.
Learning Yes, it made me familiarized with different numerical methods for solving differential equations.
enhancement It did help me understand my subjects more, & it did help me a bit with programming.
Absolutely I did find many ideas compared to my research on Google.
Yes, using ChatGPT as a learning tool is amazing! You just input your code & ask it about each part, very well explained.
Yes, it gives me detailed explanation on implementation.
Effective
Yes, ChatGPT provided me with a detailed explanation, which helped me understand DE faster.
learning tool
Yes, honestly ChatGPT helped me understand numerical implementation of DE when I was stuck.
Yes, a bit, it only answered some of needed questions & made it easier to do MATLAB work since no one knows how to use it.
It provides specific content related to given prompt, giving easier access to information in comparison to googling.
It’s amazing ability to comprehend what user is asking & provide an answer that most of time will be exactly what user needs.
Personalized It provides you with various ideas & helps you start your essay writing, helping get rid of what we call ‘blank page syndrome’.
learning ChatGPT is useful for asking questions without having correct vocabulary or technical terms usually required to find answers on
search engines like Google. Anyone could ask a question like they’re talking to another human being & ChatGPT would usually be
able to answer relatively correctly.
You just input your code & ask it about each part, very well explained.
Practicality & Yes, & by modifying parameters it helped us understand different effects of each variable.
ease of use It was only helpful in writing Python code.
It helps a lot in coding.
I would recommend in only implementing code but not for understanding mathematics concepts.
Limitations in
Yes, but you should understand code & manipulate it on your own.
mathematics
I would use it for coding, but in mathematics it has a lot of wrong answers so I would not recommend using it in mathematics.
Only software courses.
Course Would not recommend using it in mathematics.
applicability Mathematics. I do not think so but other courses as coding course it’s helpful I will use it.
I think it is beneficial for writing & it needs to be improved in engineering field.
Do not depend on ChatGPT as primary source, use it to open more research ideas.
Limited
It helps but it also makes coding mistakes & has inaccurate explanations.
reliability &
Not always has correct answers (not that reliable).
coding
No, ChatGPT tends to be very misleading. It looks at problems from one perspective & I do not trust it with scientific content.
mistakes
Not always has correct answers (not that reliable).

Figure 6. Students’ interest in using ChatGPT in future mathematics or engineering courses (Source: Authors’ own elaboration)

The findings also indicated that students recognized ChatGPT to be more suitable for software courses rather than
mathematics courses. This observation calls for further investigation and improvement to ensure the effective usage of ChatGPT
in higher education, especially in mathematics courses.
It is noteworthy that students expressed concerns regarding the mathematical capabilities of ChatGPT, as evident in previous
studies conducted by Azaria (2022), Davis (2023), Gao (2020), and Frieder et al. (2024). These concerns emphasize the importance
of addressing the specific challenges and limitations related to ChatGPT’s performance in mathematical contexts, thereby
facilitating its effective integration in mathematics courses.
As seen in the qualitative data, the advantages of using ChatGPT outweigh the disadvantages. For the students in this study,
they could see the value, as well as the limitations of using ChatGPT. When asked if they would be interested in using ChatGPT in
future mathematics or engineering courses, 85% said they would (see Figure 6).
This result, along with the thematic analysis supports the integration of ChatGPT in education. ChatGPT presents valuable
opportunities to enhance students’ learning experiences and empower students to take ownership of their learning, which
supports the theme of personalized and customized learning, as discussed earlier in the analysis.
Gouia-Zarrad & Gunn / International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 19(3), em0781 7/9

