Computer Science Programs Research Articles

Admissions in the age of AI: detecting AI-generated application materials in higher education

Recent advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI), such as the development of large language models like ChatGPT, have blurred the boundaries between human and AI-generated text. This has led to a pressing need for tools that can determine whether text has been created or revised using AI. A general and universally effective detection model would be extremely useful, but appears to be beyond the reach of current technology and detection methods. The research described in this study adopts a domain and task specific approach and shows that specialized detection models can attain high accuracy. The study focuses on the higher education graduate admissions process, with the specific goal of identifying AI-generated and AI-revised Letters of Recommendation (LORs) and Statements of Intent (SOIs). Detecting such application materials is essential to ensure that applicants are evaluated on their true merits and abilities, and to foster an equitable and trustworthy admissions process. Our research is based on 3755 LORs and 1973 SOIs extracted from the application records of Fordham University’s Master’s programs in Computer Science and Data Science. To facilitate the construction and evaluation of detection models, we generated AI counterparts for each LOR and SOI using the GPT-3.5 Turbo API. The prompts for AI-generation text were derived from the admission data of the respective applicants, and the AI-revised LORs and SOIs were generated directly from the human-authored versions. We also utilize an open-access GPT-wiki-intro dataset to further validate our hypothesis regarding the feasibility of constructing domain-specific AI content detectors. Our experiments yield promising results in developing classifiers tailored to a specific domain when provided with sufficient training samples. Additionally, we present a comparative analysis of the word frequency and statistical characteristics of the text, which provides convincing evidence that ChatGPT employs distinctive vocabulary and paragraph structure compared to human-authored text. The code for this study is available on GitHub, and the models can be executed on user-provided data via an interactive web interface.

Pemanfaatan Literasi Digital Dalam Meningkatkan Kreativitas Motorik Anak Berkebutuhan Khusus (ABK)

ABK's motor creativity is said to be good if they are in the right environment, surrounded by people who understand their special needs, both in terms of assisting, guiding and supporting no matter how small they do. Collaboration of digital learning and conventional creativity is one of the strategies developed by HSBE academically/non-academicly. The reading literacy ability of ABK is quite good in understanding writing, pictures, colors but due to verbal limitations it seems difficult to speak and not yet fluent in reading. The need for digital literacy for children with special needs in the form of visual art comics in the form of visualization of picture story books and visualization of digital fairy tales is quite influential in improving the motor skills of children with special needs. The computer science program was attended by ABK grades 2 and 3 because they were already able to operate basic computer systems. This study uses a qualitative descriptive method involving teachers, parents and children with special needs as a sample. The results of this study concluded that 2 children with special needs: 1ADHD – GAP (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) and 1ASD – RRF (Autism Spectrum Disorder) have very low ratings in utilizing digital media compared to 3 other children with special needs so that they require extra assistance and learning media

Hands-on parallel & distributed computing with Raspberry Pi devices and clusters

Parallel and distributed computing (PDC) concepts are now required topics for accredited undergraduate computer science programs. However, introducing PDC into the CS curriculum is challenging for several reasons, including an instructor's lack of PDC knowledge and difficulties in accessing PDC hardware. This paper addresses both of these challenges by presenting free, interactive, web-based PDC teaching modules using inexpensive Raspberry Pi single board computers (SBCs). Our materials include a free disk image that makes it possible for instructors to build Raspberry Pi clusters in minutes and use our software in a variety of curricular contexts. Our multi-year assessment of these materials on students and faculty members indicates that: (i) our materials increased students' confidence regarding important PDC concepts and motivated them to study PDC further; and (ii) our materials increased faculty members' confidence and preparedness in teaching key PDC concepts at their own institutions.

L2 students’ barriers in engaging with form and content-focused AI-generated feedback in revising their compositions

Providing corrective feedback to second language (L2) writing constitutes a crucial digital affordance for AI-assisted writing systems. However, L2 writers’ revision strategies and obstacles to adopting AI-generated feedback, such as ChatGPT, remain unclear. Forty-five L2 students in a computer science program were tasked with seeking corrective feedback from ChatGPT for their argumentative essays, followed by an analysis of their revisions and rationale for feedback uptake strategies. The findings revealed that approximately 38% of the feedback was either explicitly argued (22%) or ignored (16%). Upon controlling for writing proficiency, participants statistically rejected a significantly higher proportion of feedback at the content level (e.g. evidence) than at the form level (e.g. grammar). Utilizing the Technology Acceptance Model, the reasons for rejecting or ignoring ChatGPT-generated feedback were examined through participants’ reflective data, focusing on two perspectives: inconvenience to use and unusefulness. Inconvenient factors included (1) overload feedback, (2) provision of general descriptions instead of specific error highlighting, and (3) repetitive and tedious comments. Themes related to unusefulness encompassed (1) misinterpretation of authors’ intentions, (2) lack of clarity and illustrative examples, and (3) extraneous and irrelevant feedback. The implications entail pedagogical strategies to mitigate barriers and foster feedback literacy in AI-assisted educational environment.

