Kirk Conger is an instructor for the Computer Science and Engineering Department in addition to his full-time position as a Mechanical Engineer/Energy Projects Manager for the UNL Department of Facilities Management and Planning. Get to know him as he answers questions about his career, his love for teaching, and the advice he has for students.
Q: Mr. Conger, what type of work do you do in your primary job at Facilities? How does that tie in or apply to your teaching?
A: Officially, I identify energy conservation opportunities and justify them to administration to get construction funds so UNL can save money. Many of these have to do with building controls, which is my other main task. UNL developed its own control system (like Honeywell or Johnson Controls) 30 years ago, including manufacturing and installing the wall thermostats (actually 128k embedded-system computers) and other control devices, maintaining the communications network which links them all to central control servers, and developing the C++-like language that is used to control devices at UNL. I mostly work at the applications end of the control logic. A co-worker, Stefan Newbold, developed our control language as his CS Masters Thesis here maybe 10 years ago. My real job keeps me in contact with computer applications and programming. We don’t do much cutting-edge computer science, but we use a lot of problem solving and language concepts from computer science, and are pushing it in new directions.
Q: Why do you choose to teach in addition to your regular position?
A: Mostly because it’s fun. I taught undergrad classes as a CS grad student years ago, and really liked it. I figured out as a grad student here that I really wasn’t interested in academic research, but I loved teaching. I enjoy the students, and I think many of them like me. Ultimately, I hope to give them something of value and a positive learning experience. I guess it's my hobby. It’s also nice that they pay me.
Q: How did you get started teaching?
A: Four or five years ago, the CSE department had a sudden, last minute need for a Fortran instructor and they contacted Stefan, and everybody had a good laugh at the email. But I remembered my teaching experience as a grad student and responded to the email and the Dept. took a chance on me. I normally teach one class in fall or spring, but only when the CSE Department needs an extra instructor. I only teach the beginning programming classes.
Q: What do you enjoy most about teaching? Does teaching help you in your
regular position?
A: I already talked about the enjoyment of teaching, and I feel like it’s a creative outlet for me. It probably doesn’t help me in my other job. It’s almost an extra half-time job so I end up taking vacation or working extra hours to make up the time. I really appreciate that the Facilities Department gives me this flexibility.
Q: What do you believe to be essential for a positive and effective learning environment?
A: I think you have to care about the students, to really want them to succeed, both as students and as people.
Q: What advice do you have for students?
A: Sit close to the front. Look interested. Ask questions. Realize when you’re getting in trouble and ask for help early. And, enjoy these classes and these years – make it a contest how much you can learn and apply, how much you can grow as a person.