Papers for

curriculum designers

Papers whose findings have a practical use for this group, as judged from the abstract. Open a paper to read what it means in practice.

Instructional reasoning preservation improves teaching material reuse

Looking Back and Forward: What Teaching Materials Do Not Remember About Instructional Reasoning

Abstract: Instructional materials can be passed along to new instructors, yet the instructional reasoning, such as instructional intentions, contextual information, and reflective insights behind their design, is rarely preserved. Traditional Learning Management System (LMS) tools are designed to store instructional artifacts rather than reasoning. To address this issue, we propose Teaching Memory, a design approach that treats instructional reasoning as a primary form of knowledge. We present a design-oriented framework for preserving instructional reasoning in a lightweight manner within instructors' existing workflows, enabling continuity and reuse.

Wed 16 SeptComputers and Society
The gist
Teaching materials often get reused by different instructors, but the important reasons and thoughts behind their design usually get lost. The authors propose a new way called Teaching Memory to capture these behind-the-scenes ideas easily within existing teaching tools. This helps future instructors understand why materials were made a certain way and use them more effectively. The approach is designed to fit naturally into teachers' workflows without adding too much extra work.
Open 2609.19488v1

Flipped learning and generative ai enhance knit yarn design skills

Integrating Flipped Learning and Generative AI for Practice-Based Design Education: Evidence from a Knit Yarn Design Course

Abstract: In practice-based design courses such as knit yarn design, students must turn visual ideas into feasible material outcomes. This is difficult because creative decisions are tied to yarn properties, stitch structures, machine operation, and limited opportunities for physical sampling. This study presents an integrated pedagogical framework that combines flipped learning, exemplar-based reference, GenAI-assisted visual prototyping, and studio feedback in an undergraduate knit yarn design course. The framework was implemented through a cross-device platform with pre-class micro-videos, formative checks, a curated gallery, and a GenAI-supported ideation module. An exploratory course-based evaluation compared a historical control cohort (N = 12) and an intervention cohort (N = 16), supplemented by questionnaire responses and brief interviews. The findings are interpreted as context-specific indicators rather than confirmatory causal evidence. Exploratory comparisons showed higher scores in creativity thinking, design skills, problem solving, and total course score in the intervention cohort. Student and instructor responses suggested that flipped learning supported studio readiness, while GenAI mainly supported early-stage visual exploration rather than precise technical guidance. Overall, the study offers a practice-based instructional framework for integrating flipped preparation, GenAI-assisted visual prototyping, and studio feedback in design education.

Wed 16 SeptHuman-Computer Interaction
The gist
Designing with knitted yarn is hard because students need to turn visual ideas into real, physical products, which involves understanding yarn types and stitch patterns. The authors combined flipped learning (where students prepare before class), generative AI for sketching design ideas, and in-studio feedback into a new teaching method. They tested this approach in a real course and found it helped students think more creatively and solve problems better. Generative AI was especially useful for early design exploration but less so for technical details.
Open 2609.18505v1

Daoism offers new ways to think about AI in education

Alternative AI Philosophy: Daoism as Method for AI in Education

Abstract: As artificial intelligence (AI) rapidly iterates and transforms teaching, learning, and knowledge production, philosophical reflection has become increasingly indispensable to educational debates that remain predominantly shaped by Western intellectual traditions. This article proposes Daoism as an alternative philosophical framework for reimagining AI in education. Through philosophical analysis and textual interpretation of classical Daoist sources, brought into dialogue with contemporary scholarship on AI in education, it examines how the Daoist concepts of "Dao nature," "self-cultivation," and the "Zhenren" address fundamental questions concerning reality, the epistemic aims of education, and ethical action in the AI-mediated era. In doing so, the article diversifies the philosophical voices shaping inquiry into AI and education, enriching the field's conceptual resources for grappling with the philosophical questions AI raises for education and offering a genuinely pluralistic foundation for comparative philosophy of education in the AI era.

Wed 9 SeptComputers and Society
The gist
AI is changing how teaching and learning happen, but most thinkers use Western ideas to understand it. This paper looks at Daoism, an ancient Chinese philosophy, to offer different ways of thinking about AI and education. Concepts like 'Dao nature' and 'self-cultivation' from Daoism can help rethink what knowledge and ethical action mean when AI is involved. This broadens the conversation by including non-Western perspectives on AI in education.
Open 2609.10842v1

Programming course framework builds human-centered data science skills

Embedded Human-Centered Data Science in a Graduate Programming Course: A Framework and Case Study

Abstract: As AI and data-driven systems pervade practice, there is an imperative for instructors to embed societal impact and ethics content into computing courses. In response, we present the Human-Centered Education for Learning in Information and eXplainable Computing (HELIX) framework for information science programs, organized around three iterative pillars - knowledge building, decision-making, and empowerment - with concrete actions for instructors and students. We applied the framework in a graduate, introductory programming course using readings, algorithmic design activities, and scenario-based reflections. We present a pilot implementation of this framework to examine changes in students' (n=22) knowledge acquisition, decision-making processes, and self-reflection regarding human-centered perspectives in data science. We release an anonymized materials kit (survey, assignments, analysis code) to support adoption. We discuss design tensions (workload, assessment, relevance to diverse information science learners) and provide guidelines for integrating human-centered content without overwhelming technical outcomes. Findings suggest that the HELIX Framework is feasible in information science contexts and future work should use comparative survey assessment to strengthen causal inferences.

Tue 8 SeptHuman-Computer Interaction
The gist
The paper addresses the need to teach how computing affects society and ethics in programming courses. The authors created a framework called HELIX to help students understand knowledge, make better decisions, and feel empowered when working with data science. They tested it in a graduate programming class with activities like readings and reflections to see how students improved. The results showed it's possible to add these human-centered lessons without harming technical learning. They also shared their teaching materials for others to use.
Open 2609.08982v1