Cybersecurity activities for education and curriculum design: A survey

Cyber threats are one of the main concerns in this growing technology epoch. To tackle this issue, highly skilled and motivated cybersecurity professionals are increasingly in demand to prevent, detect, respond to, or even mitigate the effects of such threats. However, the world faces a workforce shortage of qualified cybersecurity professionals and practitioners. To address this dilemma, several cybersecurity educational programs have been introduced, such as specialized cybersecurity courses in computer science graduate programs. With the increasing demand, different cybersecurity courses are introduced at the high school level, undergraduate computer science and information systems programs, and even at the government level. Due to the peculiar nature of cybersecurity, educational institutions face many issues when designing a curriculum or cybersecurity activities. In this paper, we study existing cybersecurity curriculum approaches and activities. We also present case studies on cybersecurity education around the globe.

Evaluating English-medium instruction in higher education: EMI-QE

English-medium instruction (EMI) is on the rise in higher education (HE) across the globe. Despite this trend, a gap remains in the evaluation of EMI programs, leaving the question of what constitutes good practices in EMI largely unresolved. Moreover, the intersection between EMI and program evaluation is still elusive, resulting in a dearth of universally accepted guidelines and tools for evaluating EMI. This study introduces the English-Medium Instruction Q Evaluation (EMI-QE), an instrument designed to assess EMI in HE. The EMI-QE was demonstrated in a computer science program and was found to reflect several key strengths (e.g., lecturers’ confidence in using English and language support) and areas for improvement (e.g., lectures’ communication gaps and cultural sensitivity) of the program. In addition to addressing English proficiency and implementing an English certification policy, it was recommended that the program offer professional development on cultural sensitivity and inclusive teaching practices in order to address diversity issues, ensuring that all students, regardless of their backgrounds, are well supported.

Assessment of an English and Business Computer Science program in bridging academia and job market in the Democratic Republic of Congo

This paper evaluates the impact of an English and Business Computer Science program in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the world’s second-largest French-speaking country after France. The program addresses the gap between academic training and market needs by combining English language proficiency with essential business and computer science skills. This combination aims to equip students for success in the business and technology sectors, where English is a key language. The paper details the program’s implementation, outcomes, and evaluation, using surveys of employers and graduates, along with an analysis of student competencies and employability. The findings underscore the importance of English proficiency, along with business and technological skills, in aligning educational outcomes with job market demands, thereby improving student success.

Recruiting Practices in Informal CS Learning

Introduction: Computer science (CS) lacks representation from people who identify as one or more of the following identities: woman, Black, Indigenous, Hispanic, Latina/Latino/Latinx, or disabled. We refer to these groups as historically underrepresented groups (HUGs). Informal learning, like CS summer camps and hackathons, can increase interest in K-12 students but still struggles to broaden participation. Objectives: In this study, we examine one source of struggle for informal learning programs: recruiting practices. Methods: Towards the goal of understanding this struggle, we interviewed 14 informal K-12 CS learning programs across a diverse region in the Northwestern United States to understand what recruiting practices are being used. We used a cultural competency lens to examine the variation within recruiting practices and how some practices could lead to broader participation in computing. Results: We identified 18 different recruiting practices used by informal CS learning program organizers. Some programs had similar practices, but subtle differences in implementation that led them to fall at different points on the cultural competence continuum. More culturally competent implementations generally involve reflection on the needs of specific populations that programs were trying to recruit, on why previous recruiting implementations did not work, and on feedback from stakeholders to change their implementations. This is the first paper to investigate how the implementation of the recruiting practice determines its cultural competency. Conclusion: Results from this study illuminate some of the problems informal CS programs face in broadening participation in computing and provide insights on how program organizers’ can overcome them. Our work highlights how students or parents access resources, the challenges program organizers encounter, and whether current recruiting practices effectively engage students from HUGs.

