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Introduction

Computing is vital for all STEM undergraduates. However, courses that introduce computing to non-computer science majors pose significant challenges to students, who exhibit a wide range of initial capabilities and attitudes toward computing and often face a fundamentally new way of problem solving. The PRIME project has the overarching objective of transforming introductory computing for STEM majors by creating an intelligent tutoring system that provides individualized problem-solving and motivational support. Effectively introducing computing to STEM students holds enormous potential for shaping the way students develop the computational problem solving abilities that will be critical throughout their careers. This project is led by PI James Lester, co-PI Bradford Mott, and co-PI Eric Wiebe at North Carolina State University, and by co-PI Kristy Boyer at the University of Florida.

Project Description

The overarching objective of the PRIME project is to transform introductory computing for STEM majors by creating an intelligent tutoring system that provides individualized problem-solving and motivational support. The PRIME project focuses on the design, development, and evaluation of an intelligent tutoring system for introductory computing. Leveraging advanced intelligent tutoring systems technologies, PRIME will provide integrated problem-solving and motivational support dynamically tailored to individual students over the course of their problem-solving sessions.

PRIME is being designed to address the specific needs of STEM undergraduates in introductory computing courses.These students, most of whom are not computer science majors, exhibit a wide range of initial capabilities and dispositions toward computing. Many have had limited previous experience with computing, a problem that is particularly acute for women and minorities. PRIME will address these important individual differences.

The project’s research centers on investigating the effectiveness of the PRIME learning environment for students learning about computer science, as well as its impact on computing interest and self-efficacy, particularly for underrepresented groups. PRIME is currently being piloted with students at North Carolina State University, University of Florida, and Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. The project team is working with students and teachers to develop the learning activities as well as the problem-solving environment.

publications

2020
[8]	Cluster-Based Analysis of Novice Coding Misconceptions in Block-Based Programming. Andrew Emerson, Andy Smith, Fernando J. Rodríguez, Eric N. Wiebe, Bradford W. Mott, Kristy Elizabeth Boyer, James C. Lester. Proceedings of the 51st ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE), Portland, Oregon, 2020, pp. To appear. [bib]
2019
[7]	Toward a Responsive Interface to Support Novices in Block-Based Programming. Fernando J. Rodríguez, Cody R. Smith, Andy Smith, Kristy Elizabeth Boyer, Eric N. Wiebe, Bradford W. Mott, James C. Lester. Proceedings of the 2019 IEEE Blocks and Beyond Workshop, Memphis, Tennessee, 2019. [bib]
[6]	Predicting Early and Often: Predictive Student Modeling for Block-Based Programming Environments. Andrew Emerson, Andy Smith, Cody Smith, Fernando J. Rodríguez, Eric N. Wiebe, Bradford W. Mott, Kristy Elizabeth Boyer, James C. Lester. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Educational Data Mining (EDM), 2019, pp. 39-48. [bib]
2017
[5]	How Block Categories Affect Learner Satisfaction with a Block-Based Programming Interface. Fernando J. Rodríguez, Kimberly Michelle Price, Joseph Isaac Jr., Kristy Elizabeth Boyer, Christina Gardner-McCune. Proceedings of the IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL/HCC), Raleigh, North Carolina, 2017, pp. 201-205. [bib]
[4]	Expressing and Addressing Uncertainty: A Study of Collaborative Problem-Solving Dialogues. Fernando J. Rodríguez, Kimberly Michelle Price, Kristy Elizabeth Boyer. Proceedings of the 12th International Conference on Computer Supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 2017, pp. 207-214. [bib]
[3]	Toward Conversational Agents that Support Learning: A Look at Human Collaborations in Computer Science Problem Solving. Fernando J. Rodríguez, Kimberly Michelle Price, Mickey Vellukunnel, Kristy Elizabeth Boyer. Proceedings of the Conversational UX Design CHI 2017 Workshop, Denver, Colorado, 2017. [bib]
[2]	Conversational UX Design for Kids: Toward Learning Companions. Joseph B. Wiggins, Lydia G. Pezzullo, Kristy Elizabeth Boyer, Bradford W. Mott, Eric N. Wiebe, James C. Lester. Proceedings of the Conversational UX Design CHI 2017 Workshop, Denver, Colorado, 2017. [bib]
[1]	Exploring the Pair Programming Process: Characteristics of Effective Collaboration. Fernando J. Rodríguez, Kimberly Michelle Price, Kristy Elizabeth Boyer. Proceedings of the 48th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE), Seattle, Washington, 2017, pp. 507-512. [bib]