Schedule

Dr. Cinda Heeren is a Professor of Teaching in the Department of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia. Before joining UBC in 2017, she served as a Professor of Teaching of Computer Science at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Heeren's teaching focuses on foundational computer science courses, most notably UBC's large core data structures course, CPSC 221. Her excellence in the classroom has been recognized with the UBC Killam Teaching Prize (2020) and multiple Incredible Instructor Awards, and she is widely celebrated by students for her engaging, creative, and accessible lecture style. Dr. Heeren is passionate about computer science education innovation and broadening access to CS concepts. She is a committed early adopter and advocate of PrairieLearn, a modern online assessment platform, and supports a growing community of practice around its use at UBC. Her most recent curriculum development project is DSCI220/221, discrete math and data structures courses designed specifically for Data Science majors. They connect classic computer science with data drawn from applications across the arts and sciences. Her research interests lie in computer science education, and she brings a spirit of creativity and inclusivity to everything she does in the classroom and beyond. Session chair: Parsa Rajabi

Session chair: Maryam Tanha

Session chair: Lino Coria Mendoza

Please come to the event space

Scaling Programming Assessment with CodeGrade Programming assessment is time-consuming, inconsistent, and increasingly challenged by the rise of AI tools. CodeGrade provides a modern, scalable solution that combines automated testing, structured feedback, and an integrated AI Assistant designed specifically for education. In this session, we’ll walk through a live demo of how educators can create and grade programming assignments in CodeGrade: from setting up AutoTests to delivering consistent, high-quality feedback. We’ll also show how the AI Assistant supports students within clear guardrails, helping them learn without giving away solutions. We’ll also introduce CodeGrade Free. A new way for educators to get started instantly, without procurement or budget barriers. Whether you’re running small classes or large-scale courses, see how CodeGrade can streamline grading, improve feedback, and bring structure to AI in programming education. Session chair: Juancho Buchanan

(during coffee break)

Session chair: Lama Hamandi

Session chair: John Aycock

Session chair: Meghan Allen