Teaching
Courses at Mason
I am currently teaching and coordinating the teaching of the following courses:
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IT 214 Database Fundamentals (ONLINE VERSION ONLY)
(IT 214 is coordinated by Dr. Ioulia Rytikova) -
IT 335 Web Development using Content Management Systems
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IT 414 Advance Database
(Database concentration is coordinated by Dr. Ioulia Rytikova) -
AIT 677 Intelligence Analysis Methods
The following courses were taught by me, as part of the Applied Information Technology curriculum, based on his cross-disciplinary background:
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IT 103 Introduction to Computing
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IT 108 Programming Fundamentals
I was among the first in the Applied Information Technology Department to offer online versions of my courses, teaching online the following courses, either in synchronous or asynchronous way:
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IT 214 Database Fundamentals
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IT 335 Web Development using Content Management Systems
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IT 414 Advance Database
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AIT 677 Intelligence Analysis Methods
Additionally, I had co-taught a one week intensive course for intelligence analysts during Summer 2009, teaching evidence-based reasoning with Disciple-LTA, a cognitive assistant developed in the Learning Agents Center.
Other Courses
Since 2001, I have been supporting several courses at the US Army War College, in Carlisle, PA. There, during the last 5 years, I had co-taught or assisted in teaching the following elective courses:
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CL2217c Military Applications of Artificial Intelligence (Spring 2007, Spring 2006, Spring 2005)
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Case Studies in Center of Gravity Determination (Spring 2009, Spring 2008, Spring 2007, Spring 2006, Spring 2005, Winter 2005)
The course "CL2217c Military Applications of Artificial Intelligence" has 10 sessions, 3 hours each. The students are high ranking (lieutenant colonels and colonels) military intelligence analysts or users of intelligence. The course: 1) Provides an overview of Intelligence Analysis and Artificial Intelligence; 2) Helps students link Intelligence Analysis concepts with Artificial Intelligence concepts through the use of Disciple-LTA; 3) Involves the students in the Disciple-LTA research, both as subject matter experts and as end-users; and 4) Collects feedback and experimental data on the use of Disciple-LTA.
The course "WF2207 Case Studies in Center of Gravity Determination" has 10 sessions, 3 hours each. The students are high ranking military officers (lieutenant colonels and colonels). During 5 of the sessions, the regular instructor from the US Army War College teaches the theory of center of gravity determination. During the other 5 sections the students are taught and supervised to use Disciple-COG, a decision-support and tutoring system for center of gravity analysis. The students are guided by Disciple-COG to specify a scenario of interest. Then Disciple-COG determines and analyses the center of gravity candidates. The analyses are studied and finalized by the students, and are defended at the end of the course.
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Assisting the Teaching at the US Army Intelligence Center and US Air War College
Dr. Boicu has also assisted in the use of the Disciple-LTA system in several lectures on intelligence analysis at the US Army Intelligence Center, in Ft Huachuca, AZ, which trains all the intelligence officers for the US Army and at the Air War College, Maxwell Air Force Base, Montgomery, AL.
Course Development Activities (6)
Developed online versions of the following courses which are part of the IT program:
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An online version of the course IT214 Database Fundamentals, including special learning modules with video presentations, specialized assignments and hands-on demonstrations.
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An online version of the course IT414 Advance Databases, including special learning modules with step by step practices, specialized assignments and hands-on demonstrations.
Also developed three new courses as part of the IT program:
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IT335: Web Development using Content Management Systems (3:3:0). Through lectures, class demonstrations, class discussions, and hands-on lab experience, presents web development techniques using content management systems (e.g. Joomla, Dot net nuke). Introduces and discusses the characteristics and components of various types of websites (corporate portals, corporate intranets and extranets, online magazines, newspapers, and publications, e-commerce and online reservations, government applications, small business Web sites). Presents methods, languages, and tools related to web content management systems from an applied perspective.
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IT 435 - Applied Knowledge Technologies for the Semantic Web (3 credits) This course is designed to give students practical knowledge about the emerging field of knowledge technologies applied to the semantic web. By combining lectures with seminar discussions and hands-on experiences the course will introduce the students to the applied aspects of knowledge technologies giving both an understanding of the theoretical issues involved and practical experience with some of the current software tools.
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IT 414: Redesigned to teach database administration.
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AIT 677 Intelligence Analysis Methods
Contributed to the improvement of other courses. For instance, advocated to the separation of IT108 in two new courses, process currently under development.
Also developed the following textbook for courses taught at various War Colleges:
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Tecuci G., Boicu M., and Comello J., Agent-Assisted Center of Gravity Analysis, CD with Disciple-COG, and Lecture notes used in courses at the US Army War College and Air War College, GMU Press, ISBN 978-0-615-23812-8, 2008.