BU MET Leads International Computer Science Education Conference Virtually, After Coronavirus Changes Plans
On Saturday, September 5, 2020, the BU MET Department of Computer Science hosted the 16th Annual International Computer Science and Education in Computer Science (CSECS) Conference. Historically, the conference has been an opportunity to gather the global community of computer science educators in person, with hosting duties rotated yearly between Boston University, Germany’s Hochschule Fulda, and the New Bulgaria University, of Bulgaria. Most recently held on campus at BU in 2018, last year’s 2019 installment came in Fulda, Germany.
This year, New Bulgaria University was scheduled to host, but due to the global COVID-19 pandemic, proceedings were taken online, with BU MET Department of Computer Science faculty stepping up to host and lead discussions. With the new virtual conference format, participation was characteristically formidable, with roughly two hundred attendees and 23 impressive research papers, each focusing on different vital areas of CS education.
Dean Tanya Zlateva kicked off the proceedings, leading the discussion with a matter facing all university educators: “Is the COVID-19 Disruption the Start of a Lasting Transformation of Higher Education?”
Dr. Eugene Pinsky, BU MET Computer Science Associate Professor of the Practice and Software Development Program Coordinator, chaired the conference, led a presentation, “Teaching Data Science by History of Science: Kepler’s Third Law of Planetary Motion and Generalized Linear Models.”
Associate Professor of the Practice and Director of Digital Learning, Administrative Sciences, Dr. Vladimir Zlatev was joined by Senior Lecturer Ravi Doddavaram in their presentation, “Competitive Landscape Analysis on College, Academic Program, and Student Levels.”
Associate Professor and Director of Digital Learning Dr. Eric Braude and Assistant Professor and Coordinator of Innovation Kathleen Park led a timely lecture, “JGRAMS: Just-in-time Grading for Effective Feedback.”
Associate Professor and Director of Project Management Dr. Vijay Kanabar led discussions including, with Master Lecturer Rich Maltzman, “The Pandemic and Group Projects: Reflections and Lessons Learned on Teaching and Technology.”
Associate Professor and Director of Finance Irena Vodenska was joined by Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Associate Professor of Computer Science Lou Chitkushev, among others, in their virtual currency discussion, “Bitcoin Price Prediction using Transfer Learning on Financial Micro-blogs.”
Dr. Pinsky offered the day’s closing remarks. “The event was a great opportunity to learn more about other programs around the world and learn about how they’ve adjusted their learning experience during the pandemic times,” he said.
Visit here to see a video capturing Part 1 of the 2020 CSECS Conference proceedings.