Olivia Nche

Dr. Olivia Mambo Nche graduated from the School of Computing at Clemson University with a Ph.D. in Human Centered Computing. She is interested in instructional technology and has investigated some fun and innovative ways of teaching programming to young learners. Consequently, her Ph.D. dissertation involved designing and testing a video game – HBot, which aimed at teaching basic programing concepts to K-12 students. HBot game mechanics are integrated with these concepts in a bid to facilitate learning. She has been a faculty at PC since August 2021 and continues to work with PC students on HBot. She enjoys teaching, music, tennis and traveling.

Education

Ph.D. in Human Centered Computing, Summer 2021
Clemson University, Clemson, South Carolina
Dissertation: Integrating Game Mechanics with Basic Programming Concepts to Teach K-12 Students

M. S. in Computer Information Systems
Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois
Thesis: Simulation of real-world software development teams

B. S. in Business Administration with Computer Information Systems Concentration
Anderson University, Anderson, South Carolina
05/10/2010 – Magna cum Laude

Researched & Developed

botAssign: a video game whose game mechanics are integrated with basic Tools programming concepts for the purpose of education
CodeTracesure: a video game which facilitates pinpointing potential difficulties
that K-12 students might face with fundamental programming concepts
Created a robot controller in Java using the mathematical simulation method, to
facilitate the detection and avoidance of obstacles

Publications

Nche, O., Welter, J., Che, S. M., Kraemer, E. T., & Zordan, V. (2019).
CodeTracesure— Combining Gaming, CS Concepts, and Pedagogy. In Proceedings of ACM RESPECT 2019. (short paper)

Nche, O. M., Colbert-Busch, E., Sitaraman, M., & Zordan, V. B. (2019). Presenting CSConcepts through Multiple Representations to Engage African American Elementary School Children. In Proceedings of 2nd CoNECD conference.

Nche-Eyabi, O. M., Ramirez, B. J., & Remy, S. (2016). Drawing with Robots: An Experience Report (Fundamental). In Proceedings of ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition.

Nche, O., Che, S. M., Kraemer, E. T., & Zordan, V. (2020). Basic Code Understanding Challenges for Elementary School Children. In Proceedings of ACM RESPECT 2020. (short paper)

Honors & Awards

• 3rd place in a student research competition and sponsored by Microsoft and ACM at the SIGCSE conference for computer science Awards education, which held in Minneapolis in 2019
• Recipient of the Clemson University Dissertation Completion Grant
• Recipient of the Clemson University Diversity Fellowship for four years
• Member of the HonorSociety.org, Clemson chapter
• Member of Delta Mu Delta, Anderson University chapter in recognition of high scholastic attainment
• Outstanding Academic Performance Award recognition, being named to the Dean’s List in 2007 in Anderson University
• Outstanding Academic Performance Award recognition, being named to the Dean’s List in 2008 in Anderson University
• Grade of Distinction on the International Diploma from Cambridge International College, Britain