Larry Yueli Zhang PhD

I teach computer science at the Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Lassonde School of Engineering, York University. Prior to joining York, I completed my PhD at the Department of Computer Science of University of Toronto and served as a teaching faculty member at the Department of Mathematical and Computational Sciences of University of Toronto Mississauga. Before that, I studied at Tsinghua University at the Department of Electronic Engineering as well as the Department of Computer Science and Technology.

Current Teaching (Fall/Winter 2024-25)

• DIGT 1201: Object-Oriented Problem Solving
• DIGT 2102: Data Structures, Algorithms & Analysis
• (new work-integrated courses in the Digital Technologies program)

Past Teaching at York University

• DIGT 1201: Object-Oriented Problem Solving, Winter-Summer 2024
• EECS 1022: Programming for Mobile Computing, Winter 2022
• EECS 2011/2101: Fundamentals of Data Structures, Fall 2022, Winter 2023/2024
• EECS 3101: Design and Analysis of Algorithms, Fall 2021/2022, Winter 2023

Past Teaching at University of Toronto

• CSC148 - Introduction to Computer Science, Winter 2018/2021
• CSC165 - Mathematical Expression and Reasoning for CS, Fall 2014
• CSC207 - Software Design, Fall 2017/2018/2019/2020
• CSC236 - Introduction to the Theory of Computation, Fall 2016/18/19
• CSC258 - Computer Organization, Winter 2015/16/17/19/20/21
• CSC263 - Data Structures and Analysis, Winter 2015/16/17/18
• CSC309 - Programming on the Web, Winter 2016
• CSC358 - Principles of Computer Networks, Winter 2019/20
• CSC369 - Operating Systems, Fall 2015/2016/2017

Guest Lectures at University of Toronto

• CSC2206 - Markov reward process
• CSC2206 - Markov decision process

Social Network Analysis

The goal of our study is to develop mathematical models that capture the fundamental working mechanisms of real-world online social networks, and develop simple and efficient algorithms taking advantage of the inherent structures of the complex networks.

Computing Education

We study how students learn computing and how we can teach more effectively. Much of our work so far has been conducted in collaboration with the CS Education Research Group of University of Toronto.

A list of my publications

(Note to prospective graduate students: I am currently not recruiting graduate students. Thank you for your interest in my research.)

Developing New Computing Programs at York University Markham Campus

I am actively involved in the design and development of the following two new computing programs at the York University Markham Campus:

• Computer Science for Software Development (CSSD, BASc): a CS program with a strong emphasis on project-based, experiential learning.
• Digital Technologies (DT, BASc): a fully work-integrated program where students complete their degree while working in a full-time job beginning in the first year.

SlideChat

SlideChat is a web application that enables interactions around slides on a per-page basis. This project was part of the Computer Science Implementation Project (CSC492) at the University of Toronto Mississauga. It is currently an open-source software and welcoming more contributions.

Nox

Nox is a real-time classroom feedback system. It was started in Fall 2019 as a Computer Science Implementation Project (CSC398) at University of Toronto. It is now an open-source software HERE.

Velocity

Velocity is a software project organization tool with supports for class management in CS courses with project assignments. It was started in Winter 2018 at University of Toronto Mississauga as a Computer Science Implementation Project (CSC492). Velocity is now an open-source software HERE that is expecting more contributors.

Quizzard

Quizzard is a web-based quiz system which aims at making learning feel like an online social game. This project was started as a Computer Science Implementation Project (CSC492) at the University of Toronto Mississauga. Quizzard is currently an open-source software HERE and more students have been involved as contributors.

OkShell

OkShell is a command line interface for humans. In short, you can use your own personalized human language command to perform any task that can be done using a Shell command. Here is a presentation that explains what OkShell is all about.

BOLTZ

BOLTZ is a mobile app that helps people train their mental math skills. This project was started as a CSC398 project at the University of Toronto Mississauga. The BOLTZEngine, the backbone of the BOLTZ app which generates math expressions, has been released as open-source software HERE.

Treel

Treel is a minimalistic learning management system that allows instructors to distribute class content to students. It was started in Winter 2018 at University of Toronto Mississauga as a Computer Science Implementation Project (CSC492). It is now an open-source software HERE, open to more contributors.

GiTA

GiTA is a virtual teaching assistant that helps students better use Git. It was started in Winter 2018 as a Computer Science Implementation Project (CSC492) at University of Toronto. It is now an open-source software HERE. More contributors to this project are expected.

Project Flanders

Project Flanders is the development of an online social network application for real-time content (e.g., tweets). The application collects a firehose of real-time information, digests it, organizes it and provides personalized relevant content to end users. It is currently under private testing.