Tiffany Barnes

Dr. Tiffany Barnes is a Professor at North Carolina State University, focusing on AI-driven educational technologies and equitable computing education. Her work bridges computer science pedagogy with cognitive science, particularly in intelligent tutoring systems and metacognitive skill development. She leads research on LLM applications in education, programming education tools like Jigsaw and MerryQuery, and initiatives to increase diversity in STEM.

Her research explores how cultural barriers impact international students and develops frameworks to support K-12 teachers in integrating computational thinking. Barnes collaborates with educators and institutions to design scalable interventions that improve persistence in computing, particularly for underrepresented groups. Key tools include Pinpoint for code analysis and Block-Based Learning environments for novice programmers.

Barnes’ recent efforts emphasize ethical AI in education, participatory design with teachers, and project-based curricula like Computer Science Frontiers for high school students. Her work spans NSF-funded projects, teacher professional development programs, and equity-focused research to democratize access to computing education.