Introducing Reinforcement Learning Concepts to Middle School Students with Game-Based Learning (SIGCSE TS 2025 - Posters)

Who

Matthew Presson, Anisha Gupta, Jessica Vandenberg, Alex Goslen, Wookhee Min, Veronica Catete, Bradford Mott

Track

SIGCSE TS 2025 Posters

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When

Sat 1 Mar 2025 10:00 - 12:00 at Exhibit Hall C - Posters - Posters #4

Abstract

As AI tools become increasingly integrated into everyday life, there is a need to expand resources for K-12 AI education. In this work, we introduce a game-based learning activity focusing on teaching reinforcement learning concepts to middle school students. We present the iterative design of the activity, discussing its initial implementation and subsequent enhancements to improve student learning outcomes. The game-based learning activity was implemented during two summer camps with middle school students. We provide an overview of the two different versions of the activity and analyze key insights drawn from student feedback, collected through pre and post-activity surveys.

Matthew Presson

North Carolina State University

United States

Anisha Gupta

North Carolina State University

United States

Jessica Vandenberg

North Carolina State University

United States

Alex Goslen

North Carolina State University

United States

Wookhee Min

North Carolina State University

United States

Veronica Catete

North Carolina State University

United States

Bradford Mott

North Carolina State University

United States

This program is tentative and subject to change.

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The program is currently displayed in (GMT-05:00) Eastern Time (US & Canada).

