Jomon Palakudy
3035592P@student.gla.ac.uk
Research title: Designing Assessment and Pedagogical Frameworks for Awarding Qualifications
Research Summary
While the use of GenAI in computer programming has lessened the emphasis on skills such as knowing library semantics and syntax, essential abilities like problem decomposition, code specification, code reading, and code testing remain as important as ever.
My research argues that comprehension of text-based code by novice programmers—particularly when using Large Language Models (LLMs) to generate or explain code—can be significantly enhanced through a structured, pedagogically grounded framework. The framework supports a three-tiered model of code comprehension, focusing on understanding the problem statement, interpreting the programmatic solution, and identifying the conceptual associations between the two.
To scaffold learners’ reasoning within this model, the framework integrates the Test-Driven Development (TDD) methodology, which encourages iterative thinking and reflective coding practices. It is further enriched by a set of inference generation strategies that are designed to activate metacognitive processes and support deep learning, drawing from principles in cognitive and educational psychology.
The study focuses on the context of teaching novice learners to construct and comprehend functions in a high-level programming language. By investigating how these comprehension strategies interact with LLM-generated content, the thesis contributes to a currently underexplored area in computing education. It offers practical guidance for educators, instructional designers, and policy makers seeking to leverage LLMs effectively while maintaining pedagogical rigour in introductory programming courses.
This should provide a foundation for creating pedagogies to support the teaching, learning, and assessment of GenAI-assisted computer programming in classrooms. The study will offer a theoretical framework for assessing the skills K-12 students need to develop computer programs with GenAI, alongside practical tools for use by Qualification Authorities, ultimately benefiting educators, students, and teachers.
Supervisors
Teaching
Secondary School Computing Science Teacher since 2019.
