Project Team
Fatemeh Fard, Assistant Professor, Computer Science, Mathematics, Physics and Statistics, Irving K. Barber Faculty of Science (Lead Applicant)
Themes
- Artificial Intelligence
- Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
- Experiential Learning
Year
2027
About the Project
Software systems are deeply embedded in our daily lives, and users rightly expect them to be secure, trustworthy, and reliable. The software industry is rapidly adopting GenAI technologies, including Large Language Models (LLMs) and agentic AI, across the development lifecycle, for code generation, code review, testing, and bug repair.
Our students are already using these tools extensively, and their use cannot, and should not, simply be prevented. However, there is a growing gap between how we currently teach core computer science and software engineering concepts and the realities of contemporary practice. Both academic and industry partners emphasize that students must understand how GenAI is used in different phases of software development and how to work with it effectively.
Equally important, they must learn responsible and critical use of AI: recognizing its risks, identifying and assessing potential failures, and applying mitigation strategies to support trustworthy software. Given the rapid pace of AI innovation, we need interactive, evolving educational resources that stay current while reinforcing foundational concepts.
The overarching goal of this project is to design and develop a suite of “living” labs and tutorials that teach core concepts while providing modular, easily updatable components as technology advances. These labs and tutorials will embed inclusive, adaptive learning pathways tailored to diverse backgrounds and skill levels; engage students in authentic, practice-aligned activities; and be guided by evolving best practices, ensuring that the materials remain sustainable, relevant, and impactful over time for our Computer Science students and the instructor, locally and beyond today.