Computer Science Teaching to be Redesigned

Owen Astrachan, an honored professor of the practice of computer science at Duke who co-directs undergraduate studies in his department, is one of two recipients of a new National Science Foundation (NSF) award intended to help transform undergraduate computing education in the United States.

 As one of the first NSF Computer and Information Science and Engineering Distinguished Education Fellows, Astrachan will receive $250,000 over two years to develop his solution to what the federal science agency sees as a national shortcoming.

 "Unfortunately, despite the deep and pervasive impact of computing and the creative efforts of individuals in a small number of institutions, undergraduate computing education today often looks much as it did several decades ago," the NSF said in awarding the grants.

Astrachan said he plans to use the funding to promote "problem based learning" as a way to revitalize how computer science is taught.

"Instead of teaching students a lot of facts and then giving them a problem to solve, this method starts out by giving them a problem," he said. "Then they have to go figure out what facts they need to learn to solve it."

"With problem-based learning, the faculty person often stands back while you try to figure it out, though the instructor may give you a nudge if you're going the wrong way. And you might spend a couple of weeks on a problem outside of class," Astrachan said.

"So you have to do more work as a student. It's kind of a different way of learning."

Under his funding proposal to the NSF, Astrachan will work to develop the teaching concept with help from an advisory board of former students who have gone on to professional positions ranging from university professor and computer engineer to America's Cup racing yacht designer and science journalist. He will also seek advice from five senior educators in computer science, engineering and biology.

He plans to initially introduce problem-based learning into Duke courses and then to "get students and faculty at other schools to try it out," he said.

Astrachan has won two teaching awards while at Duke as well as a third during a year he spent away on leave at the University of British Columbia. In addition to directing undergraduate studies, he has also coached Duke students participating in national and international computer modeling and problem solving contests.

"I have yet to meet his equal as a teacher," wrote one member of his new advisory board in a letter of endorsement to the NSF.