Introduction to the NSF-funded Project TRACE-CT
Program Introduction
TRACE-CT (Teacher-Researcher Co-Design of Adaptive GenAI for Computational Thinking) is an NSF research experience for teachers (RET) program at the University of North Texas (UNT) that empowers high school teachers in AI research and education via co-designing next-generation AI applications. Participants will collaborate with faculty mentors on Generative AI and computational thinking research while gaining hands-on experience, professional development, and classroom-ready AI curriculum materials.
TRACE-CT engages teachers as research partners through three interconnected strands: (1) adaptive AI development, where teachers translate pedagogical expertise into personalized tutoring and counseling algorithms; (2) human–AI co-design, where teachers help create transparent and trustworthy AI interfaces; and (3) contextualized learning models, where teachers guide AI systems to account for learners’ cultural, cognitive, and educational contexts. No prior AI research experience is required, as all training is embedded within the program. Teachers participate in a six-week summer immersion consisting of foundational AI and co-design training, prototype development, and field testing, followed by academic-year implementation and refinement through virtual mentoring, classroom deployment, and dissemination activities.
Program Overview
Six-week summer research experience at UNT (Denton & Frisco, Texas).
Teachers work with UNT faculty mentors on Generative AI and Computational Thinking research.
Participants co-design, test, and refine adaptive GenAI tools for K–12 education.
No prior AI or programming experience required.
Research Themes
Generative AI
AI & Creativity
AI & Education
AI & Society
Human-AI Interaction
Who Should Apply?
High school teachers
Interested in AI, data science, or computational
Educators from North Texas and beyond
No prior AI or programming experience required
Participant Support
$8,000 Summer Stipend
Up to $3,000 Living & Travel Support
Up to $450 Research Support
How to Apply?
Current resume
Statement of research
Recommendation letter of the school’s administrator
Contact
Program Director: Dr. Junhua Ding
Email: junhua.ding@unt.edu
Research Team
Faculty Mentors
Dr. Kinshuk, Professor in Learning Technology
Dr. Haihua Chen, Assistant Professor in Data Science
Dr. Yunhe Feng, Assistant Professor in Computer Science
Dr. Tozammel Hossain, Assistant Professor in Data Science
Dr. Kewei Sha, Associate Professor in Data Science
Dr. Clifford Whitworth, Lecture in Data Science
Student Researcher
Lavinia Florentina Pieptea, PhD candidate in Data Science