Hi, I'm Zifeng (Lauren) Liu.
A
Self-driven, quick starter, and enthusiastic researcher with a strong passion for leveraging AI and data mining to improve educational outcomes.
About
I am currently a second-year Ph.D. student in Educational Technology at the College of Education, University of Florida. I hold a Master's degree in Computer Software and Theories from Beijing Normal University and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science from Beijing Technology and Business University. My research interests lie at the intersection of educational data mining, learning analytics, and the application of artificial intelligence in education, with a particular focus on computer science education.
I am looking for collaborative opportunities to work on innovative projects, engage in meaningful research, and foster professional growth and knowledge exchange. In my free time, I enjoy traveling, listening to music, hiking, and, of course, catching up on some well-deserved sleep.
Projects
A flow-based programming platform designed for elementary students.
- Zifeng Liu, Shan Zhang, Maya Israel, Robert Smith, Wanli Xing, and Victor Minces*. 2025. Engaging K-12 Students with Flow-Based Music Program- ming: An Experience Report on Its Impact on Teaching and Learning. In Proceedings of the 56th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Edu- cation V. 1 (SIGCSE TS 2025), February 26-March 1, 2025, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. ACM, New York, NY, USA, 7 pages. https://doi.org/10.1145/3641554.3701902
An integrated data science foundations course built on mathematical logic.
A project dedicated to ensuring equitable and unbiased outcomes in online learning systems.
- Liu, Z., Jiao, X., Li, C., & Xing, W. (2024, July). Fair Prediction of Students' Summative Performance Changes Using Online Learning Behavior Data. Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Educational Data Mining, 686--691. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.12729918
- Liu, Z., Xing, W., & Li, C. (2024, July). Explainable analysis of AI-generated responses in online learning discussions. In Educational Data Mining 2024 Workshop: Leveraging Large Language Models for Next-Generation Educational Technologies. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.24309.38881
A project applying Generative AI to support online K-12 STEAM education.
- Zifeng Liu, Xinyue Jiao, Wanli Xing, and Wangda Zhu. 2025. Detecting AI-Generated Pseudocode in High School Online Pro- gramming Courses Using an Explainable Approach. In Proceedings of the 56th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 1 (SIGCSE TS 2025), February 26-March 1, 2025, Pittsburgh, PA, USA. ACM, New York, NY, USA, 7 pages. https://doi.org/10.1145/3641554.3701942.
- Song, Y., Kim, J., Liu, Z., Li, C., & Xing, W. (2024). Students' Perceived Roles, Opportunities, and Challenges of a Generative AI-powered Teachable Agent: A Case of Middle School Math Class. arXiv preprint arXiv:2409.06721.
Publication
Journal Papers
- Cai, S., Liu, Z., Liu, C., Zhou, H., & Li, J. (2022). Effects of a BCI-based AR inquiring tool on primary students’ science learning: A quasi-experimental field study. Journal of Science Education and Technology, 31, 767–782. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10956-022-09991-y.
- Liu, E., Cai, S., Liu, Z., & Liu, C. (2023). WebART: Web-based augmented reality learning resources authoring tool and its user experience study among teachers. IEEE Transactions on Learning Technologies, 16(1), 53–65. https://doi.org/10.1109/TLT.2022.3214854.
- Song, Y., Kim, J.,Liu, Z., Li, C., & Xing, W. (2025). Students’ perceived roles, opportunities, and challenges of a generative AI-powered teachable agent: a case of middle school math class. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1080/15391523.2024.2447727
- Zhu, W., Xing, W., Kim, E. M., Li, C., Wang, Y., Yang, Y., & Liu, Z. (2025). Integrating image-generative AI into conceptual design in computer-aided design education: Exploring student perceptions, prompt behaviors, and artifact creativity. Educational Technology & Society, 28(3), 166-183. https://doi.org/10.30191/ETS.202507_28(3).SP11
- Liu, Z., Xing, W., Jiao, X. et al. What are the differences between student and ChatGPT-generated pseudocode? Detecting AI-generated pseudocode in high school programming using explainable machine learning. Education and Information Technologies (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10639-025-13385-z
- Song, Y., Kim, J., Xing, W., Liu, Z., Li, C., & Oh, H. (2025). Elementary school students’ and teachers’ perceptions toward creative mathematical writing with Generative AI. Journal of Research on Technology in Education, 1–23. https://doi.org/10.1080/15391523.2025.2455057
Conference Papers
- Oh, H.,Liu, Z., & Xing, W. (2025). Do actions speak louder than words? Unveiling linguistic patterns in online learning communities using cross recurrence quantification analysis. In Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Learning Analytics and Knowledge (LAK2025) (pp. 1–7).
- Li, H., Xing, W., Li, C., Zhu, W., Lyu, B., Zhang, F., & Liu, Z. (2025). Who should be my tutor? Analyzing the interactive effects of automated text personality styles between middle school students and a mathematics chatbot. In Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Learning Analytics and Knowledge (LAK2025).
