Dr. Eric Poitras
D-LITE Belong Cluster Member
Eric Poitras is an Assistant Professor at the Faculty of Computer Science at Dalhousie University. Before joining Dalhousie as head of the Computer Science Education research cluster, he served as Assistant Professor in the Instructional Design and Educational Technology program of the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Utah. He received his PhD in Educational Psychology from McGill University and completed his postdoctoral training in the Advanced Technologies for Learning in Authentic Settings lab. His main research area includes examining the role of self-regulatory processes during learning of programming language constructs and introductory programming skill acquisition. More specifically, his overarching research goal is to gain insights into how instructional designs can help novice programmers shift towards more sophisticated understanding of programs, facilitate learning and skills transfer, and become more proficient in problem solving. To accomplish this goal, he conducts design-based research in classroom settings using interdisciplinary methods and designs adaptive instructional systems and technologies to detect, model, and foster self-regulatory learning processes. He is the current chair of the Technology, Instruction, Cognition, and Learning special interest group of the American Educational Research Association. His research is funded by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada as well as the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Dalhousie University.
Thoughts on Belonging: Introductory programming courses are often students’ first exposure to computer science, and for many, this experience shapes whether they choose to continue in the field. Unfortunately, these courses can be intimidating, and it’s common for students to struggle with confidence or feel isolated. I believe that addressing these challenges is just as important as teaching programming skills. Through my work, I hope to explore and implement strategies that make students feel more connected to their peers, supported by their instructors, and confident in their ability to learn programming.
Email: eric.poitras@dal.ca
Profile URL: https://www.dal.ca/faculty/computerscience/faculty-staff/eric-poitras.html