A Miami University professor was forced to reconstruct his class after a failed attempt to integrate an Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot. The attempt to enhance learning overwhelmed students.
Students across all sections of Intro to Managerial Accounting (ACC 222) voiced concerns to Farmer School of Business about the use of AI in class and on assignments, according to a statement from Dean of Farmer Jenny Darroch. She said the Department of Accountancy worked with the professor, Matt Cobabe, to alter the class structure.
Cobabe created a detailed chatbot to help students in ACC 222 apply concepts by simulating data applications of a fictional company. He said its purpose was to separate data analytics work from accounting, since analytical skills were not a focus of the class.
“I think there are kernels of good ideas,” Cobabe said. “After talking to people in my department, [they said] interesting idea, wrong level.”
Carson Meagher is a sophomore marketing and supply chain major in the class. Meagher said he was instructed to interact with the chatbot to set up the problem, but ultimately students could use it to complete assignments for them.
“I would get a perfect [score] on the assignment, but I didn’t learn anything,” Meagher said. “He told us to get the answers from AI.”
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Cobabe said he likes to make accountancy fun, but he has a tendency to get ahead of himself. He said the chatbot proved too complex for the intro-level class.
“That’s probably the big thing that caused the kerfuffle,” Cobabe said.
Cobabe switched to packet-based assignments in response, which Meagher said has been a significant improvement.
“It’s day and night how much better it is,” Meagher said. “I feel more engaged because it feels like he’s engaged.”
One thing Cobabe kept, however, was a chatbot called “Explain it Back,” where students walk AI through problems to help with concept retention.
“It asks follow-up questions like an individual, and it helps me drill down some of the concepts in the class,” said Billy Collins, a sophomore finance major. “It’s one of the things that was actually effective.”
AI has become fundamental to students’ experience at Miami, as the university races to figure out how to use it to enhance learning and prepare students for their careers.
Cobabe said AI is on track to reduce the need for humans to analyze accountancy data and allow accountants to focus on conceptual expertise, which will become increasingly critical to the industry.
“I can focus on the creative aspect, the part where I’m bringing threads together and creating something new instead of spending eight hours on a spreadsheet,” Cobabe said. “I think that is a really cool and interesting outcome.”