- Liu, Z., Zhang, S., Israel, M., Smith, R., Xing, W., & Minces, V. (2025). Engaging K-12 students with flow-based music programming: An experience report on its impact on teaching and learning. In Proceedings of the 56th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 1 (SIGCSE TS 2025), February 26–March 1, 2025, Pittsburgh, PA, USA (pp. 7).
- Liu, Z., Jiao, X., Xing, W., & Zhu, W. (2025). Detecting AI-generated pseudocode in high school online programming courses using an explainable approach. In Proceedings of the 56th ACM Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education V. 1 (SIGCSE TS 2025), February 26–March 1, 2025, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Liu, Z., Guo, R., Jiao, X., Gao, X., Oh, H., & Xing, W. (2024, June). How AI Assisted K-12 Computer Science Education: A Systematic Review. In 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition.
- Liu, Z., Jiao, X., Li, C., & Xing, W. (2024). Fair Prediction of Students' Summative Performance Changes Using Online Learning Behavior Data. In Proceedings of the 17th International Conference on Educational Data Mining (pp. 686-691).
- Liu, Z., Guo, R., & Xing, W. (2024, Sep). Understanding students' in-video dropout behavior in large online math learning platforms (Work in Progress). In 2024 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE).
- Liu, Z., Xing, W., & Li, C. (2024, July). Explainable analysis of AI-generated responses in online learning discussions. In Educational Data Mining 2024 Workshop: Leveraging Large Language Models for Next-Generation Educational Technologies.
- Monteith, B., Liu, Z., Chao, J., Wiedemann, K., Fofang, J. B., Li, L., Ma, D., Mohamed, R., Mondol, A., Jo, Y., Fleetwood, A., Lipien, L., Zhang, Y., & Xing, W. (2025, February 17–19). Using entropy analysis to explore student engagement in an online high school data science course. Presented at DSE-K12 Conference 2025, Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk, San Antonio, TX, USA.
- Oh, H., Guo, R., Xing, W., Liu, Z., Song, Y., & Li, C. (2024, June). The Seamless Integration of Machine Learning Education into High School Mathematics Classrooms. In 2024 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition.
- Jiao, X., Liu, Z., Zhou, H., & Cai, S. (2022, July). The Effect of Role Assignment on Students’ Collaborative Inquiry-based Learning in Augmented Reality Environment. In 2022 International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT) (pp. 349-351). IEEE.
- Liu, Z., Jiao, X., & Cai, S. (2021, April 4). Effects of augmented reality on students' online physics learning. Paper presented at the 2021 Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association (AERA), Virtual Conference. Retrieved August 25, 2022, from the AERA Online Paper Repository.
- Jiao, X., Liu, Z., & Cai, S. (2020, November 23–27). Impact of embedded cognitive scaffolding of augmented reality technology on elementary school students' science learning. Paper presented at the 28th International Conference on Computers in Education (ICCE 2020), Virtual Conference.
- Feng, Z., Gong, C., Jiao, X., Liu, Z., & Cai, S. (2022, July). The Effects of AR Learning Environment to Preschool Children’s Numerical Cognition. In 2022 International Conference on Advanced Learning Technologies (ICALT) (pp. 352-356). IEEE.
- To be updated.
Patent
- Cai, S., Liu, Z., & Zhang, Y.. (2023). A grid-based self-attention facial expression recognition method using supervised contrastive learning. (Patent pending).
- Cai, S., Liu, Z., Changhao Liu, & Haitao Zhou. (2021). A non-invasive brain-computer interface-based attention feedback method (Patent No. ZL 2021 1 1283053.5).
- To be updated.
Education
Gainesville, Florida, USA
Program of Philosophy in Curriculum and Instruction
Specialization: Educational Technology
Advisor: Dr. Wanli Xing
Lab: Advanced and Inclusive Computing for Education (AICE) Lab
- Quantitative Foundations of Educational Research
- Quantitative Research Methods in Education
- Current Issues and Trends in Computer Science Education
- Emerging Technologies in Learning and Education
- Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) and the Learner
- Designing Integrated Media Environments
Relevant Coursework:
Beijing, China
Degree: Master of Computer Software and Theories
Advisor: Dr. Su Cai
Lab: VR/AR + Education Lab
- First Prize of Excellent graduate Student Scholarship (2020-2021,2021-2022)
- Outstanding Freshman Scholarship (2020)
- Excellent Individual of Summer Volunteer Teaching Program of BNU (2022)
Honors/Awards:
Beijing, China
Degree: Bachelor of Computer Science and Technology
Advisor: Dr. Yi Chen and Dr. Zhongming Han
Lab: Beijing Key Laboratory of Big Data Technology for Food Safety
- Excellent Graduate of Beijing (2020, top 5%)
- National Scholarship of China (2018-2019, top 0.2%)
- Headmaster Scholarship of BTBU (2018-2019, top 0.3%)
- Outstanding Student Scholarship of BTBU (2018, 2019)
- Student Leadership Award of BTBU (2017-2018)
- National Scholarship for Encouragement of China (2016-2017, 2017-2018)
Honors/Awards: