معرفی
Olivier St-Cyr is an Associate Professor, Teaching Stream and the Associate Dean, Teaching and Learning at the Faculty of Information (iSchool) at the University of Toronto, with a cross-appointment in the Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering. He has been instrumental in designing and deploying the user experience design concentration curriculum of the Master of Information (MI) degree since joining the Faculty of Information in 2016. Under his leadership, two novel learning spaces were designed and constructed at the Faculty of Information to facilitate active learning and technology-enhanced courses.
Dr. St-Cyr's educational background includes:
- PhD in Industrial Engineering from the University of Toronto (2006)
- MASc in Systems Design Engineering from the University of Waterloo (2002)
- BA in Computer Science and Psychology from York University (2000)
His research interests span multiple interconnected domains focused on improving how we teach and apply Human-Computer Interaction principles. At the core of his work is HCI/UX pedagogy and education, where he explores innovative teaching methods and curriculum development. He has co-founded EduCHI, an international community of practice for HCI/UX educators that has grown steadily over the past five years. His research also extends to UI/UX design for complex systems, particularly focusing on human factors for safety critical systems and cognitive work analysis. A significant portion of his recent work investigates active learning pedagogy and the design of technology-enhanced active learning classrooms, where he has designed and overseen the construction of specialized learning spaces at the Faculty of Information.
An analysis of Dr. St-Cyr's publication trends reveals a strong focus on HCI education and pedagogy, with increasing emphasis on community building among HCI educators through initiatives like EduCHI. His earlier work focused more on ecological interface design and cognitive work analysis applied to complex systems, while his recent publications show a shift toward educational applications and curriculum development. The interdisciplinary nature of his work connects human factors engineering with educational theory, creating bridges between technical interface design and effective teaching practices.
Dr. St-Cyr has received notable recognition for his teaching excellence:
- Outstanding Instructor Award, Faculty of Information, Master of Information Student Council (MISC), 2016-2017
- University of Toronto Early Career Teaching Award, 2020-2021
In terms of academic leadership, Dr. St-Cyr serves in significant roles related to teaching and learning. He is the co-founder of EduCHI, which is part of the ACM conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI), and serves as a member of the ACM Education Advisory Committee representing SIGCHI. He has developed numerous courses across multiple departments including the Faculty of Information, Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, and various computer science and engineering departments. His grant activity includes projects such as "Acquainting Canadian Seniors with State of the Art Dementia Prevention Strategies," funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada.
Dr. St-Cyr has been instrumental in establishing learning environments that support his educational philosophy. Through his leadership, two specialized learning spaces were created at the Faculty of Information to facilitate active learning approaches and technology-enhanced instruction. These spaces enable faculty to incorporate studio sessions and hands-on learning experiences into their courses, reflecting his commitment to innovative educational approaches in the field of information studies and human-computer interaction.