DISAIN KURIKULUM INTER-DISIPLINER BERBASIS KKNI: PROGRAM STUDI ILMU KOMPUTER DENGAN FOKUS SOFT COMPUTING DAN INTELLIGENT SYSTEM

The development of technology demands Computer Science graduates to have interdisciplinary knowledge and skills. Traditional curricula are less adaptive in addressing the dynamic industry needs and focus on developing soft skills. This article discusses the design of an interdisciplinary curriculum based on KKNI for Computer Science programs with a focus on soft computing and intelligent systems. This curriculum design integrates knowledge and skills from various disciplines, with an emphasis on the development of soft skills. The curriculum structure is divided into two tracks: the Mandatory Track focusing on the fundamental foundations of Computer Science and soft skills, and the Elective Track focusing on deepening interests and talents in the field of soft computing and intelligent systems, such as Artificial Neural Networks, Microcontrollers, Data Mining, Embedded Systems, Fuzzy Logic, and Computer Vision. This research adopts a Research and Development (R&D) approach with the ADDIE model. Data are collected through surveys, interviews, and document analysis. It is expected that this curriculum design will produce Computer Science graduates with comprehensive, adaptive knowledge and skills, ready for the digital era workforce, particularly in the field of soft computing and intelligent systems.

UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES OF TEACHING COMPUTER SCIENCE SUBJECTS FROM SCHOOL TEACHERS’ PERSPECTIVE

The implementation of Computer Science (CS) in Malaysian secondary schools aims to develop digital proficiency among youths. Despite this, Kedah state has seen fluctuating enrolment in CS elective subjects for the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (SPM) exam between 2018 and 2021, which contrasts with the increasing popularity of CS programs in higher education and the rising demand for CS skills.Addressing the challenges teachers face in delivering CS subjects is crucial, including issues like inadequate training, limited resources, language barriers, and diverse student backgrounds. This study uses a quantitative approach with self-developed questionnaires distributed among experienced CS teachers in Kedah to identify these challenges and propose solutions. Findings reveal a mix of experienced and less experienced teachers, mostly with medium-level proficiency. The study highlights difficulties in teaching Form 4 and Form 5 content and suggests improvements through professional development, collaboration, hands-on experiences, and updated resources to enhance teaching effectiveness and better align secondary education with higher education and job market needs.

A streamlined and adaptive approach for accrediting a French education system program by ABET-EAC

IntroductionIn recent times, there has been a notable increase in the demand for accreditations, driven by their essential role in recognizing diplomas, elevating the quality of higher education, facilitating student mobility, enabling the pursuit of multiple degrees, and influencing university rankings. This surge in demand reflects the evolving landscape of higher education in a world that is becoming progressively interconnected and competitive.MethodsThis paper presents a comprehensive methodology for accrediting study programs in French higher education institutions worldwide that are seeking the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology (ABET) accreditation. ABET accreditation is a globally recognized organism of quality for education programs in engineering, computer science, and related fields. The methodology proposed in this paper focuses on aligning ABET’s requirements and standards with the specific context of the French Education System (FES). It provides clear guidelines and practical steps for higher education institutions to effectively navigate the accreditation process. The methodology covers the verification of existing study programs, identification of areas for improvement, implementation of corrective actions, and continuous progress monitoring. It emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement and aligning programs with the Program Educational Objectives (POEs). Concrete examples and best practices are shared to illustrate successful implementation of the methodology developed based on the example of the engineering college programs at our university.Results and discussionThe results obtained in this case study demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of this approach within a specific educational context. The approach presented in this contribution can serve as a model for other countries seeking to adapt ABET accreditation requirements to their own higher education systems, further promoting diversity and openness. This reinforces the credibility of the methodology and paves the way for its use in other institutions and programs that operate within similar systems.

Evaluating the Reliability of a Social Presence Composite Construct for Online Computer Science Degree Programmes

As a contribution to ongoing discussions about the implications of social presence for online instruction technology, this study evaluated the reliability and validity of a composite social presence construct in online computer science programmes using archival data from the Computing Research Association’s (CRA) Center for Evaluating the Research Pipeline (CERP) Data Buddies Survey. Questions from the survey were aligned to three interdependent subconstructs of social presence proposed by Kreijns et al (2021). Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to analyse the relationships between the subconstructs. Cronbach’s alpha was used to evaluate the internal consistency and reliability of the subconstructs of social presence, sociability, and social space, as well as the composite construct of social presence. The findings indicate that the social presence construct and its subconstructs are internally consistent and highly reliable, aligned with the CERP survey. Results indicated that the subconstructs are interrelated indicators of the perception of social presence in online computer science programmes. This study contributes to the literature concerning measuring social presence in online learning by providing a reliable and valid construct that can be used to assess the construct using different permutations of analysis on the CERP dataset.

