Research

My research is in Computer Science Education, focusing on designing and implementing personalized learning experiences that enhance student engagement and learning while maintaining a manageable workload for teachers (teaching students ages 9-13).

I am currently exploring the following directions:

Teacher-Led Curriculum Customization: What knowledge, supports, and scaffolds are needed to empower teachers to adapt CS instructional materials to their students’ cultures and experiences?

Teacher-AI Co-Creation: How can we leverage AI to help teachers prepare CS instructional materials while retaining teacher agency?

Classroom Impact:

• How do teaching practices shift when CS teachers are teaching materials they have created without and with AI support?
• How do students respond to materials created by their teachers?
• How do teacher-authored lesson materials impact students from historically excluded populations in computing?

My goal as a researcher is to make CS more accessible, especially for kids with limited personal connection to computing and technology or those who have a non-dominant cultural background.

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Selected Publications

More publications on Google Scholar
^† indicates conference publications
^‡ indicates book chapters and journal publications

Generative AI in Computer Science Education: Challenges and Opportunities^‡
_{Diana Franklin, Paul Denny, David Gonzalez-Maldonado, and Minh Tran}
^{Cambridge University Press, Elements in Generative AI in Education, 2025}

Can GPT Help? Supporting Teachers to Brainstorm Customized
Instructional Scratch Projects^†
_{Minh Tran, David Gonzalez-Maldonado, Elaine Zhou and Diana Franklin}
^{ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE), 2025}

Harmonizing Scratch Encore: Scaffolding K-8 Teachers in
Customizing Culturally Responsive Computing Materials^†
_{Minh Tran, Heather Killen, Jen Palmer, David Weintrop, Diana Franklin}
^{ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE), 2024}

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Teaching

Computers for Learning
_{Position: Co-Instructor | Instructor: Diana Franklin}
^{University of Chicago, Fall 2025}

Design For Underserved and Marginalized Communities
_{Position: Teaching Assistant | Instructor: Marshini Chetty}
^{University of Chicago, Winter 2023}

Object-Oriented Programming and Design
_{Position: Teaching Assistant | Instructor: Jonathan Misurda}
^{University of Arizona, Fall 2020 / Spring 2021 / Fall 2021}

Algebra I/II, Geometry, Pre-Calculus
_{Position: Tutor}
^{Ironwood Ridge High School, Spring 2020}

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Get to know more about me!!!