CS Ph.D. student shares textbook with West Africa

As the use of artificial intelligence becomes widespread, computer scientists are continuing to refine the technology and make it more accessible. This is where Yasmin Isa comes in.

Photo Credit: Leo Luo / The Grainger College of Engineering

As a Ph.D. student at the Siebel School of Computing and Data Science in The Grainger College of Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Isa has found a way to make computer science learning materials more accessible to West Africans.

As a sophomore, Isa understood the need to make learning computer science more accessible in underrepresented regions. At first, the extent of her project was to accumulate learning resources, but eventually, Isa went from compiling to creating a resource of her own.

“At that point, I didn't think it would be a huge project. I thought it would be something else, compiling, maybe sharing on Google Doc or something,” Isa said. “But now seeing the possible impact that this might have, I think it's really interesting to just take that next step.”

The textbook targets Hausa speakers in West Africa, providing culturally relevant examples to help students understand computer science concepts. In doing this project, Isa is able to acknowledge the importance of using native languages to make learning more accessible.

“We looked at how students are able to understand computer science if the instruction is in their native tongue and they are able to,” Isa said. “We looked at what types of examples would be culturally relevant to these communities so that students can really resonate with the examples that we're providing in the textbook.”

Isa admits that throughout the process, there were difficulties when it came to the Hausa language. She underestimated the complexities of the language but in the end, that pushed her to learn more about it.

Through her communications with educators and local instructors in the area, she was able to overcome this challenge and it gave her a new appreciation and perspective on the project. 

Solutions are best brought forth within the community in which they’re supposed to serve. I think if people are able to understand the technology that we're trying to educate them on, they might be able to bring more innovative solutions that will be beneficial to their community. — Yasmin Isa

 

“You learn a lot when it comes to being in different parts of the world. You come to understand the way you do things isn't necessarily set in stone as the norm. You learn that different people view things differently,” Isa said. 

While there were obstacles to overcome, Isa also learned the importance of initiating projects, even if the end goal is unclear, a small step in a positive direction can lead to significant impact. Without starting the project, Isa never would have been able to understand the impact her work would have on a community. 

I see a lot of brilliance in young minds. I see a lot of energy and innovation, in their eyes, and in the way they conduct life. I think being able to put forth something they can easily consume, I believe, would be something that would be impactful for this region. — Yasmin Isa

 

Isa encourages younger students to look at their communities and see how they can expand their knowledge to pursue similar projects. There is an importance in seeing people from different backgrounds succeed in technology and learning spaces, which is why Isa advises students to document their progress and keep track of challenges they can pose a solution to. 

“If you have an idea, go for it. One thing that has been very helpful for me was documenting things when I first started,” Isa said. “Any obstacles that I came across, or something I thought were cool. I think that was very helpful in getting my thoughts together.” 

The publication of Isa’s textbook has also gained the attention of the National Center for Women and Information Technology. The project has earned her a spot as a 2026 NCWIT Aspirations in Computing Collegiate Award Finalist for her work as Founder and CEO of Littafin Fasaha which teaches computer science and programming in the Hausa language.

“Solutions are best brought forth within the community in which they’re supposed to serve.” Isa said. “I think if people are able to understand the technology that we're trying to educate them on, they might be able to bring more innovative solutions that will be beneficial to their community.”