A Risk-Adaptive and Evidence-Constrained Framework for Generative AI Feedback in Programming Education
TL;DR
A risk-adaptive, evidence-constrained framework for introductory programming using 2993 failed-submission states from 215 students that connects prediction, decision-making, and grounded generation while keeping their evaluation outcomes distinct.
Abstract
Generative artificial intelligence can turn learning analytics into personalized support, but feedback systems must decide when to intervene, which evidence to use, and how much assistance to provide. We developed a risk-adaptive, evidence-constrained framework for introductory programming using 2993 failed-submission states from 215 students. Student-disjoint models predicted persistent failure and related outcomes; four matched feedback conditions were generated for 136 cases; and calibrated risk informed capacity-limited intervention policies. The validation-selected logistic regression model achieved a test precision-recall area under the curve of 0.550 and a receiver operating characteristic area under the curve of 0.681. Broader student histories improved prediction of unmodified resubmission. After standardized repair and evidence gating, 519 of 544 newly generated messages contained all required components. A fixed-threshold sequential policy selected 17.8% of eligible test states and captured 25.2% of observed persistent failures. These findings support an evidence-gated progressive assistance strategy: calibrated risk guides intervention timing, recorded evidence constrains feedback content, and assistance progresses from self-checks to localized hints when warranted. The framework connects prediction, decision-making, and grounded generation while keeping their evaluation outcomes distinct.
