Category Archives: Computer Science

Computer Scientists Find New Security Loophole That Allows Spying on Internet Users – Tech Times

Computer scientists at Graz University of Technology have uncovered a new security vulnerability that could enable unauthorized surveillance ofinternet users' online activities.

According to the researchers, this loophole, known as "SnailLoad," bypasses conventional data protection measures such as firewalls, VPN connections, and browser privacy modes.

Unlike traditional methods involving malware or data interception, SnailLoad exploits fluctuations in internet connection speed to track users' actions online. This method does not require deploying malicious code, making it particularly insidious.

The researchers at the Institute of Applied Information Processing and Communication Technology (IAIK) noted that the vulnerability hinges on monitoring the latency variations that occur during the transfer of seemingly innocuous files from attacker-controlled servers to unwitting victims.

Stefan Gast from IAIK explained that every online activity leaves a distinct latency pattern similar to a unique fingerprint. When a user interacts with websites, watches videos, or engages in video calls, the latency fluctuations pattern reflects the content being accessed.

By analyzing these patterns, attackers can reconstruct the sequence of a victim's online actions. The technique involves pre-collecting latency fingerprints of popular websites and YouTube videos.

The researchers identified users' activities during experiments by correlating observed latency patterns with the stored fingerprints. This approach effectively circumvents conventional security measures blind to such subtle indicators.

Daniel Gruss, another researcher involved in the study, noted that the success rate of the SnailLoad attack can be remarkably high, especially under conditions where internet speeds are slower and data volumes are higher.

Read Also:Change Healthcare Begins Notifying Hospitals, Customers Who Had Data Exposed in Massive Cyberattack

During tests, the researchers achieved up to 98% accuracy in identifying activities like video consumption, albeit with slightly lower success rates for simpler web browsing activities.

Gruss warned that the loophole is exceptionally difficult to mitigate. Traditional fixes like software updates or firewall adjustments are ineffective against a method that exploits inherent properties of internet traffic dynamics.

According to Gruss, the potential countermeasure of deliberately slowing down internet connections in a randomized manner could degrade the user experience, particularly for real-time applications such as video conferencing and online gaming.

The implications of SnailLoad extend beyond individual privacy concerns to a broader impact on cybersecurity strategies. The Graz University team advocates for heightened awareness and research into more robust defenses against such sophisticated tracking methods.

Gast and Gruss' team has established awebsiteoutlining SnailLoad. They plan to present theirscientific paperon this vulnerability at the upcoming Black Hat USA 2024 and USENIX Security Symposium conferences.

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Computer Scientists Find New Security Loophole That Allows Spying on Internet Users - Tech Times

ASU launching Doctor of Information Technology degree program in fall 2024 – Full Circle

Technology is ever changing and leadership must evolve to keep pace with advancements across high-tech fields. The rise in artificial intelligence, or AI, is creating new challenges in many sectors. In an era of great change, those in decision-making roles must develop the skills to manage uncertainty and disruption. Effective leaders must also be able to blend technological acumen with soft skills, creating work environments where their teams collaborate successfully.

To prepare for this future, The Polytechnic School, part of the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University, will launch a Doctor of Information Technology program this fall.

Over the next few years The Polytechnic School will launch several graduate programs to develop leaders who can combine deep technical know-how with broad principled know-why. We are starting with a doctor of information technology because the faculty understand the demand for this training, but also because IT is everywhere. I cant imagine a better academic opportunity for a new generation of tech executives to benefit so many people, says Kurt Paterson, director of The Polytechnic School.

This professional doctorate, which focuses on developing solutions to practical problems rather than on academic research, will be geared toward working professionals who already have a masters degree in a related field, substantial professional experience, and are looking to advance their career and seek new leadership opportunities. The degree program is designed to leverage students work experience to help enhance their management skills through academic theory and applied engineering.

This doctoral program focuses on combining applied research, industry practices and leadership to innovate solutions to complex multifaceted challenges. The emphasis on leadership, principled innovation and industry experience is a key difference between this program and other doctoral programs, says Tatiana Walsh, an assistant teaching professor and chair of the information technology program in The Polytechnic School.

