
I love to teach, and I love to build.
I teach students to build—with code and AI.
And I build things that help them learn.
My goal has always been to teach computing to as many people as possible. Today I'm embracing the new computing brought on by generative AI—through new courses on AI agency and conversational programming, new assessment strategies, and a new Applied Computing degree organized around studio-based design, a domain concentration, and AI-assisted building, alongside adjustments to my current courses. I'm thrilled to introduce students to the most exciting advance in computing in my lifetime.
Here's a long bio. Perhaps you'd prefer something shorter? Or you could chat with my AI assistant?
I post essays here on teaching, technology, and the overlap between the two. I try to keep my essays on teaching accessible to teachers who don't build, and my essays on technology interesting to builders who don't teach.
Here are my latest four essays. For the complete set, click here.
Welcoming students to Illinois, at a moment when nobody knows what computing will look like when they graduate.
Educational tech without most of the educational tech companies: An emerging divide in the technology industry and what it means for computing educators.
Agentic development is not magic, just another skill. It must be learned. It can be taught.
Don't use AI to do assignments not designed to be done with AI.
Here is a random selection from my archive. Enjoy!
Maybe I never actually loved to code.
For more essays, click here.