11: Can You Learn Statistics Online with An AI Tutor? A First Look at the BEAR!

Music City Center 

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is showing up in more and more parts of our lives, including college classrooms. But can an AI actually help students learn tough subjects like statistics? This study takes a first look at the BEAR (Biostatistical Education Assistant and Resource), an AI tutor created using ChatGPT to help students in an online Biostatistics course at the University of Alabama. The BEAR is designed to help students understand challenging concepts, stimulate deeper thinking through thoughtful questioning, and provide supportive guidance similar to that of a real teacher. A key feature is its two-way interactivity, where both the BEAR and students can ask and answer questions, making the learning process more engaging and potentially more effective. At the end of the Spring 2025 semester, students will be surveyed to find out how helpful they found the BEAR, whether it improved their understanding, and how satisfied they were with the experience. This pilot study aims to share early insights into how AI tools like the BEAR might shape the future of online statistics education.

AI

ChatGPT

Online Statistical Education

AI Tutoring 

Section on Statistics and Data Science Education