Credentials
B.Sc. (CPSC 1981) University of Calgary
M.Sc. (CPSC 1983) University of Calgary
Ph.D. (EdTech 2008) University of Calgary
Brief Bio
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Born in Berlin (Germany), raised in Ontario (Canada), moved to Calgary with my family when I was 15. I liked it, so I'm still here.
I started university (at Calgary) in 1977, and I've been here ever since (until 2006 - see below). I'm not the work-at-a-regular-job kind of person: where else can you get paid to learn stuff? I've taught on and off in the Department of Computer Science since 1983. My status was part-time until about 1999, largely because I have 3 children and we felt it was important to spend time with them while they were growing up. I've been married to the same guy since 1981, and I still like it (cool, huh?).
I've had an interest in teaching throughout my career, and now that I've been at this for over 20 years, I finally felt I had enough experience, and something worth sharing, to take the next step: my Ph.D.
My big passion these days is Serious Games (games used for purposes other than pure entertainment), and the use of games in teaching. I've been using games as assignments in my first-year classes for some years. The students tell me they really like it, but that it's also pretty hard. Teaching with games is not about making things easy.
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In my spare time, I look after our small farm (see link), and try to do my little bit towards reminding people what real life is about.
Here is a picture pf me, taken in 2005, in front of Sunnydale High School (where Buffy & the Scooby gang went). Click on the image to see a larger version.
| On Quitting |
As of July 1, 2006, I am no longer employed as a (tenured) Senior Instructor in Computer Science at the University of Calgary. It's been a fun 23 years. Well, mostly. I am grateful to all the students who challenged me. I have learned a great deal from all of you. Thanks! |
old news
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June 2009: My term at Mount Royal has come to an end. It was fun.
June 2008: 
I have a new job, at as an Instructor, in the
Department of Computer Science and Information Systems at Mount Royal University (Calgary, Alberta,Canada)
March. 2008: A new look for my website - I have re-designed my web site. Some pages have not yet been changed over, please be patient. Please also let me know of any problems, bad links, or other glitches.
Feb. 2008: I successfully defended my doctoral dissertation on Feb. 6. Yipeeeeee!
Jan. 2008: Looking for work (academia, consulting, research, or design). Willing to travel but not move. Telecommuting prospects welcome.
June. 2007: I've finally joined the ranks of the bloggers. Not that I feel I have anything really important to say. I am using it mostly as a way to keep track of some of my own thoughts and interesting do-dads I happen across. It is public because sharing is a good thing and you never know…. someone else might find something of value. So, here it is. The Becker Blog
Nov. 2006: I've been awarded the J. B. Hyne Research Innovation Award [The Faculty of Graduate Studies created this award to recognize graduate students in any discipline who excel in research. It is named to honour Dr. James B. Hyne, the first Dean of Graduate Studies (1966-1989).]
- <html><img src=“/becker/lib/exe/fetch.php?w=&h=&cache=cache&media=resources:clipart:work.gif” alt=“” align=“left” border=“0” width=“30”></html>Oct. 18 2006: CS problem directory A list of 103 assignment specifications, both collected and invented that can be used in programming classes. Most are suitable for 1st year classes, but some can be applied to other years too. (If you use any of these, please let me know. It's always nice to hear about where this stuff is going.)
July 1 2006: I have resigned as Senior Instructor at the University of Calgary. After 23 years, I quit.
- December 2005: I moved my web pages (including the farm site and my teaching/course pages) here: www.minkhollow.ca. For More info try my resources pages on: professional ethics (bullying in academia)
Sept. 28 2006, U. of C. Gauntlet News, “Professor wins suit against U.of C.” [http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/~gauntlet/eg/eg2/20060928/20060928.pdf] Vol. 47, No. 14, about Dr. Peter Bowal- Feb 16 2006, U. of C. Gauntlet News, “Professor Sues U.of C.” [http://gauntlet.ucalgary.ca/~gauntlet/eg/eg2/20060216/20060216.pdf] Vol. 46, No. 30, about Dr. Peter Bowal
- Is your Boss a Psychopath? an article about corporate psychopaths: citing one of the leading authorities on psychopaths (a Canadian!!) Thanks to http://www.slashdot.com/slashdot - Aug.19/05
- A short commentary on enrollments in CS and what we might do about it.
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