Hongxuan Chen

About Me

My name is Hongxuan Chen, and I am a fifth 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 algorithm design and discrete mathematics. I am co-advised by Dr. Geoffrey Herman and Dr. Jeff Erickson.

I am seeking teaching-track faculty jobs in the 2025-2026 academic year cycle. I had experience co-instructing Computer Architectures and Discrete Structures at UIUC, and I am capable of teaching Algorithms thanks to my research focus on those topics. I am also interested in teaching any intro-level CS course, as I am excited to welcome more students into CS and help them persist and thrive.

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

Hongxuan Chen's Profile Photo

Teaching

My teaching is grounded in constructivism, emphasizing active learning and exploration. I create welcoming classrooms where students feel comfortable asking questions, engaging with peers, and taking intellectual risks, supported by flexible policies that reduce stress. In both large flipped and smaller remote courses at UIUC, I used collaboration, comprehension checks, and active instructor presence to keep students engaged and connected. Besides, drawing on my computing education research, I identify common difficulties and design supports that help students build confidence as well as mastery of computer science concepts. To learn more, you can check my full teaching statement.

Here are anonymous course evaluation results for my TA and co-instructor experiences, with testimonies from students regarding my abilities and passion for teaching.

Publications

Measuring Students' Perceptions of an Autograded Scaffolding Tool for Students Performing at All Levels in an Algorithms Class

Y Gertner, B Solomon, H Chen, E Robson, C Evans, J Erickson

Accepted by the 2026 ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education (SIGCSE TS)

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)

freevisitorcounters's Website