David Liu, associate professor, teaching stream. (Photo: Matt Hintsa)
David Liu is reshaping how computer science is taught at the University of Toronto, blending innovation with mentorship to create a more engaging undergraduate experience.
In recognition of his dedication, creativity and an unwavering commitment to student success, Liu has received a Faculty of Arts & Science Outstanding Teaching Award.
The annual award recognizes teaching excellence in undergraduate and graduate education with a focus on classroom instruction, course design and curriculum development.
Liu, an associate professor in the teaching stream in the Department of Computer Science, has played a key role in fostering a strong sense of community among his students, particularly through two foundational first-year courses.
These courses were intentionally created to include detailed notes and interactive mini-lectures to develop engaging and participatory sessions for students. Liu has written course notes for many other courses spanning first-, second-, and third-year.
Liu's commitment to a supportive learning environment is reflected in feedback from his students, who praise the clarity and organization of his materials.
He has led efforts to introduce a semi-flipped classroom model in several undergraduate courses. In this approach, students review some instructional content, such as videos or readings, before class, while in-person sessions explore core concepts with problem-solving activities and introduce more complex topics with mini-lectures. The hybrid format encourages more interactive learning and is an essential part of the department’s curriculum.
But Liu's impact also extends beyond the classroom. A strong advocate for interdisciplinary collaboration, he integrates computational thinking across multiple disciplines. Alongside Professor Nathan Taback in the Department of Statistical Sciences, he designed a new interdisciplinary minor in applied data science, which begins accepting students this summer.
Liu has received two LEAF Impact Grants for interdisciplinary computing education initiatives with the Department of Chemistry and the human biology program.
As a faculty lead on the Embedded Ethics Education Initiative (E3I), Liu has helped design modules that pair ethical concepts with technical material, enriching the learning experience for students across different fields.
Liu's commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration goes beyond curriculum — it's about preparing students for the real world.
He manages the Students Developing Software (SDS) team, which offers experiential learning opportunities to students who develop and maintain high-quality software that supports undergraduate education in the department. He has supervised over 180 undergraduate students on these software projects over the past ten years.
Beyond his innovative teaching methods and interdisciplinary initiatives, Liu is a key ambassador for cultivating and maintaining relationships across campus.
He helped redevelop the Faculty of Arts & Science’s Computer Science first-year admission category to provide a direct entry pathway to Computer Science programs, launched in 2020-2021, through extensive consultation and collaboration with departments across the university. He currently serves as associate chair, undergraduate studies in the Department of Computer Science.
Eyal de Lara, professor and chair of the Department of Computer Science, praised Liu for his contributions to the department and across campus.
“This award is a well-deserved recognition of David’s enthusiasm and his commitment to our undergraduates,” said de Lara. “His contributions have strengthened our department in countless ways, from enhancing the student experience to shaping how we teach and collaborate.”