Derex Griffin, an assistant teaching professor of information technology in The Polytechnic School, says the program is ideal for students already dedicated to their work in the information technology field and who see themselves as transformative leaders in an industry where leadership is especially consequential.

Weve built a comprehensive, hands-on experience to address the leadership challenge that comes with being a part of the next generation of information technology innovators, says Griffin.

There are key aspects of The Polytechnic Schools new doctorate degree that set it apart from other programs.

This is the first program of its kind in the state of Arizona, which aligns with ASUs forward thinking and innovation. Students are given the opportunity to do practical research to develop best practices that can be immediately applied in the workplace. This prepares them to address todays information technology challenges and help to advance this industry.

Students will obtain experiences in cloud computing, artificial intelligence, cyber security and data science, Walsh says. Graduates will become technology leaders who have the skills required to lead enterprise initiatives that innovate highly reliable communications networks, implement resilient security global systems and leverage data analytics in daily big data business decisions.

Another advantage offered by the program is that students will be able to complete their studies in three years, which makes the degree more cost-effective than alternatives. In addition, the atmosphere of The Polytechnic Schools atmosphere is familial in nature, which contributes to a successful learning environment. The schools programs tend to foster long-term professional relationships that can lead to networking that benefits students in their future careers.

Upon graduation, students will have opportunities to advance in careers such as senior technology managers, consultants, researchers and chief information officer in fields like business, education, government and non-profit organizations.

Students develop the engineering skills and professional competencies in collaboration, communication, agility, ethics and teamwork to advance their leadership career, says Walsh.

Appropriate undergraduate degrees completed by students that will render them successful in this program include information technology, information sciences, cybersecurity, computer science, computer systems engineering, computer engineering and software engineering.

To be awarded the Doctor of Information Technology, students must complete 60 credit hours, including an applied project course, and meet the requirements of both ASUs Graduate College and the Fulton Schools.

Our program will help professionals to step into advanced technical leadership roles to lead initiatives that create principled solutions for real-world needs, Walsh says.

The application is now open for fall 2024 and spring 2025 semesters.

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ASU launching Doctor of Information Technology degree program in fall 2024 - Full Circle

Data science pioneer and IST icon C. Lee Giles to retire after 21 years – Penn State University

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. The Penn State College of Information Sciences and Technology(IST) has announced the retirement ofC. Lee Giles, the David Reese Professor of Information Sciences and Technology. While he will end his teaching career on June 30, he will continue to pursue his research and advise graduate students at University Park.

We have been so fortunate to have had Lee in our college for two decades, said Andrea Tapia, dean of the College of IST. There is so much to say about his trailblazing career: I encourage everyone to search C. Lee Giles on Google and Wikipedia. He has been an asset to Penn State and to the Information Age.

Giles came to the College of IST less than a year after it opened its doors, joining with tenure and the named professorship. A self-described physicist-turned-computer scientist, he is a pioneer in data sciences and neural networks. As an information retrieval person, he has been involved in the creation and development of an array of search engines and digital libraries.

Early in his career, Giles moved from physics to computer science and became well-known for his work on neural networks, just as the web was beginning to explode. In 1997, he co-created CiteSeer the first automated citation indexing system and a predecessor of Google Scholar and Microsoft Academic Search.

CiteSeer has been my greatest career accomplishment, Giles said. I began that work at Princeton with Steve Lawrence, who later helped to get Google up and running, and Kurt Bollacker, who created Freebase. We worked to put computer science papers on the web, rather than keep them hidden in journals with no open access. We indexed them. Made them searchable. It was the start of great things.

Giles, with Lawrence, was estimating the size of the web, building search engines and generating a lot of publicity, including a front-page story for The New York Times in 1999. Their capture/recapture efforts revealed that existing search engines werent being truthful, and in a story for The Wall Street Journal, they told people what was really out there.

In 2003, Giles moved the CiteSeer equipment to Penn State via sneakernet that is, in the back of a station wagon and has since built a second version, CiteSeerX, with support from the College of IST.

