During the Spring Festival, DeepSeek took social media and major news websites by storm.
Compared to ChatGPT, DeepSeek’s training data is more focused on Chinese content, making its understanding and generation of Chinese language more in line with the expression habits of Chinese people, making it easier for parents and children to use.
After several tests with DeepSeek, the team leader boldly stated: this is the AI that understands Chinese parents the best!
Its thought process and problem-solving approach can completely serve as an “excellent homework” reference for parents helping their children with assignments or for children learning independently!
In the past, we often complained that the answers given by AI models were too “AI-like”. Now, DeepSeek is beginning to show how it thinks like a human.
Unlike other popular AI models, DeepSeek shows its complete thought process — analyzing the identity and purpose of the questioner and publicly sharing its reasoning chain based on that.
This is especially suitable for parents who regularly assist their children with homework or for children to refer to when facing problems, helping to clarify their reasoning process.
Let’s start with mathematics. The question is: If you are a primary school teacher, please explain what a “function” is to students in a simple and interesting way.
It first confirms the final goal and analyzes the characteristics of primary school students.
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Hmm, the user wants me to explain what a function is to primary school students in a simple and interesting way. First, I need to consider the cognitive level and interests of primary school students. They may not be very familiar with abstract concepts, so I need to use familiar things to make analogies.”
Next, based on the characteristic that primary school students are “not familiar with abstract things,” it chooses to use common examples from life for analogy.
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For example, a vending machine that children should have seen or used. You put in a coin, select the drink you want, and the machine dispenses it. This process is very similar to how a function works: input corresponds to output, making it easy to understand.
Then, it may be necessary to further break down this example to ensure they understand that the relationship between input and output is fixed, with each input corresponding to a specific output. For instance, if you put in 1 yuan and press the cola button, you get cola, not another drink; this rule is clear.”
Next, it considers possible “unexpected” situations based on the broad foundation.
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It also needs to consider whether any child will ask what happens if different things are input. For example, will inputting game coins yield a drink? At this point, it can explain that functions have specific rules and only accept correct inputs, just like vending machines only accept coins.”
The next step is to use a simple mathematical example to link the relationship between the “vending machine” and the “function” and ensure the language is easy to understand.
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Next, it may be necessary to use a mathematical example to connect, such as y=2x. Demonstrating with numbers, inputting 1 gives 2, inputting 2 gives 4, thus intuitively showing the transformation process of the function. At the same time, it can encourage them to try different numbers themselves, increasing interactivity.
It should also ensure the language is lively, using some onomatopoeia and emojis, like “Ding Dong!” and 🍪 to make the explanation more interesting. Avoid using technical terms and keep it conversational, for example, describing the function’s effect as “little magic.”
After completing all the above steps, it checks the logic to ensure no key points are missed, so students understand what a “function” is.
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Finally, it checks whether the entire explanation is logically clear and whether any key points are omitted, such as the uniqueness of functions, where each input corresponds to one output. It may also need to prepare to answer questions that students might ask, such as why functions exist or what they are used for, but according to the user’s request, the main task is to explain the definition, so these can be left for future discussions.
To summarize, using a vending machine as a metaphor, combined with mathematical examples, keeping the language lively and interesting, ensures that students can easily understand the basic concept of functions.
Below is the answer given by DeepSeek after its thinking:
Classmates, today I want to introduce you to a magical “vending machine” in the world of mathematics! Its name is — function✨
Imagine the school’s vending machine: you put in 5 yuan, press the 🍎 juice button, “Ding Dong!” — it dispenses a bottle of apple juice! This is the little secret of functions: **you give it something, and it will return something else according to fixed rules!**
For example, we have a “cookie magician function”🍪:
Input → your pocket money (3 yuan)
Output → number of cookies (3 yuan ÷ 1 yuan/cookie = 3 cookies)
Look! You put in the number 3, and it produces 3 cookies!
Let’s play a number game🎮:
There’s a “doubling sprite function” (y=2x)
You secretly tell it “2”, and it immediately shouts “4!”
You quietly say “5”, and it instantly replies “10!”
Did you notice? This sprite will always double your number!
