LEXINGTON, Va. May 20, 2025 — Two computer science majors at Virginia Military Institute wrote a paper on artificial intelligence (AI) that has been selected for publication and in-person presentation in the “Generative AI for Collaborative Experiences and Enhanced User Interactions in Mixed Reality” workshop at the 27th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, in Gothenburg, Sweden in June.

Alexa Avery ’25 and Amber Strapponi ’26 worked together on their project, “Reimagining Educational Research: A Multi-Model AI Evaluation of AI-in-Education Literature” as the final assignment for the Department of Computer and Information Sciences’ (CIS) Research Topics course. The paper offers an AI-driven methodology designed to assist in exploring the growing body of literature and how AI can better support both students and educators.

Dr. Mohamed Azab, associate professor in the CIS department and instructor of the course, said he could not be prouder of the cadets’ work. “By combining a carefully designed evaluation rubric with the capabilities of multiple AI models, their work offers a fresh take on how we can approach literature reviews in the age of information overload. Systematic surveys are no easy task—they demand not just technical proficiency, but also critical thinking, strong organization, and a solid grasp of both the subject matter and the broader research landscape. The cadets took on a complex and timely challenge, exploring the impact of AI on education, and developed a thoughtful, AI-assisted method for analyzing research papers. The fact that this work was accepted to such a venue speaks volumes about how much they’ve learned and how far they’ve come.”

Strapponi, from Moultonborough, New Hampshire, was thrilled to have her first research submission selected. “I’m incredibly grateful for the opportunity and everything I’ve learned from this project! I am excited to be representing VMI at this event,” she said.

Avery, from Canton, Georgia, agreed. “This project explores topics I’m deeply passionate about—artificial intelligence and its application in education. It’s been an amazing experience, and I can’t wait to continue learning and growing in this field.”

Marianne Hause
Communications & Marketing
VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE