Dr. Ilenius Ildephonce

Publication/source: Caribbean Educational Research Journal, 1-16, 2026

Description / abstract: Purpose Given the rapid adoption of AI-assisted coding tools within both software development and educational contexts, it is essential to understand students' experiences and difficulties. This research examines the integration of GitHub Copilot, a tool driven by a large language model (LLM), into an introductory programming course at a Caribbean university. Design/methodology/approach Utilizing an exploratory case study through action research, an instructor employed sentiment and content analysis of feedback from thirty-seven first-year undergraduate students to garner the effectiveness of GitHub Copilot tool in their learning experiences. Findings The findings reveal numerous technical and ethical issues related to the accuracy and utility of the tool's output, sentiments regarding technical challenges highlighted students' difficulties in comprehending …

Publication/source: International Conference on Games and Learning Alliance, 192-202, 2025

Description / abstract: The effectiveness of educational games (EGs) depends on design strategies that align game mechanics with pedagogical goals. Although research highlights this alignment, findings remain fragmented due to varied, descriptive methodologies. Addressing the need for a prescriptive framework, this study examines how learning elements influence the selection and configuration of game mechanics. A systematic literature review and an expert survey (n = 17, across nine countries) revealed consistent relationships between instructional elements (e.g., Bloom’s taxonomy, learning objectives) and game elements (e.g., narrative, environment, feedback). Results show that learning constraints shape game design choices, offering actionable guidance for aligning mechanics with educational intent. This research contributes unified, reusable insights that bridge educational theory and game design practice, enabling the …

Publication/source: AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts 2024 (221), GC13D-0221, 2024

Description / abstract: In 2023, the average annual 2-m temperature over the Caribbean was 26.68 C, which was 0.73 C above the 1991-2020 average, making it the warmest year since the record commenced in 1950. Record warming region wide was observed for June-August (0.96 C) and September-November (1.03 C). The unprecedented temperatures were linked to heat stress, increased demand for cooling, power outage, variations in availability of crops, fish stock and livestock, and water deficits. Overall, the region has been warming at a rate of 0.12 C decade‑1 since 1950 (0.18 C decade‑1 since 1970). The Caribbean heat season was record warm at 18 of 36 stations in the Caribbean Institute for Meteorology and Hydrology CAROGEN database, with 30 stations measuring values exceeding their 90th percentile. The high temperatures may be associated with higher humidity levels in the boundary layer of the atmosphere due …

Publication/source: SoutheastCon 2023, 647-653, 2023

Description / abstract: This paper builds on the known fact that there are artifacts and constructs within the software product and process that enable or inhibit communication between developer stakeholders that is critical to software quality and success. Processes such as refactoring, version control and integration (which are critical to software quality), become difficult and costly when these artifacts such as commit messages, code comments, design documents and interface descriptions are not recognised and treated as legitimate communication structures which can in fact make or break the success of the software product. The paper, therefore, proposes the software quality attribute of communicability. A group of developers were surveyed to understand the experience of developers in relation to identified communication constructs and artifacts in software development. After this, the authors collaborated on the development of …

Publication/source: International Conference on Games and Learning Alliance, 335-341, 2022

Description / abstract: Educational games’ effectiveness is dependent on the harmony between pedagogy and entertainment. However, finding the balance between abstract concepts such as fun with concrete ones such as learning gains is difficult. This difficult task lacks prescriptive methodologies to guide conceptualizing and communicating the specifications of a standard educational game. This research sought to develop an ontological structural model applied to produce the specifications of educational games. The model is beneficial to educational game designers by facilitating them to make informed design decisions through careful mapping of learning and game elements, improving the produced games’ quality.