Yael Gertner

About

Yael Gertner is a Teaching Associate Professor at the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Her research areas include Computers and Education, with recent courses taught covering topics such as Discrete Structures, Algorithms, and Excursions in Computing. Gertner has been recognized for her innovative teaching, receiving The Grainger College of Engineering's 2024 Collins Award for Innovative Teaching. She is actively involved in mentoring students and developing educational programs within the field of computer science.

Research topics

• Computer Science
• Mathematics
• Artificial Intelligence
• Mathematics education
• Natural Language Processing
• Machine Learning
• Engineering
• Psychology
• Discrete mathematics
• Programming language

Selected publications

• Efficiency of Learning from Proof Blocks Versus Writing Proofs

  2023 · 12 citations

  Proof Blocks is a software tool that provides students with a scaffolded proof-writing experience, allowing them to drag and drop prewritten proof lines into the correct order instead of starting from scratch. In this paper we describe a randomized controlled trial designed to measure the learning gains of using Proof Blocks for students learning proof by induction. The study participants were 332 students recruited after completing the first month of their discrete mathematics course. Students…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• How do the object-file and physical-reasoning systems interact? Evidence from priming effects with object arrays or novel labels

  Cognitive Psychology · 2021 · 12 citations

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Auto-graded Scaffolding Exercises For Theoretical Computer Science

  2024 · 8 citations

  Abstract This paper describes an ongoing effort to develop auto-graded scaffolding exercises to support an upper-division theoretical computer science class at a large Midwestern public university. The course covers a mixture of formal languages, automata theory, and design and analysis of algorithms. The course has a steady-state enrollment of 400 students per semester, almost all undergraduates majoring in computer science or computer engineering, for whom the course is required. Most of our a…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

• Teaching Algorithm Design: A Literature Review

  ACM Transactions on Computing Education · 2025-04-04 · 7 citations

  review

  Algorithm design is a vital skill developed in most undergraduate Computer Science (CS) programs, but few research studies focus on pedagogy related to algorithms coursework. To understand the work that has been done in the area, we present a systematic survey and literature review of CS Education studies. We search for research that is both related to algorithm design (as described by the ACM Curricular Guidelines) and evaluated on post-secondary-level students. Across all venues we searched pr…

  PublisherDOI

• Disentangling the Learning Gains from Reading a Book Chapter and Completing Proof Blocks Problems

  2024-03-07 · 3 citations

  articleOpen access

  Background : Proof Blocks is a software tool that enables students to construct proofs by assembling prewritten lines and gives them automated feedback. Prior research has shown that students learn as much from an activity where they use Proof Blocks as where they write proofs. However, in both cases students first read a book chapter. Prior research was not able to differentiate between the learning gains achieved from reading versus proof practice. Purpose : This study aims to measure learning…

  PublisherOA PDFDOI

Frequent coauthors

• Benjamin Cosman

  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  90 shared

• Jennifer Amos

  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  80 shared

• Juan Alvarez

  California University of Pennsylvania

  80 shared

• Jonathan Katz

  Google (United States)

  38 shared

• Rosario Gennaro

  City University of New York

  38 shared

• Luca Trevisan

  Bocconi University

  36 shared

• Tal Malkin

  12 shared

• Cynthia Fisher

  University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  8 shared

Labs

• Siebel School of Computing and Data SciencePI

Awards & honors

• The Grainger College of Engineering's 2024 Collins Award for…

Similar researchers at University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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