Liia ButlerView profile
Teaching Professor
Liia Butler is a Teaching Professor at the University of Minnesota specializing in Computer Science Education. Previously, she completed her PhD in Computer Science at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign under Professor Geoffrey Herman's advisement, focusing on debugging education and collaborative learning in programming contexts. Her research bridges software engineering practices with pedagogical innovation to improve computer science instruction. Educational background: PhD in Computer Science (completed), University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign MS in Computer Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (co-advised by Tao Xie and Geoffrey Challen) BS in Computer Science with distinction, University of Kansas (transitioned from Film and German double-major) Her research centers on transforming programming education through explicit debugging instruction, collaborative learning structures, and motivation-focused assessment design. Butler investigates how to convert intimidating coding challenges into productive learning experiences, particularly for students without prior computing exposure. Her work examines structured role assignment in group work, autograding systems that incentivize quality submissions, and data-driven approaches to understanding student problem-solving patterns in introductory programming. Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent focus on three interconnected themes: (1) developing observation protocols for cooperative learning activities, (2) designing assessment mechanisms that motivate quality coding practices, and (3) applying software engineering techniques to educational contexts. Her research employs mixed methods including classroom observations, student solution analysis, and tool development, primarily targeting introductory programming courses where debugging skills are critically underemphasized. Scientific Awards: No scientific awards mentioned in source materials Butler has mentored 6 undergraduate students and accumulated 16 semesters of teaching experience across 7 courses. Her instructional roles range from undergraduate TA for programming fundamentals to Head TA positions for advanced compilers courses and teaching assistant training programs. She emphasizes creating inclusive learning environments where students discover programming's creative potential, drawing from her own transformative experience switching to computer science without prior background.







