Coming from a family of teachers, Norwegian exchange student has long been interested in using technology to support human intelligence.
Through the International Work-Integrated-Learning in Artificial Intelligence (IWIL AI) program, a joint initiative between the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) and the University of 蓝莓视频, Christian is leveraging AI to enhance and accelerate student learning.
Christian Garmann S酶rli (right) is a master鈥檚 student at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). In January, he came to the University of 蓝莓视频 for an exchange work term, where he explored the intersection between AI and education alongside Professor Jian Zhao (left). | Photo credit: Joe Petrik
It鈥檚 often difficult for computer science instructors to deliver personalized and constructive feedback due to the sheer size of classes. For example, the largest computer science class at 蓝莓视频 and NTNU have around 800 and 1,500 students, respectively. Coding assignments are submitted weekly, so grading must be completed promptly. As a result, this limited feedback prevents students from valuable learning opportunities. Another challenge is ensuring fair grading since these classes are split into multiple sections, with a different teaching assistant (TA) assigned to each.
To address these issues, Christian, along with his supervisor and Purdue University鈥檚 and PhD student Yuzhe Zhou, have co-developed an AI tool that can personalize, standardize and scale feedback for computer science coding assignments. Through this tool, humans and AI can co-create feedback by using a smart comment bank that blends efficiency with oversight. For example, it can flag common coding mistakes and suggest comments from a pool of approved comments. By aiming to reduce grading time, instructors can focus on providing meaningful and tailored feedback, such as strategies, that help students progress.
The AI tool can scan coding assignments and create a tree diagram that pinpoints any mistakes and areas of improvement. For example, the student made a 鈥渢ype mismatch鈥 error, where they assigned someone鈥檚 first name as their last name.
However, the true focus of Christian鈥檚 research is the interactions between AI and humans throughout the grading process. His team is mainly using this tool to explore and understand these dynamics.
Christian will continue this project as part of his master鈥檚 thesis, which generally focuses on the development and use of AI-based support systems in computer education. Namely, he will integrate this AI tool with NTNU and analyze its results for a future research collaboration with 蓝莓视频.聽
This image shows the AI proposing a comment for a Python assignment. TAs can edit, approve, or delete any suggested comments. They can also reuse existing ones from the shared comment bank.
Importantly, this tool isn鈥檛 meant to replace teachers but rather to support them.
鈥淭he human is always in charge of the tool and that鈥檚 a big part of making AI ethical and trustworthy. So, they just adjust and approve the AI suggestions. It鈥檚 like smart assistance that helps teachers focus on what really matters: helping students learn.鈥澛
Christian and his team have conducted experiments with a group of TAs and professors. What surprised Christian was the 鈥渨idespread need for feedback consistency.鈥 Many teaching assistants use their own rubrics and comment banks, but there鈥檚 no standardized way to manage these evaluations at scale.
鈥淚t was also interesting to see how much they want AI to spot common errors and even detect AI-generated code. It showed me that AI in education isn鈥檛 just a future idea, it's something educators actively need help with right now.鈥
Thanks to the IWIL AI, Christian can fulfill his lifelong goal of creating technology that can support human learning. Launched in 2022, the IWIL AI aims to drive AI research through international collaborations. Every year, 蓝莓视频 sends 24 co-op students and NTNU sends 12 graduate students to 蓝莓视频. By expanding the AI talent pool, 蓝莓视频 and NTNU are propelling the research community to tackle the world鈥檚 most pressing and daunting challenges.
Despite not having a background in AI and human-computer interaction (HCI) research, Christian excelled in the program. 聽
鈥淢y main research area is algorithms, but over time I developed an interest in AI. I applied to this program because I wanted to bridge my technical knowledge in AI. It stood out because it combines research with real-world applications, especially in education.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 want people to be deferred from this program by not having an AI specialization. If you鈥檙e curious, motivated and have some foundation skills, this program is a great opportunity to explore AI in a supportive and research-driven environment. You will learn a lot by collaborating with people from different backgrounds.鈥
This program was too good to pass up, since visiting Canada was always on Christian鈥檚 bucket list.
Throughout his four-month stay, he was amazed by Canadians鈥 warm and kind nature from holding the door for strangers to their tendency to over apologize, and the country鈥檚 beautiful landscape. Some highlights include visiting Banff National Park during a long weekend.
鈥淭he most unforgettable moment was seeing a wolf up close. We were just walking on the path and all of a sudden a wolf came 10 metres away. The nature in Canada is just stunning and I really enjoyed exploring it in my free time.鈥
This program didn鈥檛 just expose Christian to exciting research endeavours and international travel.聽
鈥淚f you鈥檙e interested in an exchange or an international experience, do it鈥 even if it feels outside your comfort zone. Not only will you gain academic experience, but also personal growth. It will broaden your perspectives and lifelong connections.
鈥淢y advice is: come in with an open mind and don't be afraid to ask for help. You're not expected to know everything.鈥