A senior lecturer in Computing Science has won a National Award for the Teaching of Information and Computer Sciences (ICS) in Higher Education in Scotland.

Dr Quintin Cutts, who is also Associate Dean for Learning and Teaching in the Faculty of Information and Mathematical Sciences, received the award from the Higher Education Academy in recognition of his contribution to the enhancement of teaching in ICS.

Dr Cutts has undertaken a number of initiatives aimed at increasing engagement with Computing Science and with the learning processes that are required to master the subject. 

He has created a wide range of interactive workshops for use in school classrooms, which have been taken up by teachers in over 20 countries worldwide.  The workshops bring to life the Computing Science underneath everyday technology such as the mobile phone, mp3 player and Google.

He has helped to ensure that Computing Science appears as a topic within the new Curriculum for Excellence.  With funding from Google and Microsoft Research, he is now organising workshops to support both teachers and university academics to explore how the Computing Science needs of the new Curriculum can be met.

At university level, Dr Cutts has developed a range of efficient mechanisms for providing feedback in larger classes, and experimented with models for peer-assisted learning in mixed ability classes.  A recent study he conducted showed that students' attitudes towards their ability to learn to program is likely to be as important as any natural ability.

Dr Cutts said: “I am delighted to have won this award which recognises my efforts to encourage teachers and students to understand more about the subject of Computing Science.

“It is a poorly understood subject in many parts of society.  Few people realise just how important the science of computing is to our everyday lives and the huge employment opportunities available in this field.”

For more information contact Stuart Forsyth in the University of Glasgow Media Relations Office on 0141 330 4831 or email s.forsyth@admin.gla.ac.uk

First published: 1 February 2010

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