Preparing computer science students for artificial intelligence assisted software development

The National Science Foundation Division of Undergraduate Education awarded George Mason University $188,367 on October 15, 2026, through the STEM Education program (CFDA 47.076) to develop and implement the Framework for Rigorous AI-Assisted Computer Science Education (FRAME), an instructional model that integrates artificial intelligence into introductory computer science courses while emphasizing authentic software development experiences and responsible AI tool use.

The project will develop modular instructional materials for an Introduction to Problem Solving and Programming course and an Object-Oriented Programming course, deliver faculty professional development to strengthen capacity in AI-assisted software development instruction, and create openly licensed educational resources for dissemination to community colleges nationwide. George Mason University will conduct this work in collaboration with Northern Virginia Community College and Rochester Institute of Technology, with implementation occurring at Northern Virginia Community College in Fairfax, Virginia. A mixed-methods research design combining student learning assessments, software development analytics, faculty implementation studies, and independent external evaluation will examine instructional effectiveness, implementation fidelity, and factors supporting improved student learning. The award period runs from October 15, 2026, through September 30, 2029. This Track 1 Innovation in Two-Year College STEM Education project is designed to prepare students for transfer and employment in a software development workforce increasingly shaped by AI technologies.

Abstract

This project serves the national interest by preparing computer science students for a rapidly evolving software development workforce in which artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming programming practices and workforce expectations. As AI-assisted programming tools become integral to modern software development, students must learn to use these technologies responsibly while strengthening their programming, software engineering, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. To address this need, the project will develop the framework for rigorous AI-assisted computer science education (frame), an AI-in-the-loop instructional framework that integrates AI into introductory computer science while emphasizing authentic software development experiences. This track 1 innovation in two-year college stem education (ityc) project will develop, implement, evaluate, and disseminate an evidence-based instructional framework that prepares students for transfer and employment, strengthens faculty capacity to teach AI-assisted software development, and provides scalable instructional resources for community colleges nationwide. The project will study and refine the frame instructional framework while developing modular instructional materials for an introduction to problem solving and programming course and the subsequent object-oriented programming course at northern virginia community college in collaboration with george mason university and rochester institute of technology. A mixed-methods research design will combine student learning assessments, software development analytics, faculty implementation studies, and an independent external evaluation to examine instructional effectiveness, implementation fidelity, and factors that support improved student learning. Project resources will be disseminated as openly licensed educational resources through faculty professional learning, scholarly publications, conference presentations, and partnerships that support computing education. The project will advance understanding of effective approaches for integrating AI-assisted software development into introductory computer science education while promoting rigorous software engineering practices, responsible AI use, and scalable instructional models for community colleges. The NSF iuse: innovation in two-year college stem education (ityc) program seeks to accelerate and advance knowledge about the impact of emerging and evidence-based practices in undergraduate stem education at two-year colleges. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.