Thanks to Lee, we can easily do forward literature search, something that was impossible before CiteSeer, said John Yen, professor in the College of IST. And thanks to Lee, citation counts can be generated automatically and reliably and used an important measure for impacts of scholarship worldwide; the field of big scholarly data was created; and we have recurrent neural networks, a precursor to deep neural networks, transformers, large language models and generative pre-trained transformers.

Yen credited Giles for helping him find his way to the exhilarating start-up College of IST in 2000. Dongwon Lee, professor in IST, said he was also inspired by Giles to come to Penn State.

When I was searching for my first academic job, I was hesitant about joining a young new college that wasnt the pure computer science I was trained, in, he said. The presence of Lee and his group convinced me to join IST. I have never regretted that decision and have since become an enthusiastic advocate for the interdisciplinary and social impacting type of research that Lee has been doing for decades. He has been a wonderful mentor and colleague.

Beyond CiteSeer and CiteSeerX, Giles has co-developed other specialty search engines, including ChemXSeer for chemistry, BotSeer for robots.txt, CollabSeer for collaboration searches, ArchSeer for archaeology, RefSeer for citations, AckSeer for acknowledgements and BizSeer for academic business.

Lees contributions to the field are legendary he is a visionary and a great human being, said Prasenjit Mitra, professor in the College of IST. Lee was my mentor, and I thoroughly enjoyed working on CiteSeerX, ChemXSeer and a few smaller seers. I will cherish the fact that I am possibly the one who has co-authored the most with him. And I am glad he will still be research-active our students need him.

Giles has been a big draw for students searching for a doctorate in informatics and computer science. Giles has graduated 37 such students and has more in the pipeline. He remains in touch with many of them long after they leave IST. Many of his publications involve collaborations with other faculty.

Ph.D. students come to me by reputation, but they have to be independent learners, he said. I dont tell them exactly what to do I guide them in the right direction. My students have gone on to do great things, not the least of which is creating upwards to a billion dollars in wealth.

Giles earned bachelors degrees from Rhodes College and the University of Tennessee, a masters degree in physics from the University of Michigan and a doctoral degree in optical sciences from the University of Arizona. He taught at Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, Columbia University, the University of Pisa, the University of Trento and Clarkson University. He served as a program manager at the Air Force Office of Scientific Research (AFOSR), a research scientist at the Naval Research Laboratory, a senior research scientist at the NEC Research Institute and a research engineer at Ford Motor Companys Scientific Research Laboratory.

In a way, Lee got me started on my career in AI, said Vasant Honavar, professor in the College of IST. When he was a program manager at AFOSR, he funded my advisors work and hence my doctoral research on constructive learning at the University of Wisconsin when neural networks were at the very fringes of AI and machine learning.

Giless current research and consulting interests involve intelligent information search for specialty and niche domains and big data using AI and machine learning methods and the learning of sequences and formal grammars.

I cant wait to see what he does next, said Tapia.

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Data science pioneer and IST icon C. Lee Giles to retire after 21 years - Penn State University

NMSU alum one of 10 selected for national genomic research fellowship – NMSU Newsroom

Mike Lopez graduated from New Mexico State University in fall 2023 with a bachelors degree in computer science and minors in biology and bioinformatics. Starting July 1, he will work as one of 10 post-baccalaureate genome analysts selected for the American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG)-National Human Genome Research Institute (NHGRI) Genomics and Public Service Fellowship. NHGRI is part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) for the next two years.

I believe this opportunity is going to help boost my credibility as a scientist and help take me closer towards my future goals, said Lopez. My personal and professional goals center around human genomics. I am focused on how I can try to help improve personalized healthcare, whether that be through making it more accessible to more of the general population or improving upon its accuracy.

Ten fellows have been selected as part of a new expanded program for graduate and post-baccalaureate fellowships continuing two prestigious graduate-level fellowships in genetics and public policy, genetics education and engagement, and adding a third fellowship in genomics communications. The new post-baccalaureate fellowshipprovides additional fellows training opportunities at an earlier stage of their careers.