CONCLUSIONS

In conclusion, this study has illustrated that the integration of ChatGPT in mathematics classes provides valuable
opportunities to enhance students’ learning and offer personalized learning. While students recognized the advantages of learning
how to code and understand numerical solutions, they also recognized the potential limitations of ChatGPT in terms of providing
inaccurate information or experiencing hallucinations. Higher education institutions may establish an effective learning
environment that empowers students and enhances educational outcomes in mathematics education by addressing these issues
and finding a balance between AI technology and human engagement. Moreover, beyond enhancing DEs understanding, students
gained proficiency and confidence in utilizing AI-based applications that will constitute eventually an essential part of future
engineering tool sets.
The findings can be generalized to diverse educational contexts and academic levels, enhancing their relevance and
applicability. For instance, integrating ChatGPT into the learning process enables educators to implement project-based learning
methodologies across different courses and educational levels. While project-based learning is renowned for enhancing student
motivation and retention rates (Neji et al., 2023; Vesikivi et al., 2020), its adoption in first-year university courses often encounters
challenges like diverse skill levels, time constraints, and the necessity for foundational concepts. By integrating ChatGPT into the
learning process, educators can effectively overcome these obstacles and successfully incorporate project-based learning into
their courses. ChatGPT’s adaptive capabilities empower students to quickly grasp essential concepts and delve into complex
projects, ensuring the effectiveness of project-based methods across a variety of educational settings and levels.
The relatively small sample size of the current study is one of its limitations. Although there was a satisfactory gender split
among engineering students, a larger sample size would have allowed for more reliable data and quantitative analysis.
Additionally, relying solely on self-reported data presents another limitation. The conclusions are based on participant views,
which may be biased or inaccurate. Data could be inconsistent because of differences in how students interpret their ChatGPT
experiences. Additionally, self-report metrics might not fully reflect ChatGPT’s influence. Future research might consider adding
observations or interviews to provide a more thorough analysis of ChatGPT’s influence on mathematics education.
Finally, this study has shown that by leveraging the strengths of ChatGPT and addressing its limitations, higher education
institutions can create an effective learning environment that encourages active student engagement, critical thinking, and
creativity, ultimately leading to enhanced learning outcomes.
Author contributions: Both authors have sufficiently contributed to the study and agreed with the results and conclusions.
Funding: No funding source is reported for this study.
Acknowledgments: The authors would like to thank Eyet Taieb for his assistance in administering the survey.
Ethical statement: The authors stated that the study did not require ethics committee approval. It involved the analysis of anonymized data
from publicly available sources, and no sensitive personal information or human subjects were involved in the research.
Declaration of interest: No conflict of interest is declared by the authors.
Data sharing statement: Data supporting the findings and conclusions are available upon request from the corresponding author.

REFERENCES

AlAfnan, M. A., Dishari, S., Jovic, M., & Lomidze, K. (2023). ChatGPT as an educational tool: Opportunities, challenges, and
recommendations for communication, business writing, and composition courses. Journal of Artificial Intelligence and
Technology, 3(2), 60-68. https://doi.org/10.37965/jait.2023.0184
Alkaissi, H., & McFarlane, S. I. (2023). Artificial hallucinations in ChatGPT: Implications in scientific writing. Cureus, 15(2), e35179.
https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.35179
Alneyadi, S., & Wardat, Y. (2023). ChatGPT: Revolutionizing student achievement in the electronic magnetism unit for eleventh-
grade students in Emirates schools. Contemporary Educational Technology, 15(4), ep448.
https://doi.org/10.30935/cedtech/13417
Alotaibi, R., Al-Shehri, S., Al-Harbi, R., & Al-Mutairi, M. (2020). Enhancing learning outcomes through chatbot technology in
computer science education. Education and Information Technologies, 25(6), 5167-5183.
Azaria, A. (2022). ChatGPT usage and limitations. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/5ue7n
Bailey, J. (2020). How teachers can prepare for AI-based writing. Turnitin. https://www.turnitin.com/blog/how-teachers-can-
preparefor-ai-based-writing
Bang, Y., Cahyawijaya, S., Lee, N., Dai, W., Su, D., Wilie, B., Lovenia, H., Ji, Z., Yu, T., Chung, W., Do, Q. V., Xu, Y., & Fung, P. (2023). A
multitask, multilingual, multimodal evaluation of ChatGPT on reasoning, hallucination, and interactivity. arXiv.
https://doi.org/10.18653/v1/2023.ijcnlp-main.45
Bonsu, E. M., & Baffour-Koduah, D. (2023). From the consumers’ side: Determining students’ perception and intention to use
ChatGPT in Ghanaian higher education. Journal of Education, Society & Multiculturalism, 4(1), 1-29.
https://doi.org/10.2478/jesm-2023-0001
Bozkurt, A. (2023). Generative artificial intelligence (AI) powered conversational educational agents: The inevitable paradigm shift.
Asian Journal of Distance Education, 18(1), 198-204. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7716416
8/9 Gouia-Zarrad & Gunn / International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 19(3), em0781

