Reimagining CS Education

Agentic Engineering, Human-Centered Design, and Authentic Assessment for Learner Agency

This year, my invited talk series will argue a framework for how we might reimagine computing education around agentic engineering, human-centered design, and authentic assessment. Contact me at kevinl@cs.uw.edu to arrange a talk.

Generative AI is shifting the bottleneck of software development from syntax generation to architectural design, code review, and system security. Consequently, computer science education must adapt to serve two distinct, valuable populations: deep technical practitioners who orchestrate complex multi-agent systems, and broad AI-augmented builders who leverage natural language to create functional applications. This presentation outlines a practical framework to support both curricular pathways by redesigning courses around Agentic Engineering, Human-Centered Design, and Authentic Assessment. First, we examine how to teach design thinking across the curriculum using Build Your Own Feature assignments and Probeable Problems to clarify requirements. Second, we consider the limitations of take-home assignments, demonstrating how live Interview and Demo/Discuss Assessments can shift evaluation from the submitted artifact to the student’s problem-solving process. Finally, we address the changing social fabric of the learning environment, where peer collaboration is increasingly mediated or replaced by AI tools. We present scalable interventions, such as Meet the Professor small-group sessions to build student-instructor rapport, alongside GenAI Contracts that encourage goal awareness and self-regulation. Attendees will leave with an actionable strategy to adapt their courses for the AI era while fostering learner agency and community connection.

If you would prefer to present, adapt, or extend these ideas yourself, the slides are licensed CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.