Karen Colbert

AI is learning, but are we?

Abstract:

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming mathematics education, solving complex problems, and providing instant feedback. But as AI advances, an urgent question emerges: Are students developing deep mathematical reasoning, or are they relying on AI as a shortcut? This invited talk will explore the intersection of AI, mathematical cognition, and culturally responsive pedagogy, drawing from growth mindset theory (Dweck, 2006), AI ethics in education (Williamson & Eynon, 2020), and Indigenous knowledge systems (Lipka, Webster, & Yanez, 2005). Together we will examine: How AI impacts conceptual understanding vs. passive learning, latent variables that shape student success, ethical concerns in AI-integrated classrooms, and culturally responsive strategies for fostering AI-resilient quantitative literacy.

Bio:

Dr. Karen Colbert is the General Education Department Chair and Lead Math Faculty at Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Community College and Data Scientist. As a passionate advocate for STEM equity within Tribal college communities, Colbert has been instrumental in bridging the STEM Equity gap by improving quantitative and computational literacy among both students and faculty at TCUs. She was named the RStudio Scholar in 2021 and later became the first TCU Data Carpentries Instructor and Trainer. Colbert’s work extends beyond the classroom, as she serves on the faculty advisory committee for the American Indian College Fund and advocates for equitable AI in research and education that includes the voices and needs of non-traditional, re-entry adult scholars. She is also a national keynote speaker, having shared her thought leadership at Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, and the National Science Foundation.