Exploring Android Obfuscators and Deobfuscators: An Empirical Investigation

Researchers have proposed different obfuscation transformations supported by numerous smartphone protection tools (obfuscators and deobfuscators). However, there is a need for a comprehensive study to empirically characterize these tools that belong to different categories of transformations. We propose a property-based framework to systematically classify twenty cutting-edge tools according to their features, analysis type, programming language support, licensing, applied obfuscation transformations, and general technical drawbacks. Our analysis predominantly reveals that very few tools work at the dynamic level, and most tools (which are static-based) work for Java or Java-based ecosystems (e.g., Android). The findings also show that the widespread adoption of renaming transformations is followed by formatting and code injection. In addition, this paper pinpoints the technical shortcomings of each tool; some of these drawbacks are common in static-based analyzers (e.g., resource consumption), and other drawbacks have negative effects on the experiment conducted by students (e.g., a third-party library involved). According to these critical limitations, we provide some timely recommendations for further research. This study can assist not only Android developers and researchers to improve the overall health of their apps but also the managers of computer science and cybersecurity academic programs to embed suitable obfuscation tools in their curricula.

Teacher and Student Experiences in a Gender-Inclusive Secondary Computer Science Program

A significant gender gap continues to exist within computer science (CS) education, despite a nationwide emphasis in the U.S. on increasing CS education equity and access. To explore this issue, we conducted an ethnographic case study within a classroom at Forest View High School (FVHS, pseudonym) where girls’ participation in CS was consistently higher than state averages over 12 years. We sought to understand teacher and student experiences within this gender-inclusive program. Data were collected over three months through observations, interviews, course documents, and reflections. Results indicate three strategies for supporting a more gender-inclusive classroom: (1) Providing personalized and relevant learning experiences; (2) modeling a growth mindset; and (3) creating a welcoming environment. Implications for practice include providing assignment choice, providing opportunities to learn from failure, and building personal relationships with students. Overall, teachers can act as agents of social change within the CS classroom, and play an essential, central role in broadening participation and equity initiatives. However, this work must also be supported by administrators, counselors, and other school stakeholders to be effective for enacting change.

Prospects of Employing Graduates of Computer Science and Technology Diploma Programs in Asir Region, Saudi Arabia: An Analysis for the Period 2019-2023

This paper aims to explore and analyze the employment processes of graduates from computer science diploma programs in Saudi Arabia during the period from 2020 to 2023. This paper employed a quantitative research approach and utilize the survey method to collect data. The survey instrument designed to address the research objectives and questions outlined earlier. The collected survey data was analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software. The target population for this study comprises all graduates of computer science and technology diploma programs in the Asir Region of Saudi Arabia for the period from 2019 to 2023. Since it is not feasible to survey the entire population, a representative sample of 60 participants had been selected using a random sampling technique. The results indicate that there are 42 (70%) who are Employed, there are 10 (16.7%) who are Self-Employed, and there are only 8 (13.3%) who are Unemployed. Which indicates that Graduates of Computer Science and Technology Diploma Programs in Asir Region, Saudi Arabia have higher probabilities to be employed. There are 19 (31.7%) who were graduated in 2019 and 2020, and there are 10 (16.7%) who were graduated in 2022. While there are 9 (15%) who were graduated in 2023. And there are only 3 (5%) who were graduated in 2021. there are 26 (43.3%) who are Employed in Public Sector, there are 20 (33.3%) who are Employed in private Sector, there are 6 (10%) who are Employed in mixed Sector (public and private), and there are only 8 (13.3%) who are Unemployed. Which indicates that private sector faces greater challenges in employing computer science program graduates compared to the public sector.

RANCANG BANGUN APLIKASI MANAJEMEN TUGAS AKHIR MAHASISWA PROGRAM STUDI TEKNIK INFORMATIKA BERBASIS WEB DI UNIVERSITAS DIAN NUSANTARA – JAKARTA BARAT

In the era of digitization and the advancement of information technology, the final projects at Universitas Dian Nusantara have become a determinant of success in higher education. Although the academic information system SISKA Undira has been helpful, there are deficiencies in final project management. Therefore, this research proposes a web-based final project management application for the Computer Science Program. This application facilitates students, supervising professors, and program coordinators in monitoring and managing final projects. With a focus on prerequisite validation and progress monitoring, this application is implemented using the waterfall method. The goal aims to improve the end project management's efficacy and efficiency. This research provides a relevant and sustainable solution to improve the higher education experience at Universitas Dian Nusantara.

