URegina CompSci Exploratory Spotlight
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While learning to code is an important part of a Computer Science education, it is also important to learn what to code. Campus Visit Day – Experience Computer Science will be hosting 150 – 180 high school computer science students on the University of Regina campus for a sample of what we teach in our Computer Science degrees. This will include academic break-out sessions consisting of mini-lectures and hands-on activities on topics such as artificial intelligence and intelligent agents, computer networks, human-computer interaction, data science, limits of computing, and programming skills. Campus tours will be organized, and lunch will be provided. Our Fall 2024 version of this event was very popular and successful; we hope you and your students will be able to join us on April 15th for this all-day event.
Registration Link – https://apply.uregina.ca/register/2025campusvisitdaycs
Individual students from any RDIEC affiliate school divisions are welcome to apply. School classes are welcome to register and travel together but students need to register individually, to choose their preferred sessions (session descriptions below) and indicate any dietary restrictions. FHQTC/PVSD/RCSD/RPS teachers can book a bus with their SD Transportation dep’t – contact Kelly Ireland ([email protected]) with any questions.
See below or CLICK HERE for descriptions about each of the academic breakout sessions and activities.
AI and Intelligent Agents (Dr. Malek Mouhoub & Dr. Shakil Khan) AI, a fast-evolving scientific discipline, empowers machines to execute tasks that typically demand human-like intelligence. In this session, we introduce the area of AI with a keen emphasis on intelligent agents. The design of intelligent agents for real-world applications will take center stage, offering students a nuanced understanding of the relationship between AI and practical problem-solving. Students will work on hands-on motion planning activities using a robotic platform. The objective is to understand the importance of motion planning in intelligent agents and how sensors contribute to intelligent agent motion planning. The session will conclude with a reflection on the importance of intelligent agent motion planning and its potential applications.
Computer Networks (Dr. Nashid Shahriar & Dr. JingTao Yao) Computers/mobile devices talk to each other over the internet via messages. However, the internet is not reliable and sometimes these messages get corrupted, delayed, or lost. There are certain bits of information we can add to messages and specific actions such as error correcting, acknowledging, and re-transmitting that can be taken in response to these events to make sure messages are sent reliably. All these make up a network protocol that we will explain and have you interactively experience via a network simulation activity.
Data Science (Dr. James McVittie & Dr. Affan Shoukat) Data science is an area that combines ideas from computer science, mathematics, and statistics in order to understand features of real-world phenomena through sampled data. In this session, we will explore how probability forms the backbone of data science and how messy and missing data can be used to make inferential statements. Students will work on problems involving probability and chance as well making conclusions using a data set with missing observations.
Human-Computer Interaction (Dr. Sami Uddin & Dr. Daryl Hepting) Human-Computer Interaction is a field that brings together various disciplines to focus on the design and effective use of computer technology to enhance the interaction between humans and computers. In this session, we will delve into the human factors that influence the design of interfaces and explore how they can contribute to different user experiences. By participating in various activities, students will gain a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities of designing interfaces that facilitate effective human-computer interactions.
Limits of Computing (Dr. Kamyar Khodamoradi) In this session, students will engage with key concepts via a series of fun and occasionally challenging puzzles. The main takeaways will include: (1) How does a mathematician define a computer? (2) Are there problems that computers cannot solve? (3) Among the problems that can be solved, which are considered easy, and which are deemed hard?
Programming Skills: Introduction (Dr. Tim Oleskiw & Nova Scheidt) Ever wondered what it means to write a computer program? Want to find out? This session will focus on the joy of coding: we will show you how university students learn and write programs from scratch. By using small examples, we will help you learn some basic skills of programming by thinking like a computer. And yes, you will learn how to write your own game. In this session you will see how programming is fun, by coding and playing games!
Programming Skills: Intermediate (Dr. Joseph Eremondi & Alex Clarke) Have you programmed before and want to take your coding to the next level? In this hour-long interactive Python session, you will unlock your creativity and delve into the world of graphics, learning how to code from simple text prompts to generating complex visual patterns. Perfect for those with some programming experience, join us to learn how a computer can transform your ideas into beautiful graphics with ease.
