Michael Andrews

Michael Andrews is the current Director of the Program in Computing (PIC) at UCLA. He holds a B.A. from the University of Oxford and a Ph.D. in Mathematics from MIT, supervised by Haynes Miller. His teaching focuses on programming fundamentals and applied computer science, including courses like Real Analysis (Math 131A), Introduction to Programming (PIC 10A), Python with Applications (PIC 16A), and Programming for the Internet (PIC 40A). He emphasizes hands-on learning through live-coding sessions and visual aids, particularly using Notability for code demonstrations.

His teaching methodologies include structured final projects (e.g., a dynamic website with user authentication, game integration, and AJAX), creative homework assignments involving image processing and machine learning libraries (NumPy, Scikit-learn), and midterm exams assessing deep understanding of code execution. Student feedback highlights the effectiveness of his visual teaching approaches.

Andrews is actively involved in curriculum development for introductory programming courses, adapting content to balance foundational theory with practical application. His courses integrate modern technologies such as PHP, JavaScript, PyQt for GUIs, and threading for concurrent processing.