NHGRI is delighted to partner with ASHG in establishing the Genomics and Public Service Fellowship Program and welcoming our inaugural class of fellows, said NHGRI Director Eric Green, MD, PhD. The future of genomics depends on recruiting and training a rainbow of career professionals, including those with expertise in education, communications, policy, scientific programming and beyond. We are excited to help provide the next generation of genetics and genomics professionals with experiences and exposures that will help them navigate their career journeys.

As a post-baccalaureate genome analyst, Lopez will work with program directors from the NHGRI Extramural Research Program to see how genomics research, the study of genes, is funded and conducted, as well as how findings from this research are shared within and around the scientific community.

Computational biology uses data and genome analysis, mathematical modeling and computational simulations to understand biological systems. Learning about these differences and changes in genetic makeup can lead to the discovery of treatments for various diseases. Lopez plans to pursue a Ph.D. in computational biology, focused on the use of genomics to impact personalized healthcare.

A Las Cruces native, Lopez chose NMSU to stay close to his family and because both his parents were Aggies. A sense of connection and encouragement opened the path to pursue genomics research. After a lengthy application process and two extensive interviews, Lopez credits professors and programs at NMSU for helping him win the prestigious fellowship.

In my junior year, I joined the Maximizing Access to Research Careers (MARC) Program where my amazing mentor Donovan Bailey (NMSU biology professor) taught me how bioinformatics is used in research and showed me how to be an effective researcher, Lopez said. After joining the program, I had opportunities to travel all across the country and give research presentations.

The MARC Program has since been replaced by the Undergraduate Research Initiative for Scientific Enhancement (U-RISE) Program. Similarly to MARC, NMSUs U-RISE program promotes broad participation in the biomedical research workforce by strengthening research training environments and expanding the pool of well-trained students. This year, the program received a 5-year, $1.6 million grant from the National Institutes of Health, underscoring its success in training students like Lopez.

I cant say enough about the amazing faculty Ive met at NMSU, Lopez said. The dedication they have for their students and passion for amazing research has inspired me to strive for greatness in my own research as well as my personal and professional goals.

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CUTLINE: Mike Lopez, who graduated from New Mexico State University in fall 2023 with a bachelors degree in computer science, is one of 10 post-baccalaureate genome analysts selected for a national genomic research fellowship starting July 1. (Courtesy photo)

CUTLINE 2: New Mexico State University graduate Mike Lopez attributes much of his success to his time spent at NMSU. Biology professor Donovan Bailey is just one of many NMSU faculty members to inspire Lopez. (Photo by Donovan Bailey)

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NMSU alum one of 10 selected for national genomic research fellowship - NMSU Newsroom

Examining Data Science Through an Equity Lens | College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences … – College of Computer, Mathematical, and…

Issues of race and gender have shaped computing since its beginning, now with increasing debate over algorithmic bias, surveillance, data privacy and more. As technology evolves to play a larger role in everyday life, its even more important that people understand how technology can reinforce systems of power.

This spring semester in a new course cross-listed in the University of Marylands Computer Science and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies (WGSS) departments, students examined the relationships between digital technology, power structures and social justice. The idea for the course, listed as CMSC115/WGSS115: Gender, Race and Computing, started with Elias Gonzalez (B.S. '17, computer science; M.Ed. 18, curriculum and instruction), a lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Break Through Tech curriculum innovation lead.

For computer science students, the goal was to expose them to other ideas and other students outside of their computer science bubble, Gonzalez said. For the WGSS students and other majors, our goal was to show them that tech is an option for themand that they can apply tech to whatever area they want to study.

Another goal of the course was to open up opportunities for more women and nonbinary students to explore tech career paths, which is why Gonzalez says the collaboration with WGSS was a perfect fit. After developing the curriculum and laying the necessary groundwork, Computer Science Adjunct Lecturer Jennifer Manly and WGSS Associate Professor Alexis Lothian co-taught the course.

Research shows that women are drawn to computer science for ways that they can use tech to impact the world around them and make a difference, Manly said. And thats what this course was to meit was a way for us to offer something that appeals to students who are interested in making a difference and to offer up computer science in an approachable way.

