Minh Tran
I'm a Computer Science PhD student at the University of Chicago, advised by Professor Diana Franklin. Previously, I graduated with a dual degree in Computer Science and Psychology from the University of Arizona.
Research
My research explores how to leverage community knowledge to develop educational resources and tools that help make computer science instruction at the K-12 level more effective and engaging, while preserving teacher professional practices and optimizing their workload.
In my ongoing work, I conduct design-based implementation research with elementary and middle school teachers across the U.S. to (1) understand their challenges and approaches to design, develop, and implement customized CS instruction, (2) integrate teachers’ knowledge to design and develop an AI-powered tool for customizing a Scratch customization, and (3) investigate the impacts of such tool on teachers’ practices and classroom dynamics.
Selected Publications
More publications on Google Scholar
* denotes equal contribution
Conjuror: A GenAI-powered Tool to Support Teachers Customizing a Scratch Curriculum
Minh Tran*, David Gonzalez-Maldonado*, Diana Franklin
ACM Conference on Innovation and Technology in Computer Science Education (ITiCSE), 2026
Can GPT Help? Supporting Teachers to Brainstorm Customized Instructional Scratch Projects
Minh Tran, David Gonzalez-Maldonado, Elaine Zhou, 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
Teaching
Creating Computer Games for Learning
Position: Instructor of Record
University of Chicago (Summer 2026, Pre-College Program)
Computers for Learning
Position: Teaching Assistant / 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)