Curriculum as Code: An AI-Assisted Architecture for Instructional Design in STEM Education

Synthesis: This paper presents a six-phase AI-assisted instructional design architecture based on the Curriculum as Code paradigm, integrating Generative AI with LaTeX and Python to automate the creation of reproducible, visually consistent, and technically precise materials for STEM education. Validated over one year across 8 modules and 28 project contexts in a Project-Based Learning environment, the architecture significantly reduced instructor workload. Materials achieved high quality ratings from 8.5 to 9.9/10 based on over 600 voluntary student evaluations, suggesting viability for broad STEM educational applications.

Key Findings

This paper presents a six-phase AI-assisted instructional design architecture based on the Curriculum as Code paradigm, integrating Generative AI with LaTeX and Python to automate the creation of reproducible, visually consistent, and technically precise materials for STEM education. Validated over one year across 8 modules and 28 project contexts in a Project-Based Learning environment, the architecture significantly reduced instructor workload. Materials achieved high quality ratings from 8.5 to 9.9/10 based on over 600 voluntary student evaluations, suggesting viability for broad STEM educational applications.

The work contributes to understanding of Instructional Design in educational contexts, with implications for STEM Education, Curriculum Design.

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Citation

Paiva, H. M. (2026). Curriculum as Code: An AI-Assisted Architecture for Instructional Design in STEM Education. arXiv:2608.07364.