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Explore how Interactive Theorem Provers (ITPs) can transform computer science proof education through this 26-minute conference presentation from SPLASH-E 2025. Examine research conducted by Princeton University scholars investigating the educational potential of formal verification tools like Coq and Lean for teaching proof techniques to CS students. Learn about findings from a comprehensive study that includes student user experiences with the Coq proof assistant, comparative analysis of proof development across different platforms, and usability evaluations using Nielsen's heuristics. Discover how ITPs offer structured feedback and align with students' technical skills while also presenting challenges such as complex syntax and unclear error messaging. Understand the trade-offs between formalized ITP proofs and traditional pen-and-paper methods, including how increased explicitness and verbosity in digital proofs affects student perception of difficulty. Gain insights into specific improvement recommendations for educational ITP implementations, including enhanced error messaging, example-driven learning support, and expanded proof libraries tailored to curriculum needs. Access actionable guidance for instructors considering ITPs in their courses and understand both the pedagogical benefits and current limitations of these formal verification tools in educational contexts.