Forty-four students enrolled in the course, representing 22 majors and eight UMD colleges and schools. Gonzalez worked with WGSS faculty members to structure the course so that computing experience was not a prerequisite. Throughout the semester, students learned data science basics and how to ask thoughtful questions about data and understand its fallibility. The curriculum applied an equity lens to data science by examining how systemic racism and sexism in computer science impact the everyday use of digital technology.

For every technical component included in homework assignments, Manly walked the class through an example in class. The semester culminated in a final project where students worked together to identify and analyze a publicly available dataset related to gender or race and create corresponding data visualizations.

Sophomore mathematics major Helen Duan and her teammates found datasets on labor conditions and child labor in the clothing industry and used Tableau to create graphs and infographics that showed their findings.

I would recommend this course to other students because the lecture material was really interesting and also applicable to my studies in STEM. I think these courses are necessary for promoting social justice and embedding it in our work, Duan said. The class definitely made me more aware of how many things are affected by hidden biases. I know Ill be more cautious in the future when collecting data and drawing conclusions.

Teaching students to be more conscious consumers of technology was an important outcome for Manly and Lothian.

Some of these students are going to go on to work in computer science and some are not, but all of us will be using tech, Manly said. All of us are using technology all the time, so leaving as more conscious consumers is a fantastic outcome.

Moving forward, Gonzalez plans to explore new opportunities for cross-listed computing courses.

I would love to see more courses like CMSC115, he said. I envision it as tech plus X, where students can apply technical skills to another field theyre interested in. I would love to work with other departments to help create computing classes where needed and serve the greater population of UMD.

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Examining Data Science Through an Equity Lens | College of Computer, Mathematical, and Natural Sciences ... - College of Computer, Mathematical, and...

UA Launches New Center for AI Research and Development – UA News Center

The University of Alabama is setting a new standard for AI research and education with the opening of the Alabama Center for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence, housed within the College of Engineering.

The new research center, recently approved by the University of Alabama System Board of Trustees, is supported in part through a $2 million donation in honor of former chair of the department of computer science, Dr. Marvin A. Griffin. It will unify new and existing work across campus, greatly expanding research, education and outreach activities related to the development and application of artificial intelligence.

The launch of the ALA-AI Center marks a transformative moment in AI research and education here at The University of Alabama and for our state, showcasing UAs unwavering dedication to excellence, innovation, world-class education and in being at the forefront of the research and development of cutting-edge technologies, said Dr. Clifford Henderson, dean of the College of Engineering.

Serving as a pivotal hub for the study of AIs core mechanisms and its myriad applications, ALA-AI will focus on five fundamental themes:

ALA-AI will unify new and existing research efforts as part of a campus-wide collaboration between the College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences, Culverhouse College of Business, Capstone College of Nursing, College of Communication and Information Sciences, College of Education and School of Social Work.

A strategic alignment with the recently approvedHigh Performance Computing and Data Centerand theAlabama Cyber Instituteuniquely positions ALA-AI for close collaboration with industry partners and bolsters UA as a leader in computational and AI research.

Dr. Jiaqi Gong, associate professor of computer science, will serve as the inaugural director of the center. Dr. Sergei Gleyzer, associate professor of physics and astronomy, and Dr. Hee Yun Lee, distinguished professor and endowed academic chair in the School of Social Work, have been appointed as co-directors of ALA-AI.

The establishment of ALA-AI signifies a monumental leap forward in the realm of AI research and education at UA, Gong said. Through interdisciplinary collaboration and innovative initiatives, we aim to address the most pressing challenges and opportunities in AI, shaping a brighter future for Alabama and beyond through its responsible development and application.

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UA Launches New Center for AI Research and Development - UA News Center

Researchers find better way to detect when older adults fall at home | Binghamton News – Binghamton University

When older adults fall at home, every second counts especially when they are alone.

New research from Binghamton University aims to cut reaction times with a human action recognition (HAR) algorithm that uses local computing power to analyze sensor data and detect abnormal movements without transmitting to a processing center offsite.

Professor Yu Chen and PhD student Han Sun from the Thomas J. Watson College of Engineering and Applied Sciences Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering designed the Rapid Response Elderly Safety Monitoring (RESAM) system to leverage the latest advancements in edge computing.

