Dr Jack Parkinson
- Research Associate (School of Computing Science)
telephone:
01413308573
email:
Jack.Parkinson@glasgow.ac.uk
Room F151, Sir Alwyn Williams Building (School of Computing Science)), University of Glasgow, G12 8RZ
Biography
I have been teaching in the School of Computer Science in various roles since 2016, mostly in Level 1 courses and introductory programming modules. I completed my MSci in Computing Science at the University of Glasgow in 2018 before working as a Research Assistant with the Centre for Computing Science Education (CCSE) on the development and delivery of the University's first Graduate Apprenticeship Degree, in Software Engineering. My PhD explored the relationship between spatial skills and computing science.
I am currently a post-doctoral researcher attached to the STEM SPACE Project aiming at improving STEM outcomes for primary school pupils through a spatialised maths curriculum.
Personal Website: jack-parkinson.com
Availability Checker: isjackinameeting.com
Research interests
Spatial Skills have been shown to be connected to success in STEM domains for decades; Computing Science is no exception. Spatial skills can also be developed through relatively lightweight training which does not take long and requires little prior knowledge or domain expertise. Improving these skills has been shown to improve multiple outcomes across STEM domains.
In my current project I am exploring developing spatial skills at early ages (among pupils aged 8-10) to investigate their impact on STEM outcomes. The project involves schools across Scotland with about 30 teachers involved.
Teaching
I am not currently in a teaching role, though I have taught across many areas of CS (and beyond) in the past. Previous teaching roles are detailed below.
University of Glasgow:
- Spatial Skills Training 1 (Course coordinator)
- SoCS Tutor Training Course (Co-convenor, Tutor Leader)
- CS1CT: Computational Thinking (Tutor)
- CS1F: Computing Fundamentals (Tutor)
- CS1S: Systems (Tutor)
- CS1P/X: Python Programming (Standard and Alternate Routes) (Tutor)
- Faster Route: Succeeding in University Study in Computing Science (Technical Tutor)
- Pre-Sessional: Introductory Python (M) (Tutor)
- GA: Programming Summer School (Tutor)
- CS+ (Masters): Programming Systems and Development (Lab Assistant)
- GA: How to Learn a New Language (Demonstrator)
- Interactive Systems (H) (Lab Assistant)
- Cyber Security Fundamentals (H/M) (Lab Assistant)
Glasgow International College:
- Pre-master's Statistics (Sessional Tutor)
- Pre-master's Researcher Development (Sessional Tutor)
- Foundation Introductory Programming (Sessional Tutor)
Professional activities & recognition
Prizes, awards & distinctions
- 2019: ITiCSE: Best Paper Award (ACM Europe)
- 2018: ICER: Chair's Award (ACM)
Selected international presentations
- 2023: ICER (Chicago, IL, USA)
- 2022: ICER (Lugano, Switzerland)
- 2022: SIGCSE TS (Providence, RI, USA)
- 2021: Koli Calling (Koli, Finland)
- 2020: ITiCSE (Trondheim, Norway)
- 2018: ICER (Aalto, Finland)
Supplementary
- Invited Speaker: Discipline Based Education Research (DBER) series at Nebraska Omaha; Conference Chair Roles: UKICER '23 (RIPPA Chair), UKICER '21 (Submission and Event), UKICER '20 (Submission and Event), Digital Heroisms '20 (Platform), WIPSCE '19 (Submission)
Additional information
- Previously worked as a Research Assistant involved in the development (up to delivery) of the Graduate Apprenticeship in Software Engineering programme, the first Graduate Apprenticeship programme launched at the University of Glasgow
- Inaugural coordinator of the CCSE weekly seminar series
- CCSE website coordinator and representative on the School of Computer Science's internal Website Committee
- Contracted as a content designer and developer on Kaplan International's new International Year One computing programme, specifically as the development lead on Introductory Programming and Web Development
- Former representative for Level 1 Tutors in Computing Science
- Former member of the School of Computer Science's Tutor Working Group
- Former member of the School of Computer Science's Athena SWAN Committee (now the Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Committee)