I am too dependent on chatbot scaffolding and help in order to do real analysis homework. this reflected poorly on my midterm when I couldn’t figure out what to do next or couldn’t remember the next step. I know the right way is to literally struggle through it, and do it with classmates and office hours, but I haven’t been doing that. I don’t know how to change this. I feel like I just don’t have enough time to do the struggling.

A big contributor is feeling anxious around being stuck and not knowing. Looking around the textbook and trying dead ends just doesn’t feel good and feels like a waste of time when I think about it. I think I’m just scared of not being able to figure it out as a self-confidence issue.

I think I’ve exhausted the potential of chatbots for real analysis. I’m very explicit about not letting the chatbot give me scaffolding but the very nature of talking to a chatbot works like a crutch and not thinking for me.

I’ve tried alternate methods like writing my proofs in a very process-focused and educational way for the reader. But I don’t think auditing and figuring out how to explain the discovery and proof process clearly is increasing my understanding as I want.

I think if I really want to try this strategy of spending time struggling with the material in order to learn more, then I have to sacrifice my mindset of turning in complete homework using chatbot assistance at the expense of learning.

I’m curious to hear how other people are navigating this. Since with or without chatbot assistance, learning this is still difficult.