COURSES
There are two courses which I frequently teach:
Introduction to Parallel and Vector Scientific Computing which is cross listed between Mathematics and Computing as MATH/CS 4777. The Textbook I use for this course is (not surprisingly) An Introduction to Parallel and Vector Scientific Computation which I co-authored with Ron Shonkwiler. We cover a broad range of topics including numerical linear algebra, Monte Carlo methods, threads programming, MPI, and more. Obviously, since this is an introductory course, we do not treat any one topic in depth, but rather, the course was designed to survey a number of important ideas used in scientific computing on various architectures (shared memory, distributed memory, GPUs, etc.).
Previously taught Fall 2016, Fall 2014, Fall 2012, Fall 2010, Fall 2008, Fall 2006, Fall 2005, Fall 2002
The Humor Genome Project – A Vertically Integrated Projects (VIP) course. Think of it as Big Data for Humor. This project involves the creation and analysis of a repository of humor collected via crowdsourcing and social network integration. The students are investigating various techniques of data analytics and are also learning about cognitive theories of humor. This course is co-taught with Dr. Pete Ludovice.
VIP courses are typically taken for 1 or 2 credits by undergraduates and operates in a research and development context. The courses are designed to be taken for many semesters, as the team continues working.
Currently taught every Fall and Spring since Fall 2013.
OTHER EDUCATIONAL EFFORTS
Provost’s Commission on Creating the Next in Education. Since January 2016, I have been serving on the CNE commission, which is an initiative dedicated to the adoption of new and innovative educational methodologies. We produced an initial report after our Discovery Phase, and are currently working to explore ideas and define near, medium, and long term efforts which will maximize Georgia Tech’s strengths, and position the Institute as a transformational leader amongst research institutions in our educational mission.
Informal STEAM education. I have significant interest in informal educational experiences, especially in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM). This has led me in many interesting directions, including developing original programming for the Atlanta Science Festival such as Science Today – A Science Talk Show, Science and Mathematics Stand-up comedy, and Science Improv.
I have also worked quite a bit with the local, regional, and national Maker Movement. Most notably, in my free time, I helped found Decatur Makers, which is a makerspace with a strong emphasis on STEAM education and outreach.