Teaching

My teaching has ranged from lecture based teaching in engineering, to teaching computing subjects in a studio environment for design computing, engineering and computer science students. In my teaching I use open-ended project-based learning to encourage students to be creative and to develop their knowledge and skills through the pursuit of a unique solution. My teaching encourages independent thinking and collaboration. Listed here are descriptions of the most recent subjects I have taught at the University of Sydney and a list of other subjects taught in the past 10 years.

DECO1100 Digital Design Studio.

The objective of this subject is to develop knowledge of digital design processes through a series of design exercises and two design projects. This subject is taught as a studio during which students explore the concepts and design considerations of raster vs vector graphics, colour, layers, layout and composition, and frame-based animation. Various sources of images from photographs, sketches, 3D models, or drawing software are used. Software for creating, editing, managing and printing digital images is introduced.

DECO2010 Collaborative Virtual Environments.

The objectives of this subject are to introduce concepts and techniques for synchronous and asynchronous communication; to develop an understanding of communication and representation of design models in a computer-mediated collaborative design project; and to develop skills in using collaborative technologies. The outcomes of this unit of study are an understanding of the similarities and differences of computer-mediated and face-to-face communication; skills in the use and extension of collaborative tools such as email, shared whiteboards, blogs, virtual worlds, web-based project management, and version control development environments; and experience in developing a collaborative design product using the tools above to support the collaborative process.

INFO4990 Research Methods in Information Technology.

The objective of this subject is to understand the research methods that are used in IT and to place the students individual research in the broader field. Students learn to find and evaluate research on their own topic and to present their own research plan or results for evaluation by others.

DECO1001 Digital Image Design and Representation

DECO1002 Web Design Information Systems

DECO1021 Design Computing Studio 1B

DECO2005 Computer Supported Collaborative Design

DECO2603 Agents in Design: Agent-Based Virtual Worlds

DECO2604 Design Computing Preparatory Honours Research

DECO3001 Life-Cycle Integrated Design Computing Studio

Graduate Subjects

DESC9097 Digital Communication in Design

DESC9123 Designing Virtual Worlds

DESC9158 Intranet Design Studio