In this Birds-of-a-Feather session, we aim to create a collaborative environment for people to explore, share ideas about project-based learning (PBL) and get started on developing and/or revising hands-on projects for their courses. We invite conversations about the need for project-based learning and its impact on students, the challenges of designing and deploying projects, and the value that projects add to the computer science (CS) curriculum. Our goal is multi-fold:

1. To create an open forum for discussing the value and impact of project-based learning
2. To discuss and evaluate the potential and challenges of incorporating projects into the CS curriculum
3. To engage in conversation about the impact of using real-world problems as challenges and inspiration
4. To share expertise and best practices about creating interdisciplinary opportunities for students via the use of projects
5. To discuss the impact on bridging the gap between academia and industry by incorporating ''sponsored” projects into the CS curriculum

Rodica Neamtu is a Professor of Teaching in the Computer Science Department at WPI. She is also a co-founder and co-director of the Bucharest Project Center. Rodica conducts research that investigates how to develop and leverage ground-breaking techniques to explore time series datasets at the confluence of theoretical computer science and application domains like medicine, neuroscience, economics, and complex decision making. Her interdisciplinary research collaborations range from her newly co-founded Data-Driven Materials Science Research Group, to Brain Wave Analytics, Data Series Management, and using Machine learning to create mobile applications for Augmentative Alternative Communication for people with disabilities. As a co-director of the Bucharest Project Center, Rodica works every year with students engaged in collaborations with non-profit organizations that aim to offer practical solutions to global problems. Co-directing a project center in Romania allows her to contribute to building a strong connection between the two cultures that she is deeply anchored in. Rodica is committed to help students explore other cultures, understand the issues that they are facing, and become part of impactful initiatives to mitigate them. Advising project teams is one of the most engaging and rewarding aspects of her work. With more than fifteen years of teaching experience in various academic institutions, Rodica is committed to use her love and talent for teaching and research to empower others through education to make a difference in the world.