LeafTutor: An AI Agent for Programming Assignment Tutoring

arXiv:2601.02375v1 Announce Type: new
Abstract: High enrollment in STEM-related degree programs has created increasing demand for scalable tutoring support, as universities experience a shortage of qualified instructors and teaching assistants (TAs). To address this challenge, LeafTutor, an AI tutoring agent powered by large language models (LLMs), was developed to provide step-by-step guidance for students. LeafTutor was evaluated through real programming assignments. The results indicate that the system can deliver step-by-step programming guidance comparable to human tutors. This work demonstrates the potential of LLM-driven tutoring solutions to enhance and personalize learning in STEM education. If any reader is interested in collaboration with our team to improve or test LeafTutor, please contact Pu Tian (pu.tian@stockton.edu) or Yalong Wu (wuy@uhcl.edu).