Augustus Long Professor of Education,
Lynch School of Education and Human Development
Secondary appointment, Department of Computer Science
Affiliated faculty, Schiller Institute for Science and Society
Director, DevTech Research Group
Boston College
Teaching
Prof. Bers teaches interdisciplinary courses focused on the design and use of learning technologies. These courses have a strong hands-on, project-based component. Prof Bers will be teaching the following courses in the Spring of 2024 at Boston College in the DevTech Lab (Carney Hall Room 306):
FORM 6150 / CSCI 2265 Technological Tools for Playful Learning
This course explores the design and use of new technologies for learning and engages students in current debates around educational technologies, computational thinking, coding and robotics. Students will learn how to develop, implement, and evaluate technology-rich curriculum and will design their own computational meaningful projects. They will learn how to use makerspace tools, and will visit K-2 classrooms to implement technology-rich curricula. They will learn how to use video to document their experiences and will become researchers to assess the thinking and learning fostered by the different tools.
Students served: Undergraduate and Graduate students
Timing: Thursdays 9:30 am - 11:50 am
Enrollment: Maximum 25 students
FORM 7210 Design, Innovation, and Formative Experiences
This course explores the role that design and innovation can play in the development and implementation of technology-rich formative learning experiences in different settings such as schools, non-formal educational environments, community-based organizations, museums, etc. Students will read materials from a variety of disciplines such as design thinking, entrepreneurship, developmental psychology, learning sciences and artificial intelligence and will be exposed to expert guest speakers. In addition, students will gain design skills. Students will work on a final project of their choice to be determined in consultation with the professor, and will create a prototype, test it, evaluate it and revise it to meet the needs of the identified setting.
Students served: Graduate students
Timing: Wednesdays 10:00 am - 12:20 pm
Enrollment: Maximum 25 students
