Uncommon Sense Teaching: Teaching Online

Barbara Oakley, PhD, PE, is a Professor of Engineering at Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan, and Coursera’s first “Innovation Instructor.” Her research explores the intricate connections between neuroscience and social behavior and has been described as "revolutionary" by the Wall Street Journal. Dr. Oakley has published in prestigious outlets, including the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the Wall Street Journal, and The New York Times. She has received multiple national teaching awards, including the American Society of Engineering Education’s Chester F. Carlson Award for technical innovation in engineering education.

Terrence Sejnowski is a pioneering figure in computational neuroscience, dedicated to uncovering the principles that connect brain activity to behavior. His laboratory employs experimental and modeling techniques to investigate the biophysical properties of synapses and neurons, as well as the population dynamics within large neural networks. He has developed innovative computational models and analytical tools to explore how the brain represents information and how new representations emerge through learning algorithms that modify synaptic strengths.

David Joyner is a distinguished leader in online education who serves as Executive Director of Online Education & OMSCS at Georgia Tech's College of Computing. With a Ph.D. in human-centered computing, he has made significant contributions to educational technology and AI-enhanced learning. His research focuses on leveraging artificial intelligence for student support, building vibrant online communities in large classes, and developing sustainable interactive learning materials. As an educator, he teaches five online courses reaching over 3,000 students per semester, while his published work includes over 50 papers and three books on online learning and computer science education. His excellence in online teaching has been recognized through multiple awards, including the 2022 College of Computing Outstanding Faculty Leadership Award and the 2019 USG Regents' Teaching Excellence Award. As chair of the ACM Learning @ Scale conference steering committee, he continues to shape the future of technology-mediated education at scale