Capstone or senior design courses are a key feature of most Computer Science programs as they pro... more Capstone or senior design courses are a key feature of most Computer Science programs as they provide students with authentic project experiences. Capstone courses usually focus on technical skill development, but we recognize that students will greatly benefit from developing communication skills. Within Computer Science, mastering such skills is essential for explaining and documenting system design, tackling development as a team, or leading large projects. Additionally, computer scientists need to be able to communicate their expertise to outside audiences such as funders, policymakers, customers, etc. However, studies have shown that students lack experience-based training to communicate functionally and practically. In this paper, we describe our experience with a targeted intervention within a capstone course in Computer Science. During the course, students complete a senior project while receiving training on team and project management, public speaking, and leadership. We evaluated the impact of the intervention on improving students' speaking skills and confidence by deploying surveys before and after the intervention. We observed a significant improvement in confidence and mastery of technical and non-technical oral communication skills. We also highlight how this training was particularly beneficial for underrepresented students within the discipline. CCS CONCEPTS • Social and professional topics → Computing education.
Missing uses a historical reimagining of the murder of JonBenét Ramsey as a launchpad to examine ... more Missing uses a historical reimagining of the murder of JonBenét Ramsey as a launchpad to examine what it is like for a woman of colour to be inundated in a sexist and racist media and cultural spin-cycle. The script tells the story of a young Black girl, Nancy, coming of age and absorbing these cultural messages. In Act 1, Nancy, a child beauty pageant contestant, learns about the death of her friend, JonBenét. Nancy is simultaneously drawn in, obsessed and repulsed by the media storm that follows. In Act 2, indelibly shaped by this childhood event and inspired by her role model Diane Sawyer (pageant winner turned news anchor), Nancy has grown up to be a reporter. She now finds herself peddling similarly problematic stories for ratings and clickbait. Nancy struggles increasingly with both the erasure of identities like her own and the salacious eagerness through which the media (now her job) capitalizes on violence against women in general. The title Missing stems from ‘missing whit...
The present study contributes to a growing line of research exploring the role of post sex commun... more The present study contributes to a growing line of research exploring the role of post sex communication in building and sustaining romantic relationships. More specifically, this study explores the use of relational maintenance strategies during the post sex time interval (PSTI). One-hundred and fifty-two individuals completed surveys after sexual activity and indicated the relational maintenance strategies they enacted during the PSTI. Results revealed that individuals enact the strategies of positivity and assurances to the greatest degree during the PSTI. Furthermore, extending the post sex disclosures model, results revealed that orgasm predicted differences in the use of assurances during the PSTI and that the strategy of assurances mediated the association between orgasm and several relationship outcomes (i.e., liking, commitment, control mutuality, and satisfaction). These findings suggest that individuals may use the PSTI as a time to reinforce their commitments to their partners, and that such behavior is associated with characteristics of the sexual episode and relationship outcomes. The implications of these findings for research on relational maintenance and post sex behavior are discussed.
Capstone or senior design courses are a key feature of most Computer Science programs as they pro... more Capstone or senior design courses are a key feature of most Computer Science programs as they provide students with authentic project experiences. Capstone courses usually focus on technical skill development, but we recognize that students will greatly benefit from developing communication skills. Within Computer Science, mastering such skills is essential for explaining and documenting system design, tackling development as a team, or leading large projects. Additionally, computer scientists need to be able to communicate their expertise to outside audiences such as funders, policymakers, customers, etc. However, studies have shown that students lack experience-based training to communicate functionally and practically. In this paper, we describe our experience with a targeted intervention within a capstone course in Computer Science. During the course, students complete a senior project while receiving training on team and project management, public speaking, and leadership. We evaluated the impact of the intervention on improving students' speaking skills and confidence by deploying surveys before and after the intervention. We observed a significant improvement in confidence and mastery of technical and non-technical oral communication skills. We also highlight how this training was particularly beneficial for underrepresented students within the discipline. CCS CONCEPTS • Social and professional topics → Computing education.
Missing uses a historical reimagining of the murder of JonBenét Ramsey as a launchpad to examine ... more Missing uses a historical reimagining of the murder of JonBenét Ramsey as a launchpad to examine what it is like for a woman of colour to be inundated in a sexist and racist media and cultural spin-cycle. The script tells the story of a young Black girl, Nancy, coming of age and absorbing these cultural messages. In Act 1, Nancy, a child beauty pageant contestant, learns about the death of her friend, JonBenét. Nancy is simultaneously drawn in, obsessed and repulsed by the media storm that follows. In Act 2, indelibly shaped by this childhood event and inspired by her role model Diane Sawyer (pageant winner turned news anchor), Nancy has grown up to be a reporter. She now finds herself peddling similarly problematic stories for ratings and clickbait. Nancy struggles increasingly with both the erasure of identities like her own and the salacious eagerness through which the media (now her job) capitalizes on violence against women in general. The title Missing stems from ‘missing whit...
The present study contributes to a growing line of research exploring the role of post sex commun... more The present study contributes to a growing line of research exploring the role of post sex communication in building and sustaining romantic relationships. More specifically, this study explores the use of relational maintenance strategies during the post sex time interval (PSTI). One-hundred and fifty-two individuals completed surveys after sexual activity and indicated the relational maintenance strategies they enacted during the PSTI. Results revealed that individuals enact the strategies of positivity and assurances to the greatest degree during the PSTI. Furthermore, extending the post sex disclosures model, results revealed that orgasm predicted differences in the use of assurances during the PSTI and that the strategy of assurances mediated the association between orgasm and several relationship outcomes (i.e., liking, commitment, control mutuality, and satisfaction). These findings suggest that individuals may use the PSTI as a time to reinforce their commitments to their partners, and that such behavior is associated with characteristics of the sexual episode and relationship outcomes. The implications of these findings for research on relational maintenance and post sex behavior are discussed.
Why do so many writers and audiences turn to theatre to resolve overwhelming topics of pain and... more Why do so many writers and audiences turn to theatre to resolve overwhelming topics of pain and suffering? This collection of essays from international scholars reconsiders how theatre has played a crucial part in encompassing and preserving significant human experiences.
Plays about global issues, including terrorism and war, are increasing in attention from playwrights, scholars, critics and audiences. In this contemporary collection, a gathering of diverse contributors explain theatre's special ability to generate dialogue and promote healing when dealing with human tragedy.
This collection discusses over 30 international plays and case studies from different time periods, all set in a backdrop of war. The four sections document British and American perspectives on theatres of war, global perspectives on theatres of war, perspectives on Black Watch and, finally, perspectives on The Great Game: Afghanistan. Through this, a range of international scholars from different disciplines imaginatively rethink theatre's unique ability to mediate the impacts and experiences of war.
Featuring contributions from a variety of perspectives, this book provides a wealth of revealing insights into why authors and audiences have always turned to the unique medium of theatre to make sense of war.
Uploads
Papers by Annika Speer
Plays about global issues, including terrorism and war, are increasing in attention from playwrights, scholars, critics and audiences. In this contemporary collection, a gathering of diverse contributors explain theatre's special ability to generate dialogue and promote healing when dealing with human tragedy.
This collection discusses over 30 international plays and case studies from different time periods, all set in a backdrop of war. The four sections document British and American perspectives on theatres of war, global perspectives on theatres of war, perspectives on Black Watch and, finally, perspectives on The Great Game: Afghanistan. Through this, a range of international scholars from different disciplines imaginatively rethink theatre's unique ability to mediate the impacts and experiences of war.
Featuring contributions from a variety of perspectives, this book provides a wealth of revealing insights into why authors and audiences have always turned to the unique medium of theatre to make sense of war.