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Session Program

Sat 1 Mar
Displayed time zone: Eastern Time (US & Canada) change

10:00 - 12:00	Posters #4Posters at Exhibit Hall C - Posters

10:00 2h Talk		AutoRemind: Improving Student Academic Performance Through a Personalized and Automated Notification System Posters Oindree Chatterjee University of California, Berkeley, Ankita Sundar University of California, Berkeley, Arihant Choudhary University of California Berkeley, Connor Bernard University of California, Berkeley, Daniel Garcia University of California Berkeley
10:00 2h Talk		ToolName: Defining Coding Katas using a Single Jupyter Notebook Posters Zachary Kurmas Grand Valley State University
10:00 2h Talk		Uncovering Opportunities for K-12 CS Professional Development in West African Schools.GlobalK12 Posters Jane Awuah GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY, Judith Uchidiuno Georgia Institute of Technology
10:00 2h Talk		Characteristics and Effectiveness of Cheat Sheets for a Third-year Computer Graphics and Image Processing CourseGlobal Posters Burkhard Wünsche University of Auckland, Dominik Lange-Nawka University of Auckland, Zixuan Wang University of Auckland, Steffan Hooper University of Auckland, Samuel E. R. Thompson University of Cambridge, Haoran Feng University of Auckland
10:00 2h Talk		Towards a Quantum-Resistant Future: Experiences in Post-Quantum Cryptography Education Posters Thomas J. Borrelli Rochester Institute of Technology, Sumita Mishra Rochester Institute of Technology, Monika Polak University of Rochester, Stanislaw Radziszowski Rochester Institute of Technology
10:00 2h Talk		Creating a Joint-Faculty Artificial Intelligence Concentration within a Graduate Program Posters En-Shiun Annie Lee University of Toronto, Arvind Gupta University of Toronto, Amane Takeuchi University of Toronto, Stacey Koornneef University of Ontario Institute of Technology
10:00 2h Talk		Integrating Computational Thinking, Project-Based Learning, and Cultural Heritage for Rural Middle School StudentsK12 Posters Kyle Dunbar Digital Promise Global, Merijke Coenraad Digital Promise, Emi Iwatani Digital Promise
10:00 2h Talk		GradeSync: a Tool for Automating Incomplete Processing to Support Mastery Learning Posters Manan Bhargava University of California, Berkeley, Mehul Ajay Gandhi University of California, Berkeley, Eemon Qayumi University of California, Berkeley, Victoria Phelps University of California, Berkeley, Zixuan Zhuang University of California, Berkeley, Naveen Nathan University of California, Berkeley, Connor Bernard University of California, Berkeley, Daniel Garcia University of California Berkeley
10:00 2h Talk		Designing for 5th Grader Sports and Computing ExperiencesK12 Posters Pipob Puthipiroj Northwestern University, Ashley Quiterio Northwestern University
10:00 2h Talk		TheoryViz: A Visualizer Tool for Theory of Computing Concepts Posters Lillian Baker United States Military Academy, Sierra Zoe Bennett-Manke United States Military Academy, Sebastian Neumann United States Military Academy, Ian Njuguna United States Military Academy, Ryan Dougherty United States Military Academy
10:00 2h Talk		Piloting Intergenerational Participatory Design with Students & Teachers to develop Integrated K-8 CS Learning ExperiencesK12 Posters Jean Salac Carleton College, Justin Cannady University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
10:00 2h Talk		Impact of Gender on OSS File Contributions Posters Leilani Torres The College of Wooster, Heather Guarnera The College of Wooster, Michael L. Collard The University of Akron, Amber Garcia The College of Wooster
10:00 2h Talk		Engaging K-12 Learners in Data Annotation for AI Climate ModelsK12 Posters Michael MacFerrin University of Colorado Boulder, Edward Boyda Earth Genome, Kimberly Young Earth Genome, Josephine Namayanja University of Maryland Baltimore County, Aneesh Subramanian University of Colorado Boulder, Mohamed Mokbel University of Minnesota, Lujie Karen Chen University of Maryland, Baltimore County, Vandana P. Janeja University of Maryland, Baltimore County
10:00 2h Talk		International Mobility for PhD Students: Key LearningsGlobal Posters Cecilia O. Alm Rochester Institute of Technology, Reynold Bailey Rochester Institute of Technology, Sarah Jane Delany Technological University Dublin, Georgiana Ifrim University College Dublin, Brian Mac Namee University College Dublin, Esa Rantanen Rochester Institute of Technology, Ferat Sahin Rochester Institute of Technology
10:00 2h Talk		Introducing Reinforcement Learning Concepts to Middle School Students with Game-Based LearningK12 Posters Matthew Presson North Carolina State University, Anisha Gupta North Carolina State University, Jessica Vandenberg North Carolina State University, Alex Goslen North Carolina State University, Wookhee Min North Carolina State University, Veronica Catete North Carolina State University, Bradford Mott North Carolina State University
10:00 2h Talk		Untangling School Leaders’ Perception of AI Integration in K-12 EducationK12 Posters Yingxiao Qian University of South Carolina, Hengtao Tang University of South Carolina
10:00 2h Talk		Intersectional Identities of Asian Americans Living with Mental Health Conditions in Computer Science Education Posters Mei Prasetio Swarthmore College, Christian Murphy Swarthmore College
10:00 2h Talk		ChatGPT Comes to Campus: Unveiling Core Themes in AI Policies Across U.S. Universities with Large Language Models Posters Charles Alba Washington University in St Louis, Wang Xi Washington University in St Louis, Chenyu Wang Washington University in St Louis, Ruopeng An New York University
10:00 2h Talk		Scalable Small-Group CS Tutoring System with AI Posters Yoonseok Yang Pensieve, Jack Liu Pensieve, J.D. Zamfirescu-Pereira UC Berkeley, John DeNero UC Berkeley
