Bio

Xiaoyi Tian is a research scientist in the Department of Computer Science at NC State University, where she contributes to the Digital Transformation of Education cluster. Her research focuses on human-computer interaction, artificial intelligence in education, collaborative learning, and computing education. Tian employs human-centered design and AI techniques to develop inclusive learning environments, particularly for K–12 students.

She leads initiatives such as the STARS AI Scholars Program, which aims to broaden participation in computing by mentoring undergraduate students in AI education and supporting their outreach activities to teach children about AI. Tian also co-develops tools like AMBY, a platform enabling middle school students to create conversational agents, and designs curricula for AI summer camps and classroom interventions.

Tian earned her Ph.D. in Human-Centered Computing from the University of Florida, where she was advised by Kristy Boyer. She also holds an M.S. in Information Science from the University of Pittsburgh and a B.Mgmt. in Management Science from Anhui University.

Publications

• Exploring Teacher-Chatbot Interaction and Affect in Block-Based Programming , arXiv (Cornell University) (2026)
• Herald of Advancement, Disruption, or Both: A Systematic Literature Review on Student-Facing LLM Tools in Undergraduate Computing Education , (2025)
• SnapClass: An AI-Enhanced Classroom Management System for Block-Based Programming , 2025 IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL/HCC) (2025)
• The promise and limits of LLMs in constructing proofs and hints for logic problems in intelligent tutoring systems , Computers and Education Artificial Intelligence (2025)
• What Does It Take to Support Problem Solving in Programming Classrooms? A New Framework from the K-12 Teacher Perspective , EXTENDED ABSTRACTS OF THE 2025 CHI CONFERENCE ON HUMAN FACTORS IN COMPUTING SYSTEMS, CHI 2025 (2025)

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