Jim Greer

Master Teacher Award - Spring 1998

Professor Greer obtained his doctoral degree from the University of Texas at Austin in 1987. He joined the Department of Computer Science as an Assistant Professor in 1989 following a two year post-doctoral fellowship. He was tenured in 1993 and promoted to Full Professor in 1996. In addition to undergraduate teaching, he has supervised or co-supervised five PhD students and 17 Master's students.

Professor Greer has made a number of innovative contributions to teaching. In 1991, he originated the SWAPS program, a science awareness program for exceptional high school students. From 1991-1995, approximately 15 - 25 talented high school students were brought to the University of Saskatchewan and to the University of Regina for an intensive, one-month summer science camp. In 1993, he originated the "Peer Mentor Groups" program, a mentorship program for first-year students in computer science. In 1996, he developed and led a summer program to encourage internet access and awareness for senior citizens and high school students. He also initiated the Cooperative Peer Response project for automating advice in Computer Science courses and a new in-service training program for Saskatchewan high school teachers relating to the use of World Wide Web technology in the classroom.

Much of Greer's academic and scholarly work is aimed at developing and improving learning and teaching in the broader context. His work focuses on activities related to mentorship, collaborative learning, and project-based learning and supports his belief that it's beyond the classroom walls where much real learning takes place. He has been an innovative and highly successful teacher, devoting considerable time and energy to various projects that enhance the student experience in the classroom and beyond.