🌟 Three magical rules of functions🌟:
1️⃣ You must put something in to get something out
2️⃣ Each time you put in the same thing, the result will also be the same
3️⃣ You cannot produce two different things at the same time (for example, putting in 3 yuan cannot yield both cookies and candy)
Now you are all little magicians! Try designing your own functions:
🍦 Input ice cream quantity → Output how much money is needed?
📚 Input reading time → Output how much knowledge was learned?
Remember, every magic must have its own fixed rules!
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Although it cannot replace the face-to-face teaching of a teacher, its logical deduction steps are clear, and it is not a big problem for parents who need to help their children with homework to “copy” from it.
In the past, everyone thought that AI had absolute advantages in tasks like coding and solving mathematical problems with unique solutions, but in terms of creation, it still lacks some emotional resonance compared to humans.
To verify DeepSeek’s writing ability, we asked DeepSeek to create an “improvised” essay.
The essay requirement is: In April 2024, spring, you visit Chengdu for the first time. Please write an essay describing Chengdu’s spring, within 800 words. Any topic is acceptable, except poetry.
“It could be a student whose teacher assigned such an essay topic”
It seems many people are asking DeepSeek to write essays.
Next, it considers the characteristics of Chengdu’s spring and how to organically combine these characteristics into the structure of the article.
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Chengdu is known for its leisurely pace of life, cuisine, tea culture, and natural scenery. In spring, elements like spring rain, tea houses, flowers, Qingcheng Mountain, and Dujiangyan may be present. It needs to organically combine these elements to highlight Chengdu’s uniqueness.
Then, in terms of structure, it may need to be divided into several parts. For example, weather, tea culture, natural scenery, historical sites, daily life, etc. This can make the article well-structured and content-rich. At the same time, it should pay attention to lively and vivid language, using metaphors, personification, and other rhetorical devices to give readers an immersive feeling.
Regarding the special requirement in the question, it also noticed — the first time in Chengdu.
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The user mentioned it is their first time in Chengdu, so it can start from the perspective of an outsider, recording the freshness of the first experience. This is more likely to resonate and meet the requirements of the topic. For example, the first impression upon arriving in Chengdu, feelings in the spring rain, experiences in the tea house, visits to Qingcheng Mountain, and the streets at night, etc.”
In addition to personal feelings, there is also the integration of cultural elements.
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It also needs to pay attention to the integration of cultural elements, such as historical sites like Du Fu’s Thatched Cottage and Dujiangyan, which can add depth and cultural connotation to the article. At the same time, the cuisine of Chengdu is also an important part that cannot be ignored, such as mentioning the aroma of snack stalls and hotpot, which can more comprehensively showcase Chengdu’s spring.
It also needs to think about how to reasonably allocate the writing within the specified word count.
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Additionally, it needs to pay attention to the word limit of 800 words, so each part cannot be elaborated too much and needs to be concise and powerful. It may be necessary to first create an outline, determine the theme of each paragraph, and then fill in the content to avoid going off-topic or being overly lengthy.
Finally, it checks whether it meets the requirements, whether it does not use a poetic form, whether the language is fluent, and whether the structure is reasonable, with sincere emotions. It ensures that the article has both detailed descriptions and an overall sense of harmony, allowing readers to have a vivid and profound impression of Chengdu’s spring.
Now, let’s see how well DeepSeek wrote this essay.
“Spring in Chengdu”
As the morning mist wraps around the fragrance of locust flowers and drifts through the window, I find myself entranced by the copper bell at the corner of Qingyang Palace. This city, known as the “Land of Abundance,” even the spring rain is long and gentle, like the bamboo leaf green in an old tea drinker’s cup, slowly spreading between the blue tiles and white walls.
The spring essence of Jin’guan City is steeped in the tea bowl. In People’s Park’s Crane Singing Tea House, the bamboo chairs age quicker than the guests, and the patina of the wood conceals countless leisurely afternoons. I imitate the old gentleman at the next table, gently swirling the lid, and the snow of the green pond unfolds into the spring mountains in boiling water. The tea master in a gray cloth shirt drapes a white scarf over his shoulder, and the long-nosed copper kettle describes a crescent arc, as the sounds of water and the crisp clinks of mahjong intertwine under the camphor trees.
