Anticipating User Needs: Insights from Design Fiction on Conversational Agents for Computational Thinking

Jacob Penney, João Felipe Pimentel, Igor Steinmacher, Marco A. Gerosa

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

Abstract

Computational thinking, and by extension, computer programming, is notoriously challenging to learn. Conversational agents and generative artificial intelligence (genAI) have the potential to facilitate this learning process by offering personalized guidance, interactive learning experiences, and code generation. However, current genAI-based chatbots focus on professional developers and may not adequately consider educational needs. Involving educators in conceiving educational tools is critical for ensuring usefulness and usability. We enlisted nine instructors to engage in design fiction sessions in which we elicited abilities such a conversational agent supported by genAI should display. Participants envisioned a conversational agent that guides students stepwise through exercises, tuning its method of guidance with an awareness of the educational background, skills and deficits, and learning preferences. The insights obtained in this paper can guide future implementations of tutoring conversational agents oriented toward teaching computational thinking and computer programming.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationChatbot Research and Design - 7th International Workshop, CONVERSATIONS 2023, Revised Selected Papers
EditorsAsbjørn Følstad, Theo Araujo, Symeon Papadopoulos, Effie L.-C. Law, Ewa Luger, Morten Goodwin, Sebastian Hobert, Petter Bae Brandtzaeg
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media Deutschland GmbH
Pages204-219
Number of pages16
ISBN (Print)9783031549748
DOIs
StatePublished - 2024
Event7th International Workshop on Chatbot Research and Design, CONVERSATIONS 2023 - Oslo, Norway
Duration: Nov 22 2023Nov 23 2023

Publication series

NameLecture Notes in Computer Science (including subseries Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence and Lecture Notes in Bioinformatics)
Volume14524 LNCS
ISSN (Print)0302-9743
ISSN (Electronic)1611-3349

Conference

Conference7th International Workshop on Chatbot Research and Design, CONVERSATIONS 2023
Country/TerritoryNorway
CityOslo
Period11/22/2311/23/23

Keywords

  • Conversational Agents
  • Design Fiction
  • Introductory Programming Courses
  • Natural Language Programming
  • Scaffolding Computational Thinking

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Theoretical Computer Science
  • General Computer Science

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