2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Developing Post-pandemic Learning Community on an Urban Commuter Campus

Presented at Computer Science Education and AI research

This evidence-based practice paper presents our multiple-pronged approach to develop a post-pandemic learning community in the Department of Computer Science and Information Technology on an urban commuter campus. College students’ sense of community has been directly linked to their persistence, satisfaction with the university, motivation, and perception of course value. Building learning communities face special challenges on commuter campuses in the era of post-pandemic hybrid learning. Based on the social learning theory of community of practice, we connected a first-year programming course, a student service-learning program, and two student organizations and developed a unique community-building approach. Our expected outcome is a stronger sense of community among the students and faculty in the department.

Authors

Prof. Lily R. Liang University of the District of Columbia [biography]

Dr. Lily R. Liang is a Professor of Computer Science and the Director of the Master of Science in Computer Science Program at the University of the District of Columbia. Her research areas include computer science education, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and digital image processing. She has mentored dozens of graduate and undergraduate students in research and K-12 outreach activities. She is a fellow of the Center for the Advancement of STEM Leadership program (CASL), a fellow of the Opportunities for Under-Represented Scholars (OURS) post-graduate institutional leadership certificate program, and an alumna of the Frontiers of Engineering Education program (FOEE) of the National Academy of Engineering. She has been serving on the Project Kaleidoscope (PKAL) Capital Area Regional Network steering committee as a founding member since 2016. She received her Ph.D. in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno.
Dr. Briana Lowe Wellman University of the District of Columbia [biography]

Dr. Briana Lowe Wellman is an associate professor and chair in the Department of Computer Science and Information Technology at the University of the District of Columbia. She joined UDC in May 2012 after receiving her Ph.D. in Computer Science from The U
Rui Kang Georgia College & State University [biography]

Rui Kang is Professor of Secondary Education (6-12) of Georgia College & State University (GCSU). She teaches graduate courses in numerous areas, including math pedagogy, assessment, educational research, and learner development. She holds two Ph.D. degrees, in Curriculum and Instruction from Texas A&M University (2007) and in Mathematics Education from the University of Georgia (2022). Her scholarship focuses on mathematics teaching and learning, STEM education, and teacher preparation and professional development. Her 20+ publications include articles that appear in journals such as International Journal of Science and Mathematics Education, Journal of Social Studies Research, School Science and Mathematics, and Mathematics Teacher. She served as the Program Chair of the Special Interest Group (SIG) Democratic Citizenship in Education of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) from 2016 to 2018. She has taught high school mathematics and holds a clear renewable teaching certificate in mathematics in the state of Georgia. She currently serves as a Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI) of a National Science Foundation (NSF) S-STEM grant.

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