Millbrae Local Wins National Prize for Research on AI and Introductory Computing

Millbrae local and student at Harvey Mudd College, Yuan Garcia, won second place for his AI research at the 57th Association for Computing Machinery Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE), held in February. The recognition is a notable achievement for Garcia and the College, and highlights student-led research on one of the most consequential questions in computing education: how artificial intelligence is shaping student learning in introductory computer science courses.

In his project, "Adaptable Metrics to Assess and Improve Introductory CS," Garcia examined how student work changes when large language models are introduced in Harvey Mudd's introductory computing sequence. Garcia and his team of fellow students analyzed more than 1,000 student projects completed between 2018 and 2024 and compared work produced before and after AI tools entered the classroom to better understand how those tools may affect learning outcomes. The study found measurable differences in introductory coursework.