In a paper recently published in the IEEE Transactions on Neural Systems and Rehabilitation Engineering, they show that the RESAM system can run using a smartphone, smartwatch, laptop or desktop computer with 99% accuracy and a 1.22-second response time, ranking among the most accurate methods available today.

Chen said the research is important for an underserved population: When many people talk about high tech, they are discussing something cutting edge, like a fancier algorithm, a more powerful assistant to do jobs faster or having more entertainment available. We observed a group of people senior citizens who need more help but normally do not have sufficient resources or the opportunity to tell high-tech developers what they need.

By using devices already familiar to older people, rather than a full smart home setup, he thinks it gives them a better sense of control over their health. They dont need to learn new technology for the system to be effective.

Also, to protect peoples privacy, RESAM reduces the monitored images to skeletons, which still allows analysis of key points such as arms, legs and torso to determine if someone has fallen or suffered a different accident that could lead to injury.

The most dangerous place for falls is the bathroom, but nobody wants to set up a camera there, Chen said. People would hate it.

He sees the RESAM system as a cornerstone for a wider concept hes calling Happy Home, which could include thermal or infrared cameras and other sensors to remotely assess other aspects of a persons environment and well-being.

Adding more sensors can make our system more powerful, because we are not only monitoring someones body movements we can monitor someones health with one more dimension, so we better predict if somethings going to happen before it happens, he said.

Another idea, which Chen is exploring with Associate Professor Shiqi Zhang from the Department of Computer Science, is for the system to include a robot dog or similar pet that would keep a closer watch as someone did their daily tasks. Last fall, Zhang demonstrated how a robot dog might guide someone with visual impairment through tugs on a leash.

You could have a conversation with the robot, Chen said. For example, when you are heading to the bathroom, the dog may ask you, Would you mind if I follow you? The dog can make a better decision to move closer to monitor your status instead of having only fixed sensors in the room.

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Researchers find better way to detect when older adults fall at home | Binghamton News - Binghamton University

U.S. News ranks ECS graduate programs among Top 50 at private universities – The Collegian online

The University of Tulsas College of Engineering & Computer Science is ranked No. 43 among graduate programs at private universities for 2024, according to U.S. News & World Report.

This latest data from U.S. News & World Report is more than just an accolade to the university; it is a testament to the facultys dedication to academic excellence, innovative research, and impactful teaching, said Andreas A. Polycarpou, Ph.D. and James R. Sorem Inaugural Dean of the College of Engineering & Computer Science. It reflects the profound influence on their students and the academic community, highlighting their commitment to fostering an environment of intellectual growth and discovery.

UTulsas petroleum engineering program was ranked No. 2 among private institutions and No. 6 overall. In addition to program rankings, U.S. News presents the latest data on enrollment numbers, job placement rates, faculty statistics, and other imperative indicators to assist prospective students in making informed decisions.

UTulsas College of Engineering & Computer Science is known for its hands-on opportunities, challenging students with real-world problems to set them up for successful careers, said Mohan Kelkar, Ph.D. and chair of petroleum engineering. Faculty and students have access to a state-of-the-art drilling simulator and high-tech equipment on the main campus as well as drilling labs and an operational multiphase flow loop on the North Campus. Traditional and transitional energy research is conducted with industry partners, government agencies, and interdisciplinary colleagues from across the college.

UTulsas mechanical engineering program was ranked in the top 50 among private institutions and No. 146 overall, a staggering 20-spot improvement from the previous year.

The rise in rankings is a testament to our top-tier faculty, cutting-edge facilities, and innovative research in materials science, tribology, and robotics, said John Henshaw, Ph.D. and chair of mechanical engineering. We are thrilled that our commitment is starting to reflect what we have always known: UTulsa is an outstanding place to receive a mechanical engineering education.

Pursuing an advanced degree in engineering enhances students skills, allowing them to specialize in their areas of interest while opening doors to leadership roles with higher earning potential. Learn more about what the College of Engineering & Computer Science offers.

