Speaker: Dr. Janell Straach, Lecturer in Computer Science in the Online MCS program
Dr. Straach joined Rice in 2019 as an instructor in the MCS@Rice program, teaching courses are Machine Learning and CyberSecurity. She holds degrees in Computer Science, including a PhD, as well as an MBA. Her interests include in digital learning methods, especially alternative modes of learning; she holds a patent in building modular online content. Dr. Straach is passionate about helping females enter the tech industry, stay in tech, and return to tech – especially cybersecurity.
This monthly event is part of a Teaching and Scholarly Learning series that will feature instructor successes and will be a place for anyone who is teaching to ask questions, give feedback, share success stories, and get advice.
Date: March 5, 2021
Summary: Dr. Straach described her instructional process in Masters in Computer Science program, which was designed to be conducted completely online for working professionals and be centered around both student-to-student and student-to-faculty interaction. Typical course modules consisted of pre-recorded video lectures, followed by learning activities, a quiz, a live session and a summative assignment. Feedback was provided to students throughout this process, and students had further opportunities for interaction with the instructor through office hours and email.
Checks for understanding were in the form of ungraded free response in-video questions during the lecture, which served to stimulate discussion during live sessions, followed by a quiz. Strategies for student feedback included participation in discussion boards, comparing and contrasting quiz responses during live sessions, and a feedback form for each module.
During weekly sessions, Dr. Straach provided an ad-hoc lecture customized to student questions based on the different forms of formative assessment and feedback from students to inform the live sessions, This in turn encouraged attendance of live-sessions and further student participation and interaction. Dr. Straach then answered questions and conducted a group discussion on strategies for questioning, live-sessions and video lectures.