Towards Understanding Novice Behaviors and Mental Effort in Code Puzzles
Allen, J. Kelleher, C. (2020). "Towards Understanding Novice Behaviors and Mental Effort in Code Puzzles." Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL/HCC). 1(1).
CV
Education
- B.S. in Computer Science, Mercer University, 2017
- Ph.D in Computer Science, Washington University in St. Louis, 2025 (expected)
Work experience
- Research Assistant (August 2019- Present)
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Investigating and addressing the barriers that programmers face when using unfamiliar APIs and reusing code.
- Advisor: Dr. Caitlin Kelleher
- Software Engineer - Applied AI (February 2016 - July 2019)
- Mercer Engineering Research Center (MERC)
- Developed and tested AI software for predictive aircraft maintenance.
- Fellow (August 2018 - January 2019)
- Niantic Inc, Knight Foundation
- Coordinated events that leveraged Augmented Reality to drive civic engagement in Macon, GA.
- Research Assistant (August 2017 - December 2017)
- Mercer University Physics Department
- Used Machine Learning to model the relationship between metacognition and class performance.
- Lab Assistant (August 2017 - December 2017)
- Mercer University Mathematics Department
- Supported students using Python in Discrete Mathematics Lab.
- Research Assistant (May 2017 - August 2017)
- Carnegie Mellon University Human-Computer Interaction Institute
- Developed dashboard that uses smart classroom sensors to coach TAs on how to teach their first class.
- Research Assistant (May 2016 - August 2016)
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Developed adaptive code puzzle system to introduce children to programming.
- Visiting Student Intern (August 2015 - December 2015)
- Georgia Tech Research Institute (GTRI)
- Tested and patched software issues.
- XOS Replay Technician (August 2015 - March 2019)
- Mercer University Athletics
- Supported referees officiating live NCAA Basketball and Football games with automatic replay.
Skills
- Software Engineering
- Artificial Intelligence
- Deep supervised time-series analysis
- Natural Language Processing
- Autoencoders
- Qualitative and quantitative research
- Human-centered Design
Publications
Quantifying Novice Behavior, Experience, and Mental Effort in Code Puzzle Pathways.
Allen, J. Kelleher, C. (2021). "Quantifying Novice Behavior, Experience, and Mental Effort in Code Puzzle Pathways." 2021 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. 1(2).
How Do Teaching Assistants Teach? Characterizing the Interactions Between Students and TAs in a Computer Science Course
Malysheva, Y. Allen, J, and Kelleher, C. (2022). "How Do Teaching Assistants Teach? Characterizing the Interactions Between Students and TAs in a Computer Science Course."Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL/HCC) (pp. 1-9). IEEE
React Example Viability for Efficient API Learning (REVEAL): A tool to help programmers utilize incompatible code examples in React.js
Allen, J, Kelleher, C. (2023). "React example viability for efficient API learning (REVEAL): A tool to help programmers utilize incompatible code examples in React.js."Journal of Computer Languages (COLA) p.101201
An Exploratory Study of Programmers’ Analogical Reasoning and Software History Usage During Code Re-Purposing
Allen, J, Kelleher, C. (2024). "An Exploratory Study of Programmers Analogical Reasoning and Software History Usage During Code Repurposing."Cooperative and Human Aspects of Software Engineering (CHASE)
Exploring the impacts of semi-automated storytelling on programmers’ comprehension of software histories
Allen, J, Kelleher, C. (2024). "Exploring the impacts of semi-automated storytelling on programmers’ comprehension of software histories."IEEE Symposium on Visual Languages and Human-Centric Computing (VL/HCC)
Talks
Community Health Panel
Talk at Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Southeast Startup Challenge, Macon, Georgia
Four Ways Cities Can use Augmented Reality (AR) to Drive Civic Engagement
Talk at Governing Magazing Summit on Government Performance & Innovation 2019, Minneapolis, MN
Teaching
Service and leadership
- Volunteer Reviewer, data.org Inclusive Growth and Recovery Challenge (Spring 2020)
- Studio TESLA - STEM Education Outreach Team (Spring 2020)
- Invited Developer - Navicent Health Code for Care Code-A-Thon (Spring 2017)
- Upward Basketball Coach (Spring 2017)
- Tutor - Central High School (Fall 2016)
- Tutor - Family Advancement Ministries (Fall 2016)
- Volunteer Instructor - Scratch Workshop for Bibb County Teachers (Fall 2016)
- Judge, Planner, Co-director - Georgia Technology Fair Programming Challenge (Spring 2016/2017)
- Volunteer Instructor - Museum of Aviation 3D CAD Modelling and Game Design Workshops for Kids (Fall 2015)
- Stipended Instructor - NASA Coding for Teachers Workshop (Fall 2015)
- Organizer, Co-director, Impromptu Coach - Mercer Battle Bot Bears Competition (NXT Mindstorms) (Fall 2015)
- Planner, Organizer, and Judge - Mercer University Alice Programming Competition (Spring & Fall 2015)
- Mercer University Leadership Conference (Winter 2015)