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U.S. News ranks ECS graduate programs among Top 50 at private universities - The Collegian online

Code.org Partners with PowerSchool and Instructure to Bring Computer Science and AI Learning Seamlessly into … – PR Newswire

Integrated with Schoology Learning and Canvas, Code.org removes access barriers to robust catalog of standards-aligned K-12 computer science and AI curriculum

SEATTLE, June 25, 2024 /PRNewswire/ --Code.org announced today an expanded suite of Learning Management System (LMS) integrations with Schoology Learning (PowerSchool) and Canvas(Instructure). Schoology Learning and Canvas users will now have seamless, one-click access to Code.org's comprehensive catalog of trusted, standards-aligned K-12 computer science and AI learning content, removing access barriers for students and saving valuable instructional and prep time for teachers throughout the year.

With these new partner integrations, Code.org will connect its state-of-the-art computer science and AI curricula directly into the digital learning platforms of Schoology Learning and Canvas. New features like one-click Single Sign-On (SSO) and Roster Sync will save classroom time for both teachers and students by simplifying access to content and automating arduous and time-consuming tasks, like uploading course materials and assignments.

"Code.org is on a mission to make K-12 computer science education accessible for everyonea key part of that mission includes reducing the burden of classroom management on teachers giving them more time for instruction," said Karim Meghji, chief product officer of Code.org. "Integrating with Schoology Learning and Canvas builds on Code.org's commitment to empowering teachers with the tools they need to thrive in the classroom and provide high-quality computer science education to all students."

Removing access barriers to digital learning content and curricula has long proved difficult in the classroom, with the burden of setting up and managing access often falling to teachers who are not given the time or resources to do so successfully. According to data from the Pew Research Center, 84% of teachers believe there is not enough time in the day to get all of their work done, with factors like classroom prep and administrative tasks taking up significant time. As a result, students lose out on the instructional time necessary for high quality computer science and AI learning experiences.

Over the last year Code.org has collaborated closely with teachers and students to build platform integrations designed to simplify the classroom experience. Early feedback reveals excitement from teachers around the country for these new integrations, many feeling relieved and delighted that previously onerous tasks like rostering, workflow management, and student access are now effortless.

Improving the teacher experience has always been a core part of Code.org's mission to make K-12 computer science education accessible for everyone. Code.org has launched a series of tools in the last year designed to reduce stress and save classroom time spent on administrative tasks, including the AI Teaching Assistant, which offers AI-enabled project assessment for computer science teachers. The expansion of LMS integrations is the next phase of Code.org's commitment to empowering teachers with tools designed to alleviate workload and free up valuable time in the day for fostering meaningful connections with students.

For more information on accessing Code.org curriculum through your school or district's LMS platform, visit http://www.code.org/lms.

About Code.orgCode.org is a nonprofit dedicated to expanding access to computer science in schools and increasing participation by young women and students from other underrepresented groups. Our vision is that every student in every school has the opportunity to learn computer science as part of their core K-12 education. The leading provider of K-12 computer science curriculum in the largest school districts in the United States, Code.org also created the annual Hour of Code campaign, which has engaged more than 15% of all students in the world.

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Code.org Partners with PowerSchool and Instructure to Bring Computer Science and AI Learning Seamlessly into ... - PR Newswire

Another Meteoric Rise for UC San Diego’s Fallen Star Team in Global Programming Competition – University of California San Diego

To prepare for the World Finals, the team will continue their intensive training sessions over summer break but from three different continents and time zones. They will hold a 5-hour team practice once every two weeks and place greater emphasis on individual practice. They also intend to participate in practice contests to polish their teamwork and ensure smooth collaboration during the competition.

The success of Fallen Star is a potent blend of dedication, a desire to excel, and remarkable teamwork, said CSE Professor Jingbo Shang, who joined leadership of the campus ICPC club in 2019.

UC San Diegos competitive programming club helps participants strengthen their problem-solving capabilities and learn how to perform under pressure while also improving job interview skills. The club holds selection contests to form teams and determine which teams qualify to compete.

Over the past 20 years, the ICPC community has spread across the globe, with annual participation levels reaching 60,000 team members representing 3,450 universities in 111 countries

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Another Meteoric Rise for UC San Diego's Fallen Star Team in Global Programming Competition - University of California San Diego