UW-Stout Department of Art and Design

University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, Minnesota

Ph.D. student

Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York

MFA (Computer Graphic Design)

Fulbright Scholarship, 2002-04

University of Mumbai, India

BFA (Graphic Design)

General Cultural Scholarship Scheme, 1992-97

Teaching Philosophy

Learning is the avowed main purpose of education. It is the goal of every learner and the task of every trainer to enhance knowledge and understanding in the classroom. Teaching is the act of imparting skills and sharing values. I believe that learning takes place when the learners are exposed to various methods of encountering the material. Class interaction is the ideal way to encourage class participation, which generates essential feedback. Learning occurs most effectively through active participation of the learner. I am a practical person by nature. I learn by doing. Designers have a practical and technical approach to the subject area. It is my role to stimulate new ideas, insights, and approach. Additionally, critical thinking is crucial in a classroom environment. Designers should be able to critique a work of art and find means to enhance the design. Adapting to deadlines make the learners self-disciplined in their work environment, that help them to become more responsible designers. I encourage my students to have higher aspirations in their studies and career. I get them think out of the box, that is, to transcend conventional and traditional design solutions. Chancellor Sorenson stated that students are responsible for their own actions. Respect, which begins within the individual, is one of the virtues that I value the most, and I expect mutual respect from my students.

Research Interests

Web Usability; User Centered Design; Computer Games; Graphical User Interface; User experience; Affective Interaction

Teaching Excellence

Spring 2009: Student's (Gary Keeler) class project (2D Digial Imaging) is accepeted at ACM Siggraph 2009 Space Time Competition, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

Spring 2008: Student's (Kayla Langhans) class project (2D Digital Imaging) wins a juried National Viral Hepatitis Poster Design Competition, organized by Center for Disease Control and Prevention www.cdc.gov, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Publications

Van Waardhuizen, M., Peloquin, C., Kokil, U.(2009) CropConnect: Enabling Community Supported Agriculture - a User Centered Approach. Computer Human Interaction 2009 Student Design Competition, CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems, April 4-9, 2009. Boston, USA.

Kokil, U. (2008).Measuring Web Design Effectiveness: from Print to the Web(Ed). The 1st ACM Siggraph Conference and Exhibition in Asia: ACM SIGGRAPH ASIA 2008, 11 – 13 Dec, Singapore

Kokil, U.(2008). How can children's learning preferences influence the design of an educational computer game. In Proceedings of Fourth International Computing Education Research Workshop: ACM ICER 2008, 5-7 Sept. University of Technology, Sydney, Australia

Kokil, U., Jeanne, J.(2008). Designing wearable educational games for children. In Proceedings of Participatory Design Conference 08 ,1-4 Oct. Indiana University, Bloomington, USA

Kokil, U. (2006). An Evaluation of the Needs of the SMEs in the Mauritian Clothing Sector (Ed). International Textiles and Apparel Associations. (In Proc.) ITAA 2006 Annual Meeting, 31 Oct – 4 Nov 2006. San Antonio, Texas, USA

Kokil, U. (2006). Designing a graphical user interface to deliver a graphic design course online: a user-centered approach(Ed). The 33rd International Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques: ACM SIGGRAPH 2006, 30 July – 03 Aug, Boston, Massachusetts, USA

Kokil, U., Mohee, R. (Eds.). (2006). Composting in a Tropical Ecosystem: A complete Guide on Composting. University of Mauritius, Mauritius

Kokil, U. (2005). The integration of graphics software in the field of Textile and Fashion Design. IT Application for the Textile and Apparel Industry: Recent Advances in Innovation and Enterprise in Textiles and Clothing Proceedings of the 5th International Istanbul Textile Conference, May 19-21.Marmara University, Turkey

Kokil, U. (2005, April-May). The Social and Cultural Responsibilies of Designers. Ciaroscuro Online Journal, London, UK, from http://www.ciaroscuro.com/content/view/82/12/