Back when I was a senior undergraduate in 2001, I was sure I wanted to go to graduate school to get a Ph.D. My wonderful mentor Margaret… — Back when I was a senior undergraduate in 2001, I was sure I wanted to go to graduate school to get a Ph.D. My wonderful mentor Margaret Burnett made a simple pitch — a life of following my curiosity and telling people about everything I learn—and I was sold. But…

Over the past few years, I’ve written and spoken extensively about the need for more critical perspectives in to computing education, to balance out the more utopian, solutionist rhetoric in computing. I wrote a book, I gave talks about programming + politics, requirements and oppression, structural inequities, CS culture, and…

It’s been a long two years of sheltering in my home office. It’s just been me, my cat, and my wife (who has basically been working two… — It’s been a long two years of sheltering in my home office. It’s just been me, my cat, and my wife (who has basically been working two years of overtime as a nurse). Traveling was out of the question, both to protect ourselves, my immunocompromised daughter, and our immunocompromised parents…

Two years ago I was on a train to Portland, Oregon in an N-95 mask I had from an old painting project. My car was nearly empty, but a… — Two years ago I was on a train to Portland, Oregon in an N-95 mask I had from an old painting project. My car was nearly empty, but a couple boarded in Olympia and sat in the seats next to me. I moved to the other side of the car…

And some ideas on how to fix it. — I’ve been reflecting a lot lately on how I learned to code. I’ve lamented how complicated programming systems have become; I’ve pondered the half-life of technical knowledge; I’ve given talks on how my unexpected path to computing was through a simple battery-powered graphing calculator that fit in my pocket. …

Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to have been invited to many Dagstuhl workshops. These workshops are wonderfully removed retreats in… — Over the years, I’ve been fortunate to have been invited to many Dagstuhl workshops. These workshops are wonderfully removed retreats in western Germany in a 19th century castle in which a few dozen computing researchers gather to discuss some topic and hopefully chart its future research trajectories. My first was…

It’s not a good time for schools, at any level. Decades of chronic underfunding, even prior to the pandemic, have left them understaffed… — It’s not a good time for schools, at any level. Decades of chronic underfunding, even prior to the pandemic, have left them understaffed, overcommitted, and under-appreciated. The pandemic only exposed the public’s disregard for school funding, while placing greater strain in teachers to sacrifice not only livable salaries and time…

The first computer program I wrote was in 4th grade in 1989. My teacher, Mr. Strictland, had set up a row of twelve computers in the… — The first computer program I wrote was in 4th grade in 1989. My teacher, Mr. Strictland, had set up a row of twelve computers in the hallway and my class of twenty four students lined up, walked single file outside our classroom, and were told to sit down in pairs…