Automating Personalized Parsons Problems with Customized Contexts and Concepts

Parsons problems provide useful scaffolding for introductory programming students learning to write code. However, generating large numbers of high-quality Parsons problems that appeal to the diverse range of interests in a typical introductory course is a significant challenge for educators. Large language models (LLMs) may offer a solution, by allowing students to produce on-demand Parsons problems for topics covering the breadth of the introductory programming curriculum, and targeting thematic contexts that align with their personal interests. In this paper, we introduce PuzzleMakerPy, an educational tool that uses an LLM to generate unlimited contextualized drag-and-drop programming exercises in the form of Parsons Problems, which introductory programmers can use as a supplemental learning resource. We evaluated PuzzleMakerPy by deploying it in a large introductory programming course, and found that the ability to personalize the contextual framing used in problem descriptions was highly engaging for students, and being able to customize the programming topics was reported as being useful for their learning.