Essential Aspects of Gender-inclusive Computer Science Education

Computer science is a higher education domain that still show a significant male dominance. Many research studies have highlighted the importance of diversity and gender balance in computer science related areas such as software engineering and system development. However, there is still a well-identified problem that university programmes and courses on computer science fail to attract the female audience. The objective of this study is to investigate the concept of gender-inclusive computer science (CS) education with the aim of broadening participation in CS courses and programs. This is conducted through a literature study, initially focusing on keywords and research areas, and subsequently searching into existing research. The research question that guided the study was: "What concepts can be found in literature to make computer science education more gender-inclusive?". Data were analysed thematically in a two-step analysis process inspired by the grounded theory methods of Open coding and Axial coding. Findings suggest that there is significant room for learning in this field, particularly from Critical CS education studies. The Open coding analysis showed that the findings can be categorised into eight main themes. In the Axial coding the themes were merged, refined, renamed, and centred around the main axial theme of 'Epistemological pluralism'. Other essential themes that all are related to the axial main theme were: 'Design and creativity', 'Bias awareness and ethics', 'Collaboration and communication', 'Self-regulated learning', 'Real-world applications', and 'Role models and mentorship'. The result of this study is presented through a visual model that illustrates essential aspects of inclusive computer science education. The paper also proposes various directions for future research.

The Important Role Social Capital Plays in Navigating the Computing Education Ecosystem for Black Girls

Black women represent the greatest underrepresentation in STEM fields, particularly the technology sector. According to a 2015 article in The Verge , Black women make up between 0% and 7% of the staff at the eight largest technology firms in the United States. This points to a glaring problem in terms of equity and inclusivity in the technology sector. Similar to their underrepresentation in the STEM sector, Black women's underrepresentation in the tech sector is related to pervasive and persistent prejudice and biased policies that endure in the United States, which have limited—and continue to limit—their access to quality education and spaces where Black women's cultural capital (i.e., ways of being) is acknowledged and appreciated. For most people, including Black women, social networks often make available opportunities and pathways toward realizing the roles they can play in the world or a particular industry. These webs of relationships and the embedded quality in them can be defined as an individual's social capital and be applied to any industry, including STEM and technology fields. In a practical sense, social capital allows an individual to leverage relationships for resources (e.g., information about internships and jobs or encouragement to persist through a difficult college course). In turn, these resources can contribute to economic opportunities (i.e., jobs) or social opportunities, such as relationships with gatekeepers who work in STEM fields that may lead to opportunities like jobs, projects, or financial backing. Research suggests that the social networks of Black young women rarely overlap with the networks of predominantly White and Asian males, who are overrepresented in the technology field. This weakens Black women's awareness of opportunities and training, and undermines their motivation to persist in the STEM sector. As a result of this increasing understanding of the role of social capital in career development, K–12 and higher education programs that are focused on equity in STEM fields have increasingly turned to the concept of social capital to address the traditional underrepresentation of certain groups, particularly Blacks, Latinos, and women in STEM fields. The following research investigates the experiences of Black girls who attended a program, Google's Code Next, designed to engage Black and Latinx youth in computer science. We argue that it is crucial for computer science programs not just to teach hard coding skills but also to build on young Black women's social capital to accommodate the young women in creating and expanding their tech social capital, enabling them to successfully navigate STEM and technology education and career pathways. Specifically, this article explores a subprogram of Code Next and how it has contributed to young Black women's persistence in STEM, and particularly in technology. The findings suggest that the young women employed an expanded sense of social capital in addition to an expanded cultural capital (i.e., language, skills, ways of being) and worldview (i.e., sense of belonging and self-efficacy) to make sense of their possible selves in the world of technology.

Klasifikasi Peminatan Topik Keilmuan Dalam Penyelesaian Studi Menggunakan Algoritma Naive Bayes

Academic expertise is a subject of study taught at the university level to assist students in completing their thesis writing, thereby enabling them to successfully complete their graduate studies. The chosen academic specialization aligns with the vision and mission of each program and can have a positive impact on the university. Students' chosen fields of expertise in completing their studies may either align or not align with the program's vision and mission. The variables used in this research are GPA, MKRV1, MKRV2, and Academic Expertise. The aim of this research is to determine how many students select an academic topic that aligns with the program's vision and mission, particularly in this case, the Computer Science program, as they complete their studies. The Naïve Bayes algorithm is employed in this research, yielding an accuracy rate of 98.11%. This research can provide valuable insights for STIKOM Tunas Bangsa Pematang Siantar to understand the extent to which students from other programs choose academic expertise that aligns with the vision and mission of each program.

Exploring Teacher and Student Stereotypes in a Gender-Inclusive Secondary Computer Science Program

Exploring Teacher and Student Stereotypes in a Gender-Inclusive Secondary Computer Science Program