LLteacher: A Tool for the Integration of Generative AI into Statistics Assignments
As generative AI becomes increasingly embedded in everyday life, the thoughtful and intentional integration of AI-based tools into statistics education has become essential. We address this need with a focus on homework assignments. We propose the use of LLMs as an opportunity for instructors to integrate more pedagogical approaches into homework design, by developing an open-source tool named LLteacher. This LLM-based tool preserves learning processes and it guides students to engage with AI in ways that support their learning, while ensuring alignment with course content and equitable access. We illustrate LLteacher's design and functionality with examples suitable to an undergraduate Statistical Computing course in R, showing how it supports two distinct pedagogical goals: recalling prior knowledge and discovering new concepts. While this is an initial version, LLteacher is an example of one possible pathway for integrating generative AI into statistics courses, with strong potential for adaptation to other types of classes and assignments.