ICS 463: Intro to Human-Computer Interaction Design, Spring 2006

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Instructor

Dr. Daniel D. Suthers

suthers@hawaii.edu
956-3890
POST 309
Office Hours:

  • After class until 3:30
  • Other times TBA
  • Other times by appointment.

Dr. Suthers obtained his Bachelor of Fine Arts (1979) from Kansas City Art Institute, and his M.S. (1988) and Ph.D. (1993) in Computer Science from the University of Massachusetts. He also studied Psychology at the graduate level at Northern Arizona University, 1982-1985. Dr. Suthers is presently Associate Professor in the department of Information and Computer Sciences at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, where he directs the Laboratory for Interactive Learning Technologies (http://lilt.ics.hawaii.edu).

His research takes human-computer interaction and artificial intelligence perspectives on designing software to work with minds and social systems. For the past few years he has studied Representational Guidance: how software interfaces that enable learners to construct, examine, and manipulate symbolic representations of their evolving knowledge affects discourse between learners. More recent work focuses on how to provide better interfaces for online discussions about shared documents. He is also interested in designing software "agents" that can usefully enter into this discourse, using the learner constructed representations as a window on the learner's thinking. Applications of his work range from middle to early high school Earth Science to post-secondary computer science distance education and adult professional development of educators. Related interests include pragmatic issues in networked architectures for delivery of collaborative and intelligent functionality on common platforms; and in achieving "semantic interoperability" between independently developed components brought together to form an intelligent learning environment.

Prior to joining ICS/UHM, Dr. Suthers was a Research Associate at the Learning Research and Development Center (1992-1998), and Adjunct Faculty at the Department of Information Science (1995-1998), both of the University of Pittsburgh. At LRDC, he directed the Advanced Cognitive Tools for Learning group (http://advlearn.lrdc.pitt.edu), and developed collaborative networked software for "argument mapping" known as "Belvedere." This software has been deployed in Department of Defense schools for dependents of enlisted personnel. He is also a consulting designer for NetLearn, a national electronic professional development network under development by LRDC's Institute for Learning for primary and secondary school educators.

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