Dr. Neelam Soundarajan
Biography
- My primary areas of interest are Software Engineering and Programming Languages with a focus on formal reasoning about the correctness of programs.
- My other primary area of interest is Computer Science education and, more broadly, STEM education including at the middle and high school levels.
- I am also interested in approaches to assessment and program improvement of Computer Science programs. Over the last several years, I have served as a program evaluator (PEV) as well as a Team Chair (TC) for the ABET/CAC evaluation of a number of Computer Science programs.
- As the past chair of the CSE Department’s Undergraduate Studies Committee, I was primarily responsible for overseeing the successful accreditation evaluation of the BS-CSE program over several cycles.
Expertise
- Software engineering and programming languages
- Innovative approaches to STEM education
- Accreditation and assessment of Computer Science programs
Current Students/Team Members
Josh Bodner
“Just joined the team, but this is a unique opportunity for anybody who loves games and has an interest in helping others learn.“
Theodore Ruppe
“This project of developing technology in order to benefit local communities was deeply appealing to me. Using prior knowledge and learning new things to create a tool with others is a rewarding experience for all.“
Saran Lendzian
“I have always had an interest in using the intersection of art and technology to create interactive experiences that help people better understand the world—and videogames for STEM education is an area of study that beautifully exemplifies the power of combining art and technology to do that. I also appreciate the opportunity this research project provides to explore ways to make education more accessible (in all meanings of the word ‘accessible’).“
Eric Letian Zhang
“I am a current junior Computer Science student from The Ohio State University’s College of Engineering. I joined this project this year because of my interest in using games to teach problem-solving abilities.“
Tianle Dai
“I’m passionate about creating educational games that help middle school students connect with math in a meaningful way.“
Sebastian King
“While my personal research is related more closely to persuasive games, I do a lot of work on many serious game related projects. As a computer science undergraduate, I have always had a vested interest in trying to make mathematics more engaging and understandable. Working with the team to better understand and gamify core math concepts has been a fun game-like process in itself!“
Yifan Zhu
“I have always been passionate about merging gaming with education. While pursuing a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science with a minor in Game Design at the University of Florida, I also began studying Education Studies, though my progress was disrupted by the pandemic. This project offers a perfect opportunity to apply my interdisciplinary skills and fill the gap left in my educational pursuits.“
Vishal Kumar
“Math education and numerical development are foundational skills that predict future socio-economic success (Ritchie & Bates, 2013). With my background in AI and two years of teaching experience, I’m deeply interested in creating systems that challenge learners to step outside their comfort zones, empower them to learn, and ultimately improve their lives while enabling them to contribute their perspectives to the world.
The idea of building strong math foundations through a novel, interactive system is especially compelling to me. Additionally, I’ve greatly enjoyed collaborating with this group, exploring the vast body of education and learning science research, and using those insights to guide the system’s development.“
Previous/Graduated Members
Bios will be added soon.