Scaling CS1 Support with Compiler-Integrated Conversational AI
<|reference_start|>Scaling CS1 Support with Compiler-Integrated Conversational AI: This paper introduces DCC Sidekick, a web-based conversational AI tool that enhances an existing LLM-powered C/C++ compiler by generating educational programming error explanations. The tool seamlessly combines code display, compile- and run-time error messages, and stack frame read-outs alongside an AI interface, leveraging compiler error context for improved explanations. We analyse usage data from a large Australian CS1 course, where 959 students engaged in 11,222 DCC Sidekick sessions, resulting in 17,982 error explanations over seven weeks. Notably, over 50% of interactions occurred outside business hours, underscoring the tool's value as an always-available resource. Our findings reveal strong adoption of AI-assisted debugging tools, demonstrating their scalability in supporting extensive CS1 courses. We provide implementation insights and recommendations for educators seeking to incorporate AI tools with appropriate pedagogical safeguards.<|reference_end|>
@article{renzella2024scaling,
    title={Scaling CS1 Support with Compiler-Integrated Conversational AI},
    author={Jake Renzella, Alexandra Vassar, Lorenzo Lee Solano, Andrew Taylor},
    journal={arXiv preprint arXiv:2408.02378},
    year={2024},
    archivePrefix={arXiv},
    eprint={2408.02378},
    primaryClass={cs.CY cs.AI cs.SE}
}