As a student, Dr. Beenish Chaudhry, Assistant Professor in the 小蝌蚪APP小蝌蚪APP檚 School of Computing & Informatics, was a math and computer science whiz.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP
She could program in 14 different languages, including Java, C++, and SQL.小蝌蚪APP
She served as a research assistant for professors studying topics like knot theory and topological quantum computing.小蝌蚪APP
But something didn小蝌蚪APP檛 feel quite right.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP淚 was doing a lot of programming and computation, but I felt like I was missing the humanities, psychology, the understanding of human beings,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淭hen, I took a course in human-computer interaction. It covered concepts that merged computing and psychology and evolved my understanding of humanity. It was a very nice melting pot of everything I wanted to do.小蝌蚪APP澬◎蝌紸PP
Now, as a professor in the M.S. in Informatics program, offered both online and on campus, Dr. Chaudhry hopes to spark that same passion and love for developing a holistic understanding of the world and humanity in her students.小蝌蚪APP
What do informatics courses consist of?小蝌蚪APP
In the M.S. in Informatics program, students take interdisciplinary courses that teach them how to use information technology effectively to solve human problems. This coursework includes Systems Development and IT Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP
One of Dr. Chaudhry小蝌蚪APP檚 favorites to teach is INFX 510 小蝌蚪APP Human-Computer Interaction.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP
In it, students explore the relationship between humans and the technology they小蝌蚪APP檝e become so accustomed to using.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP
小蝌蚪APP淚 always begin the course with a history of HCI,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淭his is enlightening because a lot of students don小蝌蚪APP檛 appreciate how we got to where we are now. They have been given devices like mice, computers, and phones, but they take them for granted. They lack the appreciation of the ingenuity, challenges, and elegance involved in their development and evolution to the state they are in today.小蝌蚪APP澬◎蝌紸PP◎蝌紸PP
They dive into case studies of historical systems that demonstrate the foundational principles necessary for designing user-centric technology, bridging the gap between theory and the practical evolution of these systems over time.小蝌蚪APP
For example, in one case study, the complicated design of a missile launching system caused frequent operator errors; as a result, operators often unintentionally aimed and fired missiles at civilian areas.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP◎蝌紸PP
小蝌蚪APP淎 lot of people might think that only medical professionals can save lives,小蝌蚪APP Dr. Chaudhry says. 小蝌蚪APP淚 give my students examples like these so that they can appreciate why designing computers effectively is important and understand the context of the work that they do as informatics professionals.小蝌蚪APP澬◎蝌紸PP◎蝌紸PP
Considering the history, principles, and examples covered in the course, students then design their own programs.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP
小蝌蚪APP淢y goal is not just to give my students knowledge, but also allow them to put this knowledge into practice,小蝌蚪APP she says.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP
Some systems that students have designed in the past include a mobile app to help international students get accustomed to life in United States, a mobile app to slow down the rate of cognitive decline in dementia patients, and a system to help K-12 schools effectively evaluate teachers小蝌蚪APP performance.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP◎蝌紸PP
Ultimately, this course aims to teach students the process and the principles of technology design in a way that小蝌蚪APP檚 beneficial for humans.小蝌蚪APP
What does research look like in informatics?小蝌蚪APP
Much of Dr. Chaudhry小蝌蚪APP檚 research is focused on equity-centered design, specifically in the health field.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP◎蝌紸PP
Equity-centered design, as Dr. Chaudhry explains it, is about building technology to provide equitable access and benefits to diverse human ecosystems, specifically those that are underserved.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP
小蝌蚪APP淎t the 小蝌蚪APP, we小蝌蚪APP檙e very privileged, with access to resources like fast Internet and high-performance computers,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淥n the other hand, there are whole sectors of society that don小蝌蚪APP檛 have access to good computers, or even good health care. In my research, I work with such communities to design technological solutions that directly meet their needs.小蝌蚪APP澬◎蝌紸PP
For example, , Dr. Chaudhry and her co-authors developed an app to help older adults with low socioeconomic statuses track their medication intake, play games for mental stimulation, and set health goals. They then collected data from users in the target demographic to determine the app小蝌蚪APP檚 effectiveness in improving quality of life.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP
Part of the study involved making sure the app was easy for individuals to navigate and use.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP
Another part 小蝌蚪APP and one that was just as important 小蝌蚪APP was making sure the app was efficient and accessible.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP
小蝌蚪APP淚n equity-centered design, you design for the ecosystem, not just the individual,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淲e have to make design decisions that would, for example, enable the technology to run without high-speed Internet or high-performance computers or high levels of tech literacy, especially if that technology is going to be used in areas without such amenities.小蝌蚪APP澬◎蝌紸PP
Are online courses engaging?小蝌蚪APP
Just as Dr. Chaudhry小蝌蚪APP檚 focus as a researcher is designing technology that meets the needs of humans and communities who use it, her focus as an educator is designing curricula that resonate with and enrich the learning experience of the students engaging with it.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP
小蝌蚪APP淚 try to be student-centered because that小蝌蚪APP檚 one of the principles of Human-Computer Interaction,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淲hat do they want? How do they want to learn? I take all those factors into consideration, and my courses are designed in a way that students can be successful.小蝌蚪APP澬◎蝌紸PP◎蝌紸PP
Her online courses include a blend of activities, including short video lectures, quizzes, discussion posts, and semester-long group projects.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP
And as any good researcher would do, Dr. Chaudhry doesn小蝌蚪APP檛 just use guesswork to design her courses.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP
小蝌蚪APP淎fter each module in my courses, students complete a feedback form where they give me recommendations on how I can improve the module,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淭here小蝌蚪APP檚 also a section at the beginning of the course where I ask students what they want me to cover in the course.小蝌蚪APP澬◎蝌紸PP◎蝌紸PP
The goal is ultimately to build a personalized learning experience for students.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP
Recently, Dr. Chaudhry mentored an online student completing an independent study in data analysis. The project involved an online system that high school students use to find internship opportunities. The aim was to understand students小蝌蚪APP interactions and behaviors within the application to simplify and facilitate the start of their careers.小蝌蚪APP
小蝌蚪APP淲e are in a golden age right now,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淲hen I was a student, we didn小蝌蚪APP檛 have all these programs and options. Now, it小蝌蚪APP檚 so easy to get what you want. And at UL Lafayette, , and there are just so many diverse topics that students can study.小蝌蚪APP澬◎蝌紸PP
Do I need an informatics background for a master小蝌蚪APP檚 in informatics?小蝌蚪APP
Students in the M.S. in Informatics program come from backgrounds as diverse as the field itself, from English to speech pathology to business to computer science.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP◎蝌紸PP
In addition, students with an undergraduate degree in a non-computing field take a foundation course to prepare for success in the program.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP
Dr. Chaudhry小蝌蚪APP檚 advice to students? Just show up and show interest.小蝌蚪APP◎蝌紸PP
小蝌蚪APP淪tudents don小蝌蚪APP檛 need any sort of particular background in my courses,小蝌蚪APP she says. 小蝌蚪APP淭hey just need motivation and an interest in learning. A lot of students in the program don小蝌蚪APP檛 come from a computer science or informatics background, but through our courses, they acquire the skills necessary to succeed.小蝌蚪APP澬◎蝌紸PP
Kickstart or grow your career and learn from dedicated, passionate instructors like Dr. Chaudhry. The M.S. in Informatics online program offers concentrations in data science, health informatics, cybersecurity, or general informatics.