AI-Supported Analogy-Based Teaching Approach for Introductory Programming Education

About the Project

Project Description:

The College of Business, Technology and Engineering draws on talents, expertise and facilities across Sheffield Hallam University. The vision is to be the leading provider of applied research excellence delivering business, materials, computing, science and engineering innovations meeting the development needs of industry.

This project is part of a Graduate Teaching Assistantship scheme, in which the successful applicant will undertake certain teaching duties associated with the student experience, in addition to working towards a PhD qualification. They will contribute up to 180 hours of support for research or teaching related activity per academic year. This activity forms part of the scholarship and there is no additional payment.

PhD Research Topic:

Learning to program is widely recognised as one of the most challenging aspects of computing education, particularly for students with little or no prior experience. Many novice learners struggle with abstract concepts such as variables, control flow, data structures, and algorithms, which can lead to frustration, disengagement, and high failure rates.

This PhD project aims to address this challenge by exploring how real-world analogies, supported by artificial intelligence (AI), can improve the way programming is taught and understood. Analogies help learners connect unfamiliar programming concepts to everyday experiences, making abstract ideas more concrete and accessible.

In this project, AI will be used to help generate and refine analogy-based teaching materials. Importantly, the focus of the research is to develop an AI-enabled framework and understanding how its components can support effective teaching and learning of programming.

In this project, AI will be used as a support tool to help generate and refine analogy-based teaching materials.

The research will involve designing, implementing, and evaluating analogy-based teaching approach within real classroom settings. A key strength of the project is that it will be embedded within two large first-year modules, Programming for Computer Science (Semester 1) and Software Development (Semester 2), each taught to over 100 students at Sheffield Hallam University. This provides a unique opportunity to test and refine teaching approaches at scale in authentic learning environments.

The successful candidate will use a combination of research methods, including educational experiments, surveys, and focus groups, to evaluate the effectiveness of these approaches. The project will generate evidence-based guidance for educators and contribute to improving programming education for diverse learners.

This project is ideal for candidates interested in computing education, educational technology, or innovative teaching approaches, and offers the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on how programming is taught in higher education and beyond.

Eligibility

Applicants should hold at least a 1st or 2:1 Honours degree in Computer Science, Software Engineering, Data Science, Educational Technology or a related discipline. Applicants with an interest in teaching, learning, and educational innovation are encouraged to apply.

We strongly encourage applications from individuals from groups underrepresented in postgraduate research, including but not limited to women, LGBTQ+, and minoritised ethnic groups.

Information for international applicants

English language requirements of IELTS 7 with a minimum score of 6.5 in all test areas (or equivalent) are mandatory if English is not your first language. Qualifications should have been taken within the last two years. Further information can be found here.

How to apply

To apply for this GTA scholarship, please use our online application form.

You must ensure that you upload:

1. A personal statement (up to 2 pages maximum) detailing your interest in the project and how your experience in academia, industry, research or social activities makes you the best candidate (Please upload this in place of a proposal). We’re looking for evidence of:
   • motivation and curiosity for postgraduate research
   • analytical and technical expertise related to the research proposal
   • ability to communicate clearly
   • planning and organisational skills
   • ability to work independently and collaborate with others
   • commitment to integrity and responsible research
   • resilience to setbacks and challenges
   • where you might contribute to teaching
2. A two page (maximum) CV
3. Two letters of reference, or details of two referees, at least one from an academic and both dated within the last 2 years
4. Copy of your highest degree certificate and transcript. If your degree is not yet awarded then submit a copy of your latest transcript.
5. Non-UK applicants must submit IELTS results (or equivalent) taken in the last two years and a copy of their passport

If you are applying for multiple GTA projects, please clearly list them all in your application. You will need to submit a tailored personal statement for each project.

Application deadline: 07 May 2026

Start date: October 2026

Interviews: TBC

Information about our research degrees can be found here.

Funding Notes

The GTA scholarship is for 3.5 years of full-time study and provides tuition fees at both the UK (home) and international level plus a maintenance bursary in line with guidance from UK Research and Innovation and the Living Wage Foundation (for illustrative purposes, the Sheffield Hallam University bursary for 25/26 is £22152). GTA scholarships are open to both UK (home) and international applicants.