Hongxuan Chen

About Me

My name is Hongxuan Chen, and I am a fourth year PhD student in Computer Science at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). I am passionate about CS education, and my research focuses on how students learn discrete mathematics and algorithm design. I am co-advised by Dr. Geoffrey Herman and Dr. Jeff Erickson.

Here is my cv (last updated: April 2025) and Google Scholar profile.

Hongxuan Chen's Profile Photo

Publications

Teaching Algorithm Design: A Literature Review

J Liu, S Poulsen, E Goodwin, H Chen, G Williams, Y Gertner, D Franklin

ACM Transactions on Computing Education (TOCE)

Earlier version presented as a poster at 2024 SIGCSE TS

Novice Difficulties in Graph Layering for Algorithm Design (Poster)

H Chen, K Braught, GL Herman, J Erickson

2025 ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE TS)

Measuring the Impact of Distractors on Student Learning Gains while Using Proof Blocks

S Poulsen, H Chen, Y Gertner, B Cosman, M West, GL Herman

2025 ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE TS)

Implementation of Split Deadlines in a Large CS1 Course

H Chen, A Li, G Challen, K Cunningham

2024 ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE TS)

Invited talk at the Computing Education Seminar at UC Davis (Remote, Oct 2024)

Disentangling the learning gains from reading a book chapter and completing proof blocks problems

S Poulsen, Y Gertner, H Chen, B Cosman, M West, GL Herman

2024 ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE TS)

Student Autonomy in Collaborative Learning: Effects of Meeting Time and Team Consistency

H Chen, MM Fong, GL Herman, M Silva

2023 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE)

Measuring the Impact of a Computational Linear Algebra Course on Students' Exam Performance in a Subsequent Numerical Methods Course

H Chen, M West, S Hilgenfeldt, M Silva

2023 ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE TS)

Validating an Observation Protocol for Structured Roles in Cooperative Learning

MM Fong, L Butler, H Chen, GL Herman

2022 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE)

Developing an Observation Protocol for Cooperative Learning

M Fong, H Chen, L Butler, G Herman

2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Work in Progress: Exploring Students' Misconceptions of Cache Memories

MS Mahmood, H Chen, M Fong, G Herman

2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Novice Difficulties in Graph Layering for Algorithm Design (Poster)

H Chen, K Braught, GL Herman, J Erickson

2025 ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE TS)

Implementation of Split Deadlines in a Large CS1 Course

H Chen, A Li, G Challen, K Cunningham

2024 ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE TS)

Invited talk at the Computing Education Seminar at UC Davis (Remote, Oct 2024)

Student Autonomy in Collaborative Learning: Effects of Meeting Time and Team Consistency

H Chen, MM Fong, GL Herman, M Silva

2023 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE)

Measuring the Impact of a Computational Linear Algebra Course on Students' Exam Performance in a Subsequent Numerical Methods Course

H Chen, M West, S Hilgenfeldt, M Silva

2023 ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE TS)

Teaching

I am committed to advancing computer science education and aspire to pursue a career as a teaching professor.

In Spring 2024, I served as a co-instructor for CS 233: Computer Architecture at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, in collaboration with Morgan Fong and under the guidance of Dr. Geoffrey Herman. Together, we were responsible for all instructional and administrative aspects of the course, which enrolled approximately 280 students. Student performance was comparable to, or exceeded, that of previous offerings. This experience provided valuable opportunities to further develop my skills in course design, classroom management, instructional communication, and student engagement.

My prior teaching experience includes serving as a graduate teaching assistant for CS 233 and CS 173: Discrete Structures, as well as an undergraduate course assistant for CS 125: Intro to CS (now CS 124), CS 233, and CS 374: Intro to Algorithms and Models of Computation.

My interest in computer science education began in Summer 2020, when I worked as a teaching assistant for Girls Who Code. That formative experience played a key role in shaping my long-term goal of contributing to the field through both teaching and research.