Teaching Special Seminar - Linh Nguyen, "Effectively Teaching Computer Science Theory: Old and New Challenges"

Abstract: 
Teaching lies at the heart of academia, and I believe it plays a direct role in shaping the success of an institution. In this talk, I hope to share, to the best of my abilities, my philosophy on pedagogy, with a particular focus on computer science theory education. Key themes will include strategies for designing course materials and activities, implementing meaningful assessments, student enrichment, promoting inclusivity, and addressing the challenges of scalability in large courses.
 
I will also explore the emerging challenges posed by the rise of Large Language Models, discussing how we can adapt to this rapidly evolving landscape. My goal is to present a forward-thinking approach to teaching that embraces innovation while upholding the highest standards of education.

Bio:
Linh Nguyen is a fifth-year Ph.D. student at Stony Brook University, advised by SUNY Distinguished Professor Joseph S. B. Mitchell. His research focuses on the design, analysis, and implementation of algorithms, with a particular emphasis on approximation algorithms for solving geometric problems in robotics, operations research, and search-and-rescue. He has extensive teaching experience, both as the primary instructor and as a teaching assistant, for computer science theory courses such as Discrete Mathematics, Algorithms and Data Structures, and Computational Geometry.