Partnering with GenAI to drive student-centred pedagogical innovation in computing education

Giuseppe Trombino; Esha Barlaskar; Aidan McGowan; Andrew McDowell

doi:10.1109/EDUCON67543.2026.11574329

Partnering with GenAI to drive student-centred pedagogical innovation in computing education

Giuseppe Trombino^*
, Esha Barlaskar
, Aidan McGowan
, Andrew McDowell

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

Abstract

This work-in-progress reports on the use of Generative AI (GenAI) as a reflective partner in the rapid redesign of a second-year web development module for a small computing cohort. Over several weeks, the lecturer co-developed learning materials through structured dialogue with ChatGPT, producing coherent templates, guided solutions, and narrative framing that strengthened pedagogical continuity. The findings show that conversational iteration with GenAI encouraged the educator to make tacit design choices explicit, transforming the process into a reflective dialogue that sharpened coherence and creativity in curriculum design. Sustaining that reflective quality over long, multi-session interactions remains an open challenge.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	2026 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON 2026): Proceedings
Publisher	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
ISBN (Electronic)	9798331576714
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1109/EDUCON67543.2026.11574329
Publication status	Accepted - 19 Dec 2025
Event	7th IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference, EDUCON 2026 - Cairo, Egypt Duration: 27 Apr 2026 → 30 Apr 2026

Publication series

Name	IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON): Proceedings
Publisher	IEEE
ISSN (Print)	2165-9559
ISSN (Electronic)	2165-9567

Conference

Conference	7th IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference, EDUCON 2026
Country/Territory	Egypt
City	Cairo
Period	27/04/2026 → 30/04/2026

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2026 IEEE.

Keywords

Computing Education
Curriculum Design
Generative AI
Pedagogical Innovation
Reflection-in-Action

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Education
General Engineering
Information Systems and Management

Access to Document

10.1109/EDUCON67543.2026.11574329

Cite this

Trombino, G., Barlaskar, E., McGowan, A., & McDowell, A. (Accepted/In press). Partnering with GenAI to drive student-centred pedagogical innovation in computing education. In 2026 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON 2026): Proceedings (IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON): Proceedings). Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.. https://doi.org/10.1109/EDUCON67543.2026.11574329

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title = "Partnering with GenAI to drive student-centred pedagogical innovation in computing education",

abstract = "This work-in-progress reports on the use of Generative AI (GenAI) as a reflective partner in the rapid redesign of a second-year web development module for a small computing cohort. Over several weeks, the lecturer co-developed learning materials through structured dialogue with ChatGPT, producing coherent templates, guided solutions, and narrative framing that strengthened pedagogical continuity. The findings show that conversational iteration with GenAI encouraged the educator to make tacit design choices explicit, transforming the process into a reflective dialogue that sharpened coherence and creativity in curriculum design. Sustaining that reflective quality over long, multi-session interactions remains an open challenge.",

keywords = "Computing Education, Curriculum Design, Generative AI, Pedagogical Innovation, Reflection-in-Action",

author = "Giuseppe Trombino and Esha Barlaskar and Aidan McGowan and Andrew McDowell",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 IEEE.; 7th IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference, EDUCON 2026 ; Conference date: 27-04-2026 Through 30-04-2026",

year = "2025",

month = dec,

day = "19",

doi = "10.1109/EDUCON67543.2026.11574329",

language = "English",

series = "IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON): Proceedings",

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Trombino, G , Barlaskar, E , McGowan, A & McDowell, A 2025, Partnering with GenAI to drive student-centred pedagogical innovation in computing education. in 2026 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON 2026): Proceedings. IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON): Proceedings, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 7th IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference, EDUCON 2026, Cairo, Egypt, 27/04/2026. https://doi.org/10.1109/EDUCON67543.2026.11574329

Partnering with GenAI to drive student-centred pedagogical innovation in computing education. / Trombino, Giuseppe ; Barlaskar, Esha ; McGowan, Aidan et al.
2026 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON 2026): Proceedings. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc., 2025. (IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON): Proceedings).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Conference contribution

TY - GEN

T1 - Partnering with GenAI to drive student-centred pedagogical innovation in computing education

AU - Trombino, Giuseppe

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AU - McGowan, Aidan

AU - McDowell, Andrew

PY - 2025/12/19

Y1 - 2025/12/19

N2 - This work-in-progress reports on the use of Generative AI (GenAI) as a reflective partner in the rapid redesign of a second-year web development module for a small computing cohort. Over several weeks, the lecturer co-developed learning materials through structured dialogue with ChatGPT, producing coherent templates, guided solutions, and narrative framing that strengthened pedagogical continuity. The findings show that conversational iteration with GenAI encouraged the educator to make tacit design choices explicit, transforming the process into a reflective dialogue that sharpened coherence and creativity in curriculum design. Sustaining that reflective quality over long, multi-session interactions remains an open challenge.

AB - This work-in-progress reports on the use of Generative AI (GenAI) as a reflective partner in the rapid redesign of a second-year web development module for a small computing cohort. Over several weeks, the lecturer co-developed learning materials through structured dialogue with ChatGPT, producing coherent templates, guided solutions, and narrative framing that strengthened pedagogical continuity. The findings show that conversational iteration with GenAI encouraged the educator to make tacit design choices explicit, transforming the process into a reflective dialogue that sharpened coherence and creativity in curriculum design. Sustaining that reflective quality over long, multi-session interactions remains an open challenge.

KW - Computing Education

KW - Curriculum Design

KW - Generative AI

KW - Pedagogical Innovation

KW - Reflection-in-Action

U2 - 10.1109/EDUCON67543.2026.11574329

DO - 10.1109/EDUCON67543.2026.11574329

M3 - Conference contribution

AN - SCOPUS:105044418255

T3 - IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON): Proceedings

BT - 2026 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON 2026): Proceedings

PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.

T2 - 7th IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference, EDUCON 2026

Y2 - 27 April 2026 through 30 April 2026

ER -

Trombino G , Barlaskar E , McGowan A , McDowell A. Partnering with GenAI to drive student-centred pedagogical innovation in computing education. In 2026 IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON 2026): Proceedings. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc. 2025. (IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON): Proceedings). doi: 10.1109/EDUCON67543.2026.11574329

Partnering with GenAI to drive student-centred pedagogical innovation in computing education

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this