10:00 2h Talk		Computer Science Behind Bars: Lessons Learned from Teaching Incarcerated Students in Prisons and Jails Posters Andrew Fishberg MIT, Marisa Gaetz MIT, Martin Nisser University of Washington, Carole Cafferty MIT, Lee Perlman MIT, Raechel N. Soicher MIT, Joshua Long University of Massachusetts, Lowell
10:00 2h Talk		Bridging Simulation and Hardware: A Holistic Platform for Teaching in Computer Architecture and Operating Systems Posters Changzhong Qian University of Southern California, Siyu Chen University of Southern California, Andrew Goodney University of Southern California
10:00 2h Talk		CSEdD: CS Eduation Dashboard for Student Success, Retention, and Performance Investigations Posters Mackenzie Creamer Northeastern University, Penny Rheingans University of Maine
10:00 2h Talk		Understanding the Effects of Integrating Music Programming and Web Development in a Summer Camp for High School StudentsK12 Posters Daniel Manesh Virginia Tech, Andrew Jelson Virginia Tech, Emily Altland Virginia Tech, Jason Freeman Georgia Tech, Sang Won Lee Virginia Tech
10:00 2h Talk		Exploration of Undergraduate Teaching Assistant Identity and Teaching Goals in Data Science Courses Posters Krina Patel University of California, Berkeley, Abigail Brooks-Ramirez University of California, Berkeley, Rebecca Dang University of California, Berkeley, Bryan Ventura University of California, Berkeley, Lisa Yan UC Berkeley
10:00 2h Talk		A Blueprint for Q-CS1, an Introductory Quantum Programming Course Posters Austin J. Adams Georgia Institute of Technology, Rodrigo Borela Georgia Institute of Technology, Jeffrey Young Georgia Institute of Technology, Thomas Conte Georgia Institute of Technology
10:00 2h Talk		Designing Tangible Coding Blocks and Tools for Teaching Computational Thinking to Children with Autism Spectrum DisorderGlobal Posters Sukanya Roychowdhury Department of Computer Science & Information Systems (CS&IS), BITS Pilani , K K Birla Goa Campus, Swaroop Joshi BITS Pilani KK Birla Goa Campus
10:00 2h Talk		From Code to Concepts: Textbook-Driven Knowledge Tracing with LLMs in CS1 Posters Abby O'Neill University of California, Berkeley, Samantha Smith UC Berkeley, Aneesh Durai UC Berkeley, John DeNero UC Berkeley, J.D. Zamfirescu-Pereira UC Berkeley, Narges Norouzi University of California, Berkeley
10:00 2h Talk		Evaluating Students’ Experience in High School CS Education: A CAPE Framework-Based ApproachK12 Posters Manee Ngozi M Nnamani Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Josh Sheldon Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Teaching Systems Lab, Deborah Boisvert CSforMA, Inc., Justin Reich Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Teaching Systems Lab
10:00 2h Talk		A SWOT Analysis of How a Research Practice Partnership Builds Trust and Cultivates Partnership Relationships Posters Laycee Thigpen Institute for Advancing Computing Education, Monica McGill Institute for Advancing Computing Education
10:00 2h Talk		Portable Pedagogy: Teaching Computer Science Across Institutions Posters Lauren Herckis CGFNS International, Inc. and Carnegie Mellon University (On Leave), Judeth Oden Choi Carnegie Mellon University
10:00 2h Talk		GRADE: Grading and Assessment of Database ER Diagrams Posters Eldon Williams Gatton Academy, Western Kentucky University, Guangming Xing Western Kentucky University
10:00 2h Talk		School Implementation Planning for Equitable AP CSPK12 Posters Julie K. Zeringue Education Development Center, Jane Kang Education Development Center, Deborah Spencer Education Development Center, Kelsey Klein Education Development Center, June Mark Education Development Center
10:00 2h Talk		An IoT Sensing After-School Program - Impacts on Belonging and Confidence in Middle School StudentsK12 Posters Brian Krupp Case Western Reserve University, Jonathon Fagert Baldwin Wallace University
10:00 2h Talk		An Analysis of K-12 Programming Education Utilizing the Minecraft Metaverse Amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic Posters Chiyoko Sawada Keio University, Masafumi Terazono Keio Research Lab at SFC
10:00 2h Talk		A Multi-modal Understanding of Emotions and Cognitive Engagement of Students during a Programming Task Posters Rakhi The Ohio State University, Trebor Shankle The Ohio State University, Zahra Atiq The Ohio State University
10:00 2h Talk		Exploring ChatGPT as a Qualitative Research Assistant Posters Angelina Brilliantova Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT), Zack Butler Rochester Institute of Technology, Ivona Bezakova Rochester Institute of Technology
10:00 2h Talk		Does ABET Accreditation Influence the Representation of Women in CS Programs? Posters Stefanie Colino Dube Northeastern University, Albert Lionelle Khoury College of Computer Sciences, Northeastern University
10:00 2h Talk		Teaching Algorithms to Indigenous Students of Brazil's AmazonGlobal Posters Maristela Holanda Universidade de Brasília, Edison Ishikawa Universidade de Brasília, Dilma Da Silva Texas A&M
10:00 2h Talk		Traversing New Horizons: An Exploration of Educational Policies on Generative AI Posters Kerrie Hooper Florida International University, Stephanie Lunn Florida International University
10:00 2h Talk		Developing a National Longitudinal Study on 6th-12th Grade Students' Motivation and Persistence in ComputingK12 Posters Monica McGill Institute for Advancing Computing Education, Joseph Tise Institute for Advancing Computing Education
10:00 2h Talk		What Gets Them Talking? Identifying Catalysts for Student Engagement Within a Computing Ethics Course Posters Carol Li University of California, Berkeley, Su Min Park University of California, Berkeley, Jedidiah Tsang University of California, Berkeley, Lisa Yan UC Berkeley