AI Hacks for Math Teachers: Teach Smarter, Not Harder!
Teaching

AI Hacks for Math Teachers: Teach Smarter, Not Harder!

Thursday, May 15, 2025

By Vinay Kanth Rao Kodipelly

Assistant Teaching Professor, University of Missouri St. Louis (UMSL)
Founder, Active Learning Institute LLC
Portfolio: kanth-vinay.github.io

Introduction

Bridging Math Education + Content Development + Educational Technology
5 000+
Students
25+
Courses
14+
Years Exp.
50+
Workshops

Built & Delivered New Courses:

  • Mathematics for Computer Graphics
  • Mathematics for Middle & Secondary School Teachers
  • High School mathematics for Financial Management(Project-Based )

Teaching Timeline

Assistant Teaching Professor, UMSL (’22–Present)
Mathematics Instructor, UMemphis (’20–’22)
Grad. Teaching Asst., University of Southern Mississippi (’16–’20)
Grad. Research Fellow, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs (’15)
Lecturer & High School Teacher, India (3+ yrs)

From 14 Hours to 1 Minute: My AI Journey

USM 2017 Flashback
University of Southern Mississippi, 2017

"Just like computers didn't replace bank workers—they transformed banking,
AI won't replace teachers—it will transform teaching."

Then (2017)

  • 8 hours of learning Blender
  • 6 hours of rendering
  • One sleepless night
  • Single animation output

Now (2025)

  • 1 minute with ChatGPT + Manim
  • Multiple iterations possible
  • Customizable outputs
  • Focus on teaching, not technical setup
Watch the Animation

Teachers spend 40% of their time on routine tasks that could be automated (McKinsey Research)

Calculus

  • Color-Coded Power Rule in Derivatives
  • Manim Animation for Integrals & Area Between Curves
  • AI-Powered Student Analytics & Early Intervention
  • Interactive Slides (Reveal.js Automation)
  • Canvas for Obsidian (Lesson Structuring)

Statistics

  • HTML Activity (Z-Test vs T-Test)
  • Hypothesis Testing Mindmap
  • Kahoot Quiz Generation

General

  • AI-Assisted Course Setup & Organization

Color-Coded Power Rule in Derivatives

Generate an HTML example that introduces the power rule for derivatives using color coding...

AI Prompt Used

Generate an interactive HTML page that teaches the power rule for derivatives.
Requirements:
- Use different colors for coefficient, variable, and exponent
- Show step-by-step transformation
- Include 3 practice problems
- Add hover effects to highlight steps

Manim Animation for Integrals & Area Between Curves

This slide demonstrates animating integrals...

Manim Animation Prompt

Create a Manim animation that visualizes the area between curves:
- Functions: y = x² + 1 and y = 3 - x²
- Show coordinate axes
- Animate shading of the area
- Add labels for functions
Manim Animation

Student Analytics & Early Intervention

Use AI to analyze student performance and identify areas for intervention.

AI Analytics Prompt

Analyze this CSV file of student calculus exam scores. For each student:
1. Identify their weakest topic areas
2. Generate personalized intervention strategies
3. Create a prioritized list of concepts to review
4. Suggest specific practice problems from our textbook
5. Highlight students who need immediate intervention (below 70% overall)
6. Create a visualization showing class performance by topic

Class Performance by Topic

Calculus I: Topic Mastery Analysis 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% Limits 66% Derivatives 83% Chain Rule 58% Related Rates 52% Integration 77% Applications 63% Intervention Threshold (60%)

Intervention Recommendations

  • High Priority: Chain Rule and Related Rates require immediate class-wide review
  • Individual Support: 7 students need personalized intervention
  • Resource Allocation: Create targeted worksheets for Related Rates
  • Time Distribution: Allocate 45 minutes for in-class Chain Rule review

Key Benefits

  • Early Identification: Flag struggling students before they fall behind
  • Targeted Instruction: Focus class time on highest-need topics
  • Personalized Learning: Generate custom practice sets for each student
  • Time-Saving: Automate analysis that would take hours to do manually

Making canvas interactive

Interactive math visualization using Graspable Math

Interactive Lecture Slides

Use HTML and RevealJS to make engaging and interactive step-by-step slides

Interactive Slides Prompt

Generate a html+Revealjs lecture slide introducing the derivative of a function using limit definition, include step-by-step solution, hide steps, clicking should reveal it. Include proper math formatting with LaTeX and visual highlights for each algebra step.

Benefits of Interactive Slides

  • Step-By-Step Learning: Students can progress through complex concepts at their own pace
  • Active Engagement: Click-to-reveal creates interactive learning moments
  • Visual Emphasis: Highlights and color-coding draw attention to key steps
  • Mathematical Clarity: LaTeX formatting ensures proper math notation

Bonus tip: Share these interactive slides as supplementary resources for student review

HTML Activity (Z-Test vs T-Test)

AI Prompt

Create a html file that works as a flashcard activity in the classroom, include a Show Answer/Next/Back button, generate 10 scenarios where students need to pick if it is a Z-test or T-test

Conics Section Mindmap

AI Prompt

Make a mindmap of conics section with a detailed overview, use four branches for four conics, and make them clickable

Kahoot Quiz Generation

AI Prompt

Analyze the attached spreadsheet, generate 10 scenarios where to pick from Z-test or T-test or Chi-Square test, and fill them into the corresponding cells the spreadsheet

Course Development

  • Semester setup
  • AI-assisted calendar & journal
  • Canvas HTML course page

Future Ideas: One-Stop Teacher Dashboard

A unified platform to streamline course management and content creation.

Q&A

Thank you for your participation!

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Today's Resources & More

Portfolio: kanth-vinay.github.io

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