Fri 28 Feb 2025 11:45 - 11:55 at Meeting Rooms 408-410 - Lightning Talks #2

As AI tools like ChatGPT become more prevalent in educational settings, their potential to assist undergraduate teaching assistants (uTAs) in large Computer Science 2 (CS2) courses presents both opportunities and challenges. This work focuses on how ChatGPT can be strategically utilized by uTAs during office hours to enhance student support, particularly in complex topics such as data structures, algorithm development, and object-oriented programming. We explored effective strategies for uTAs to use ChatGPT in ways that promote deeper student understanding without compromising the development of independent problem-solving skills. Key strategies include leveraging ChatGPT for real-time code debugging assistance, offering alternative approaches to solving coding problems, comparing and critiquing self and AI generated documentation, and code reviewing. This work also identifies potential challenges, such as the risk of students or uTAs becoming overly dependent on AI-generated solutions and the possibility of inaccurate or incomplete responses from the AI. Hence, our findings highlight the dual role of ChatGPT as both an asset and a potential hindrance, depending on how it is utilized. To mitigate these risks, we propose a set of best practices that ensure ChatGPT enhances, rather than replaces, the uTA’s role as a facilitator of learning. The findings from this research provide valuable insights into how uTAs can integrate AI tools thoughtfully into office hours to offer more effective support, ultimately improving student engagement and learning outcomes in large-scale CS2 courses.

Fri 28 Feb

Displayed time zone: Eastern Time (US & Canada) change

10:45 - 11:55
10:45
10m
Talk
A Joint Taskforce on Undergraduate Data Science Curriculum: An Introduction and Opportunity for Feedback
Lightning Talks
Paul Leidig Grand Valley State University, Maureen Doyle Northern Kentucky University
10:55
10m
Talk
Becoming a Data Scientist: Understanding the Data Science Identity Formation in a Data Science Program
Lightning Talks
Rachel Roca Department of Computational Mathematics, Science, and Engineering; Michigan State University
11:05
10m
Talk
Cognitive Load Dilemma: Adding Language Support to CS Curriculum
Lightning Talks
Sofia De Jesus Carnegie Mellon University, Timothy Barnes Carnegie Mellon University, Mark Stehlik Carnegie Mellon University, David Kosbie Carnegie Mellon University, Erin Bozzo Carnegie Mellon University
11:15
10m
Talk
CS Education and Comics: Exploring Art, Representation, and Inspiration in Teaching CS1 and CS2 Curricula
Lightning Talks
Ecy King Stanford University, McGraw Hill , Ecy King Stanford University, McGraw Hill
11:25
10m
Talk
Spiral Cultivation of Soft Skills in Computer Science Education
Lightning Talks
Noa Ragonis Beit Berl college
11:35
10m
Talk
Shaping the next generation of computing researchers through a year-long immersive undergraduate research experience in socially relevant computing
Lightning Talks
Farzana Rahman Syracuse University
11:45
10m
Talk
Leveraging or Limiting: Strategies and Implications of ChatGPT Use by Undergraduate TAs in Large CS2 Courses
Lightning Talks
Farzana Rahman Syracuse University
11:55
1m
Talk
(CANCELLED) I have an Idea that Needs Funding! What’s Next? NOT SO FAQs Regarding NSF and Program Director Engagement
Lightning Talks
DOI