COLLOQUIUM

School of Computing and Software Engineering (CSE)

Subject: “Learning Styles - Are these Really Important for Educators?” – Dr. Becky Rutherfoord
“Computer Science Education – What’s Next?” – Prof. Briana Morrison

Speaker: 1. Dr. Becky Rutherfoord and 2. Prof. Briana Morrison

School of CSE, Southern Polytechnic State University

Date: Thursday, March 22, 2007

Time: 4:55-5:55 PM

Place: J-133

ABSTRACT

Learning Styles - Are these Really Important for Educators?
Most faculty and students have heard of learning styles, but few have actually studied them.  Because of heredity, upbringing, and environmental factors individuals perceive and process information differently.  Traditional educational systems tend to favor only abstract perceivers and reflective processors.  Other types of learning styles are ignored or not rewarded.  As educators and students we need to know what the basic learning styles are, what our own learning style is, and how we can incorporate learning styles into curriculum, instruction, assessment and learning.

Computer Science Education – What’s Next?
The field of computer science education research--how do we as educators teach students to become computer scientists—is a relattively new field.  Most computer science educators have a vast background in computer science and its theory, but very little background in education.  As the number of students entering the computing disciplines continues to decline, especially among under-represented groups, it is more important than ever to determine how to reach-out and engage more students into the discipline and encourage them to be successful.  This talk will discuss the current trends in computer science education and explore several new theories and techniques to draw additional students into the field.

Biographical Sketches

Rebecca (Becky) Rutherfoord is in her 23rd year at SPSU.  She began her career here in the Computer Science Department as one of the first professors back in 1983.  During her tenure here, she has served as Department Chair for Information Technology, Acting Department Head for Computer Science, Acting Dean for Arts and Sciences, Assistant to the President, and graduate coordinator for both information technology and computer science.  Dr. Rutherfoord's research interests include 1) using personality inventories to form teams, 2) ethics in information technology, 3) androgogy - the adult learner, and 4) learning styles of students.

Briana Morrison worked for IBM in Atlanta for 8 years, after earning a B.S. in Computer Engineering from Tulane University.  During her career at IBM she was a software developer, team lead for customer support, and developed and led in-house training for developers and customers on object-oriented programming and specific products.  While earning a M.S. in Computer Science from Southern Tech, she was also a graduate instructor and after graduating became an adjunct instructor.  She began her full-time position at SPSU in January of 1996.  She is currently Undergraduate Coordinator for Computer Science and her research interests include Computer Science Education, gender issues in computer science, and Data Structures.

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