Branch, L. J. (2015). The impact of project-based learning and technology on student achievement in mathematics. In Proceedings
of the New Media, Knowledge Practices and Multiliteracies: HKAECT 2014 International Conference (pp. 259-268). Springer.
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-209-8_24
Chatterjee, J., & Dethlefs, N. (2023). This new conversational AI model can be your friend, philosopher, and guide … and even your
worst enemy. Patterns, 4(1), 100676. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.patter.2022.100676
Cotton, D., Cotton, P., & Shipway, J. (2023). Chatting and cheating. Ensuring academic integrity in the era of ChatGPT. Innovations
in Education and Teaching International, 61(2), 228-239. https://doi.org/10.1080/14703297.2023.2190148
Davis, E. (2023). Mathematics, word problems, common sense, and artificial intelligence. arXiv.
https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2301.09723
Dehouche, N. (2021). Plagiarism in the age of massive generative pre-trained transformers (GPT-3). Ethics in Science and
Environmental Politics, 2, 17-23. https://doi.org/10.3354/esep00195
Dowling, M., & Lucey, B. (2023). ChatGPT for (finance) research: The bananarama conjecture. Finance Research Letters, 53, 103662.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2023.103662
Duval, A., Lamson, T., de Kérouara, G. D. L., & Gallé, M. (2020). Breaking writer’s block: Low-cost fine-tuning of natural language
generation models. arXiv. https://doi.org/10.18653/v1/2021.eacl-demos.33
Firat, M. (2023a). How chatGPT can transform autodidactic experiences and open education. https://doi.org/10.31219/osf.io/9ge8m
Firat, M. (2023b). What ChatGPT means for universities: Perceptions of scholars and students. Journal of Applied Learning and
Teaching, 6(1), 57-63. https://doi.org/10.37074/jalt.2023.6.1.22
Freiberg, H. J. (1999). School climate: Measuring, improving, and sustaining healthy learning environments. Psychology Press.
Frieder, S., Pinchetti, L., Griffiths, R. R., Salvatori, T., Lukasiewicz, T., Petersen, P., & Berner, J. (2024). Mathematical capabilities of
ChatGPT. arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2301.13867
Gao, J. (2021). Exploring the feedback quality of an automated writing evaluation system Pigai. International Journal of Emerging
Technologies in Learning, 16(11), 322-330. https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v16i11.19657
Gao, S. (2020). Innovative teaching of integration of artificial intelligence and university mathematics in big data environment. IOP
Conference Series: Materials Science and Engineering, 750(1), 012137. https://doi.org/10.1088/1757-899X/750/1/012137
Gouia-Zarrad, R., & Gunn, C. L. (2016). Making mathematics meaningful for freshmen students: Investigating students’ preferences
of pre-class videos. Research and Practice in Technology Enhanced Learning, 11, 2. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41039-015-0026-9
Gouia-Zarrad, R., & Gunn, C. L. (2017). Modifying the flipped experience to enhance the learning of calculus in the United Arab
Emirates. Learning and Teaching in Higher Education: Gulf Perspectives, 14(1), 3-15. https://doi.org/10.18538/lthe.v14.n1.273
Gouia-Zarrad, R., & Gunn, C. L. (2018). Students’ perceptions of lecture capture in university math classes for engineers. In
Proceedings of the 2018 Advances in Science and Engineering Technology International Conferences (pp. 1-3). IEEE.
https://doi.org/10.1109/ICASET.2018.8376926
Gouia-Zarrad, R., Gunn, C. L., & Audi, D. (2015). Using iPads in university mathematics classes: What do the students think? In P. O.
de Pablos, R. D. Tennyson, & M. D. Lytras (Eds.), Assessing the role of mobile technologies and distance learning in higher
education (pp. 60-77). IGI Global. https://doi.org/10.4018/978-1-4666-7316-8.ch003
Higgins, K., Huscroft-D’Angelo, J., & Crawford, L. (2019). Effects of technology in mathematics on achievement, motivation, and
attitude: A meta-analysis. Journal of Educational Computing Research, 57(2), 283-319.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0735633117748416
Hintze, A. (2023). ChatGPT believes it is conscious. arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2304.12898
Hosseini, M., Rasmussen, L. M., & Resnik, D. B. (2023). Using AI to write scholarly publications. Accountability in Research: Ethics,
Integrity and Policy. https://doi.org/10.1080/08989621.2023.2168535
Hu, G. (2023). Challenges for enforcing editorial policies on AI-generated papers. Accountability in Research: Ethics, Integrity and
Policy. https://doi.org/10.1080/08989621.2023.2184262
Javaid, M., Haleem, A., Singh, R. P., Khan, S., & Khan, I. H. (2023). Unlocking the opportunities through ChatGPT tool towards
ameliorating the education system. BenchCouncil Transactions on Benchmarks, Standards and Evaluations, 3(2), 100115.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tbench.2023.100115
Jones, B. D., & Carter, D. (2019). Relationships between students’ course perceptions, engagement, and learning. Social Psychology
of Education, 22, 819-839. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11218-019-09500-x
Khalil, M., & Er, E. (2023). Will ChatGPT get you caught? Rethinking of plagiarism detection. arXiv. https://doi.org/10.35542/osf.io/
fnh48
Li, C., & Xing, W. (2021). Natural language generation using deep learning to support MOOC learners. International Journal of
Artificial Intelligence in Education, 31(2), 186-214. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40593-020-00235-x
Mitchell, A. (2022). Professor catches student cheating with ChatGPT: ‘I feel abject terror’. New York Post.
https://nypost.com/2022/12/26/students-using-chatgpt-to-cheat-professor-warns/
Neji, W., Boughattas, N., & Ziadi, F. (2023). Exploring new AI-based technologies to enhance students’motivation. Issues in
Informing Science & Information Technology, 20, 95-110. https://doi.org/10.28945/5149
Gouia-Zarrad & Gunn / International Electronic Journal of Mathematics Education, 19(3), em0781 9/9