The moss stains of Qingcheng Mountain are climbing along the stone steps. The eaves of the millennium-old Taoist temple hold a few new greens, and the magnolia flowers drop quietly onto the Daoist nun’s cloud shoes. The mountain stream carries fragments of jade flowing rapidly, and I seem to hear the sound of axe and chisel when Fan Changsheng built his hut here. Turning past the mottled shadows of the ancient ginkgo, the spring water of Dujiangyan has already flowed over the fish mouth, and the bottle mouth swallows the snowy waves of the Min River, with the stone statues of Li Bing and his son still damp with moisture.
The begonia blooms wildly in Kuanzhai Alley, the rosy color flows along the horse-head walls. The bamboo weaver’s fingertips dance, as the strips are woven into the framework of lanterns with bell patterns. Turning the corner, I encounter the sugar painting stall, where the golden maltose flows on the bluestone slab, suddenly solidifying into a swallow with wings spread. The aroma of beef tallow from the hotpot shop mixes with the numbing scent of Sichuan pepper climbing to my nostrils, while the fluff from the phoenix trees rides the evening breeze, gliding past the colorful windows of Chunxi Road.
As the night rain returns, the south gate of Du Fu’s Thatched Cottage quietly opens. The flower path has not been swept for guests, yet there are new bamboos growing by the Huanhua Creek. As the candlelight flickers, the foundation stones of the thatched cottage site glow faintly, and I wonder if that spring a thousand years ago also had the same raindrops tapping on the poet’s broken window paper? At this moment, the sound of “Flowing Water” from the neighboring guqin studio harmonizes with the clinking of iron horses at the eaves.
As the oars of the Jinjiang River break the stars on the river, I suddenly understand the essence of spring in this city: it is not in the dazzling glance, but in the creases of time slowly unfolding in the purple clay pot, in the loquats dew-laden in the old lady’s basket at the street corner, and behind every creaking wooden door, those ordinary years steeped in spring tea.
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How well did the essay write?
Actually, how well it is written is not the most important thing, what matters is the process of understanding the topic and the divergence of thought. Such a thought chain can also completely help children when they receive a writing prompt, how to break the topic and how to start writing.
Today we must admit that in writing, AI can positively assist children.
If it can achieve a balance between instrumentality and humanity (technical assistance vs emotional expression), efficiency enhancement and process experience (quick writing vs thought honing), standardized output and personalized creation (paradigm reference vs unique style), AI will become a revolutionary force in language education. (This paragraph was written by DeepSeek🤫)
Having looked at the above two questions, or having tested DeepSeek, parents must have found that the quality of AI’s output is largely influenced by the questions asked, which requires the questioner to have good logic and accurate language.
Clearly define the identity of the respondent, clarify the target of the question, clarify the background of the question, and clarify any special requirements.We have compiled some practical tips on questioning for parents,keep them handy!
Think carefully before asking what problem you want to solve, what help you hope to get, and provide your age and learning situation.
Example: Don’t ask “how to learn English,” but instead ask“I am in X grade, and I always confuse XX grammar and application. What methods can I improve?”
Break down the problem, transforming abstract big concepts into specific small questions.
Example: Don’t ask “how to solve this problem,” but instead ask“What is the thought process for solving this problem? Are there other solutions? Where am I going wrong?”
Keep an open mind, accept different viewpoints and suggestions, and maintain an open perspective.
Example: When faced with a choice, don’t ask “A or B,” but instead ask “What are the pros and cons of A and B? In the case of XX, how should I choose?”
Protect personal privacy and pay attention to information security.
Example: Don’t expose your home address, phone number, ID number, or other important personal information in your questions.
The team leader is also thinking, when asking DeepSeek to write an essay, if they further clarify “this is a college entrance examination essay” or “this is an article to be submitted to the Youth Digest”, will they get completely different content? Interested parents can give it a try.
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In the face of new technologies, as parents, we should be clearer than children about one thing: our children are global citizens, and we cannot ignore the changes of the times. Dancing with AI is inevitable.
In this era of information explosion, only by continuously learning can we keep pace with the times. Children must have a solid knowledge base and discernment to verify AI’s answers, so they are not led by technology.
# Today’s Interaction #
What questions did you ask DeepSeek, and how did it respond to you?
– Children’s Group Recent Activities –
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