Giving the Bird Wings: AI as a Mathematical Coach for Year 8 Girls · ICGS Research Library

Title

Giving the Bird Wings: AI as a Mathematical Coach for Year 8 Girls

Author

Susan Jackson

Year Published

2026

Description

Many studies highlight the importance of fostering mathematical confidence in early adolescence, particularly among girls, who often experience a decline in self-efficacy despite capable performance (Zander et al., 2020). My action research explored how using AI-generated prompts to guide Year 8 girls through the MPTC (Make sense, Plan an approach, Take action, Convince yourself and others) mathematical investigation cycle built confidence in non-routine mathematics challenges. Over 16 weeks, 22 Year 8 students engaged with a custom AI chatbot designed to scaffold their work on non-routine, challenging problems using the MPTC cycle. Using a mixed-methods approach, the study employed Mertler's (2020) inductive analysis to identify patterns in the collected data. I constructed four key themes: refined AI-generated prompts build student trust and confidence; confidence grows when AI provides scaffolds rather than solutions; students internalise the MPTC cycle through repeated guided use; and non-judgmental AI interaction increases confidence and fosters agency. My findings revealed that a carefully designed AI chatbot significantly increased participants' confidence when the tool prioritised conciseness, developmental appropriateness, and step-by-step metacognitive checking. This research demonstrates that AI, designed as a pedagogical coach rather than an answer generator, can empower girls to embrace productive struggle and see themselves as capable mathematicians. Implications for practice include the critical importance of prompt engineering and the potential for AI to build mathematical confidence in early adolescent girls.