Oviedo-Trespalacios, O., Peden, A. E., Cole-Hunter, T., Costantini, A., Haghani, M., Kelly, S., Torkamaan, H., Tariq, A., Newton, J. D.
A., Gallagher, T., Steinert, S., Filtness, A. J., & Reniers, G. (2023). The risks of using ChatGPT to obtain common safety-related
information and advice. Safety Science, 167, 106244. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssci.2023.106244
Phoong, S. Y., Phoong, S. W., Moghavvemi, S., & Sulaiman, A. (2019). Effect of smart classroom on student achievement at higher
education. Journal of Educational Technology Systems, 48(2), 291-304. https://doi.org/10.1177/0047239519870721
Rudolph, J., Tan, S., & Tan, S. (2023). ChatGPT: Bullshit spewer or the end of traditional assessments in higher education? Journal
of Applied Learning and Teaching, 6(1), 342-362. https://doi.org/10.37074/jalt.2023.6.1.9
Shakarian, P., Koyyalamudi, A., Ngu, N., & Mareedu, L. (2023). An independent evaluation of ChatGPT on mathematical word
problems (MWP). arXiv. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2302.13814
Shin, J. H., & Lee, J. W. (2021). Athlete brand image influence on the behavioral intentions of Generation Z. Social Behavior and
Personality: An International Journal, 49(2). https://doi.org/10.2224/sbp.9533
Shoufan, A. (2023). Exploring students’ perceptions of ChatGPT: Thematic analysis and follow-up survey. IEEE Access, 11, 38805-
38818. https://doi.org/10.1109/ACCESS.2023.3268224
Stojanov, A. (2023). Learning with ChatGPT 3.5 as a more knowledgeable other: An autoethnographic study. International Journal
of Educational Technology in Higher Education, 20(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s41239-023-00404-7
Tung, L. (2023). ChatGPT’s next big challenge: Helping Microsoft to challenge Google search. ZDNET. https://www.zdnet.com/
article/chatgpts-next-big-challenge-helping-microsoft-to-challenge-google-search/
Vesikivi, P., Lakkala, M., Holvikivi, J., & Muukkonen, H. (2020). The impact of project-based learning curriculum on first-year
retention, study experiences, and knowledge work competence. Research Papers in Education, 35(1), 64-81.
https://doi.org/10.1080/02671522.2019.1677755
Wardat, Y., Tashtoush, M. A., AlAli, R., & Jarrah, A. M. (2023). ChatGPT: A revolutionary tool for teaching and learning mathematics.
EURASIA Journal of Mathematics, Science and Technology Education, 19(7), em2286. https://doi.org/10.29333/ejmste/13272
Wardat, Y., Tashtoush, M. A., AlAli, R., & Saleh, S. (2024). Artificial intelligence in education: Mathematics teachers’ perspectives,
practices and challenges. Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics, 5(1), 60-77.
https://doi.org/10.52866/ijcsm.2024.05.01.004
WGMI Media. (2023). Turn ChatGPT into your personal mentor. https://wgmimedia.com/turn-chatgpt-into-your-personal-mentor/
Yeo-The N. S. L., & Tang B. L. (2021). An alarming retraction rate for scientific publications on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
Accountability in Research: Ethics, Integrity and Policy, 28(1), 47-53. https://doi.org/10.1080/08989621.2020.1782203

You might also like