Training cognitive functions to better understand computer programming

Date/Time
Date(s) - 10/07/2025
10:00 am - 12:00 pm

Led by Shaimaa Ali & Minha R. Ha

Western University

Computer programing is becoming integral to almost every discipline these days. Unfortunately, not everybody is born with the mindset or the cognitive skills needed for it. However, the research in neuroscience provided enough evidence that cognitive skills can be gained by practice. Several computer-based cognitive training tools promise the possibility to enhance cognitive skills. BrainHQ, one of the popular cognitive training tools, was tested in a preliminary study conducted by the author/facilitator to see if students would find the cognitive training helpful in Java program comprehension. Most of the participants in the training group reported that they found the cognitive training helpful.

This workshop will be a miniature version of the preliminary study, even though, cognitive training requires sometime to take effect, the workshop is meant to give the audience an experience of the study and help entice the discussion about it.

Shaimaa Ali, is an Assistant Professor – Teaching Scholar at the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at Western University. Her career started in 2002 when she graduated with a B.Sc. degree in Computer Science & Statistics—ever since and throughout her M.Sc. and Ph.D. studies, she has been involved in academia and the industry, building up and integrating experiences in teaching and working in software engineering. Throughout the years, she developed a deep passion and determination to incorporate various teaching strategies to provide her students with the best learning experience and incorporate real-life experiences into the classes to equip the students with what they need to succeed in the industry.

Minha R. Ha is a Lecturer at John M. Thompson Centre for Engineering Leadership and Innovation at Western University. She studies and teaches sociotechnical competencies needed for impact analysis in engineering design, leadership, and ethics. Minha completed her BSc in Honours Molecular Biology at McMaster with an undergraduate thesis in Bioinformatics; conducted a grounded theory study on intergenerational value negotiation as part of her MA degree in Educational Contexts at the University of Calgary; then began working in Engineering Schools (McMaster, York, Toronto, Humber) contributing to assessment and course design, teaching strategies, and professional development of instructors and graduate students, leadership development of Engineering students, and/or Scholarship of Teaching and Learning projects. Her study in design engineering education in Mechanical Engineering at York University led to her doctoral research, a grounded theory study, on the sociotechnical knowledge integration competencies of ten engineers practicing in Ontario industries. The study findings inform her teaching and curriculum design in the Integrated Engineering program, as well as the engineering leadership/ethics curricula at Western Engineering.