Tutorial 1: Welcome to the Research
Reading time: ~5 minutes
Welcome! You've been invited to participate in a research study on AI-assisted programming. This tutorial explains what the project is about, what you'll do, and your rights as a participant.
What is Codeflow?
Codeflow is a research project for a Master's thesis at IU International University of Applied Sciences. The research question is:
What competencies do vocational programming students need to work productively and responsibly with AI-assisted coding tools?
AI tools like ChatGPT, GitHub Copilot, and Claude are changing how programmers work. But schools haven't caught up yet — most programming courses don't teach students how to use AI effectively. This research aims to fill that gap.
Why Does Your Participation Matter?
You are part of a unique study. By participating in this hackathon, you help us understand:
- How students actually use AI tools when coding
- What skills and strategies lead to better results
- How beginners and experienced programmers differ in their approach
- What challenges and ethical questions come up when coding with AI
Your data will directly shape recommendations for how programming education should evolve. You're helping design the future of your own field.
What Will You Do?
Before Hackathon Day (this week)
- Complete 7 short tutorials (~80 minutes total) — you're reading the first one now!
- Install the Codeflow Recorder app on your laptop
- Run a 5-minute test recording to make sure everything works
- Complete a short pre-hackathon survey about your experience level
On Hackathon Day
- 09:00–09:15 — Check-in, verify your setup works
- 09:15–09:30 — Receive the coding assignment (revealed for the first time)
- 09:30–10:30 — 60-minute coding sprint with your team, using any AI tools you want. Your screen is recorded by Codeflow Recorder.
- 10:45–11:15 — Quick team presentations and reflection
- 11:15–12:00 — Post-hackathon survey, peer evaluation, and optional interview
The coding assignment is not revealed until hackathon day. This ensures everyone starts at the same point and all coding happens during the recorded session.
What Are We Recording?
During the coding sprint, the Codeflow Recorder app captures:
- Screen video — what you see on your screen (at low frame rate, not high-def)
- Keystroke count — how fast and how often you type (not what you type)
- Paste events — when you paste code (indicates AI-generated code usage)
- Window switches — when you switch between VS Code, browser, ChatGPT, etc.
We are NOT recording:
- Your webcam or audio
- Your personal files or browsing history
- The actual content of what you type (only keystroke frequency)
- Anything outside the coding sprint
Your Rights as a Participant
You can withdraw at any time, without giving a reason, and without any consequences for your grades or education.
- Voluntary — You choose to participate. You can stop at any time.
- Pseudonymized — Your name is replaced with a code. Your identity is never published.
- Secure — All data is stored encrypted and only accessible to the researcher.
- GDPR compliant — Your data is processed according to European data protection law (DSGVO/GDPR).
- Purpose-limited — Data is used only for this research and the resulting thesis.
- Right to delete — You can request deletion of your data at any time by emailing the researcher.
You will sign a consent form (digital or paper) before participating. You can read the full consent form here: Student Consent Form.
Who Is Behind This?
| Role | Person |
|---|---|
| Researcher | Davor Radic |
| Supervisor | Dr. Mark Menzel |
| University | IU International University of Applied Sciences |
| Programme | M.A. Applied Artificial Intelligence |
| Contact | d.radic@roc-nijmegen.nl |
Questions?
If you have any questions about the research, your data, or what to expect, email d.radic@roc-nijmegen.nl.
Ready? Continue to Tutorial 2: AI in Programming — The Big Picture →
This research has been approved by IU International University of Applied Sciences.