I study how to design sociotechnical, interactive systems to support novice computing students’ self-efficacy, motivation, and learning. My ongoing research explores

1. How to support students in making accurate self-assessments of their programming abilities via AI-powered feedback and metacognitive reflection
2. How to foster self-efficacy through technology-facilitated knowledge sharing
3. How students think about their usage of LLM-enabled technologies

In my dissertation work, I seek to advance our understanding of the role of technology in supporting computing learners’ self-efficacy. To do so, I leverage theories and methods from computing education, human-computer interaction, design research, and the learning sciences.

Peer-reviewed papers and posters

Choosing Their Own Way: Guided Self-Placement for Students in an Introductory Programming Sequence

Brett Wortzman, Melissa Chen, Miya Natsuhara, Eleanor O’Rourke

SIGCSE TS 2026 | to appear

Navigating Appropriate Help-seeking with LLMs: Associations with Motivation and Beliefs in a CS course

Stephanie Yang, Melissa Chen, Bertrand Schneider

Koli Calling 2025 | ACM Digital Library

Exploring Students’ Perceptions of Contextualized Computing in an Introductory Computing Science Course for Non-majors

Yinmiao Li, Melissa Chen, Ayse Hunt, Michael Horn, Eleanor O’Rourke

ISLS 2025 | ISLS Repository

The Interrelated Nature of Belonging and Self-Assessments in Computing Students’ Decisions to Persist

Kristin Fasiang, Melissa Chen, Eleanor O’Rourke

ISLS 2025 | ISLS Repository

🏅 Understanding the Reasoning Behind Students’ Self-Assessments of Ability in Introductory Computer Science Courses

Melissa Chen, Yinmiao Li, Eleanor O’Rourke

ICER 2024 | ACM Digital Library

Best Paper Award (top 1 paper / 36)

Exploring the Interplay of Metacognition, Affect, and Behaviors in an Introductory Computer Science Course for Non-Majors

Yinmiao Li, Melissa Chen, Ayse Hunt, Haoqi Zhang, Eleanor O’Rourke

ICER 2024 | ACM Digital Library

Editorially-reviewed Posters and Doctoral Consortia

Designing to Support Accurate Self-Assessments of Programming Ability

Melissa Chen

ICER 2025 | ACM Digital Library

Designing a Real-Time Intervention to Address Negative Self-Assessments While Programming

Melissa Chen, Eleanor O’Rourke

ICER 2023 | ACM Digital Library | Poster PDF