Q&A: Meet Professor Ed Harcourt
Get to Know Your Mentor
With decades of experience as a software engineer, a passion for hands-on learning, and a penchant for diving deep into the zeros and ones of computing, Charles A. Dana Professor of Computer Science Ed Harcourt brings the digital world to life for St. Lawrence University students.
What’s one class you love teaching—and why?
I have the most fun teaching CS220: Computer Organization and Design. This class dives into the gritty details of how a computer works at its most basic level—binary. It demystifies the magic behind our digital world and shows how everything boils down to zeros and ones zipping through our devices and the Internet.
How do students get hands-on experience in your classes?
In Computer Organization, we use wallet-sized computers called Raspberry Pis. Students get real, hands-on experience building and troubleshooting these systems, which makes abstract concepts tangible.
What keeps you inspired as a professor?
Students challenge me constantly! They come in with fresh perspectives and evolving views of the world. Just recently, during student hours, a group of students taught me some current slang—I had no idea what they were saying, but it was fascinating to learn their language.
What’s a favorite memory from your teaching career?
I once taught a course where students built the University’s computer labs from scratch. They assembled the hardware, networked the systems, and installed software. Then we used those machines to dive deeper into the Linux operating system. It was incredible to see their confidence grow as they brought the lab to life.
What’s something students might not know about you?
I’m a volunteer firefighter for the Town of Colton. Occasionally, my pager goes off during class because I forgot to turn it off—students always get a kick out of learning about that part of my life.
