This summer, a father-son duo was at the helm of one of the University’s Mercer On Mission programs abroad. Computer Science Professor Bob Allen, Ph.D., and son John “Joey” Allen, Ph.D., a computer science professor at St. Louis University, led a group of Mercer University students teaching computer science skills and concepts to local children and teachers in Cape Town, South Africa.
Bob Allen launched the Mercer On Mission program in 2019 in collaboration with Cape Town resident Filbert Mushiringi, an educator who now runs his own small school, Nguzo Saba Institute. Each summer, around a dozen Mercer students participate in the three-week trip, and Allen recruits one additional faculty member to help him. This year, circumstances aligned for his son, a Mercer alumnus, to join him as an adjunct professor on the trip.
“It was so special for me. I’d been talking to my family for five years about how great it is down there, and suddenly it worked out to get Joey down there,” Bob Allen said.
John Allen, CLAS ’17, tried not to major in computer science at Mercer but found himself sucked in after taking a computer class with Andy Digh, Ph.D., and helping with his dad’s Creative Computer Camps in the summer of 2013.
“I realized the kids I was teaching were ready for those (computer science) lessons if they were presented in a way using modern tools. It helped me realize that coding isn’t just for college students-plus,” said John Allen, who found the Mercer On Mission experience to be reminiscent of his computer camp days. “The power of these tools to inspire kids to feel confident that they can build with code, that is one of the reasons that computer science stuck with me. Thirteen years later, it’s definitely still true.”
After graduating from Mercer, John Allen worked for the Mercer Engineering Research Center for a while before going to Washington University in St. Louis to earn his Ph.D. As a professor at St. Louis University, his focus area is human computer interaction, which he described as a mix of computer science and psychology.
“It’s a really funny turn of events,” John Allen said of following in his father’s footsteps as a computer science professor. “I just kept finding the next fun thing to do, and it kept leading me down this route. It didn’t hurt that (Bob) always seems to be having a great time doing his work. He loves his students, the work he does, and the freedom it allows. Seeing that was a little contagious.”
John Allen recalled his father’s excitement and energy after returning from the first Mercer On Mission Cape Town trip in 2019 and how he continues to light up every time he talks about the program.
“Every year, he would look forward to the South Africa trip. He’d come back with so many stories to tell,” John Allen said. “All the Mercer students that go always have life-changing experiences. You can’t pass up this kind of opportunity when your dad asks you to come to South Africa with your alma mater and work on this amazing service project. Just getting to spend time with him was a blast. It’s not an opportunity I’ll take for granted.”
Previously, Bob Allen served as the instructor for the computer science course elements of the Mercer On Mission program, while the other faculty member focused on the cultural and historical aspects tied to the INT 301: Engaging the World course. This summer, though, John Allen served as the computer science lead, providing them both with new experiences.
“It was very rewarding to see him. He’s so good with the young people, both the Mercer kids and the (Cape Town) learners. Joey interacted with both groups and the teachers so well,” Bob Allen said. “His fresh ideas and views on computer science education were very powerful. His Ph.D. knowledge has been very helpful in helping design ways to better teach the young learners.”
Stationed at the Nguzo Saba Institute, the Mercer team worked with children during the first two weeks and teachers from Joe Slovo Engineering High School during the final week, Bob Allen said.
“This is a very exciting thing because we’ve been trying to get more into teaching the teachers. I’m eager to see what they can do with it back in their classes,” he said.
Lessons focused on 3D printing and modeling, LEGO robotics, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence. Computer programs such as Python Turtles, Scratch and EarSketch and “unplugged” technology-free activities were used to teach coding.
“It was great for the community in Khayelitsha; it was great for the learners, but it was also really powerful for the (Mercer) students,” John Allen said. “This Mercer On Mission and other Mercer On Missions do an exceptional job of bringing the world to Mercer students and bringing Mercer students to the world. That was really cool to see upfront.”
