2017年6月27日，团队邀请亚利桑那州立大学Sharon Hsiao教授，IBM研究院Jae-wook Ahn，Bhavna Agrawal以及Sharad Sunrararajan博士在武汉大学信息管理学院313会议室举行讲座。讲座的内容有两个：一是由来自亚利桑那州立大学计算机，信息与决策系统工程学院的助理教授Sharon Hsiao主讲的题为“Data-Driven Engineering to Improve Computing Education”；二是由来自IBM研究院沃森研究中心的Jae-wook Ahn，Bhavna Agrawal以及Sharad Sunrararajan博士主讲的题为“Cognitive Computing for Education at IBM”。本团队成员吴丹教授、洪亮副教授、赵杨副教授、王平副教授、程媛老师参加了此次交流活动，还有武汉大学信息管理学院的陆伟副院长、张晓娟教授、刘萍教授、姜婷婷副教授等人也参加了该讲座，同时有不少同学看到讲座信息后来到会议室。提问环节梁少博、陆柳杏、毕仁敏等同学积极参与并且与主讲老师对感兴趣的内容进行讨论。到场师生与在座学者进行积极的交流，气氛热烈。
讲座内容简介：
Topic 1: Data-Driven Engineering to Improve Computing Education
Presentor: Sharon Hsiao, Assistant Professor, School of Computing, Informatics & Decision Systems Engineering, Arizona State University
Abstract: Economy is rapidly shifting, computer science (CS) is increasingly being recognized as a “new basic” skill for economic opportunity and social mobility (CS for all). In this talk, I will overview several educational technology and data mining projects from my team, working toward the goal of improving CS formal and informal education. Specifically, I will discuss my recent work, investigating programming learners’ self-regulation during problem solving.
Topic 2:Cognitive Computing for Education at IBM
Presentor: Jae-wook Ahn, Bhavna Agrawal, Sharad Sunrararajan, Data Scientist, Thomas J. Watson Research Center, IBM Research
Abstract: IBM Research and Watson Education Business Unit have been actively working on transforming education by exploiting IBM Watson’s cognitive computing technology. The Watson technology can understand user intents, help them by powerful data analysis, and interact with them like human beings. With these capabilities Watson has been helping a wider range of learners, from early childhood to higher education. In this talk, we will introduce our current efforts and discuss how we can advance them even more in the future.
主讲人简介：
Sharon Hsiao is an Assistant Professor and directs CSI Lab (Computing Systems & Informatics) in the School of Computing, Informatics, and Decision Systems Engineering at Arizona State University. She received a Ph.D. in Information Science from University of Pittsburgh (2012). She completed her postdoctoral study in visual learning analytics in Teachers College, Columbia University (2014). Dr. Hsiao’s research focuses on visual analytics, open student modeling and adaptive technology for personalized learning. She works on designing and implementing solutions to improve computing education. Her research methodology involves Artificial Intelligence and Human Computer Interaction approaches in researching effective visual learning analytics and computational technologies for learning.
Bhavna Agrawal is a research staff member at IBM T.J. Watson Research Center in Yorktown Heights, NY, working on Education and cognitive technologies. She has been with IBM for the last 20 years since receiving her PhD in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, NY (USA), She started her career in VLSI Design Automation writing circuit simulation, timing and tuning tools, followed by a short sting in services delivery automation developing compliance process automation tools and techniques. She has been working in the education industry for the last 1.5 years. Specifically, her currents interests are in career, education and employment alignment, and recommendation systems.
Sharad Sunrararajan is a computer scientist by training and is currently an RSM and Manager at IBM Research @ Watson, leading a team that is designing and building intelligent tutoring systems (ITS) across multiple domains, exploring cutting edge learning experiences using mixed reality (VR/AR, wearables/tangibles), and studying the spectrum of learning abilities. Tutoring systems require a sophisticated orchestration of several capabilities that in turn demand natural language processing, machine learning (for modeling users and engagement, analyzing data), reasoning, cognitive task analysis, knowledge induction, content creation and pedagogy.
Jae-wook Ahn is a research staff member at the IBM T.J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, NY. He is working on cognitive education projects specializing in adaptive learning and visualization. He had worked as a Watson data scientist at Watson Life Group for Chef Watson. He received his Ph.D. in information science from University of Pittsburgh and worked as a postdoctoral NSF-CRA Computing Innovation Fellow at the Human-Computer Interaction Lab (HCIL), University of Maryland at College Park. His research interests are: user modeling, personalization, information retrieval, recommender systems, and visual analytics for intelligent systems.