He began his American experience as an International Student at Southern Oregon University in Ashland, then transferred to the University of Oregon in Eugene where he is completing his PhD in Computer Science. When asked how his interest in computers began, he said he had a compter back in the early 80's and enjoyed playing games. The rest is history. Jens, however, takes a refreshing approach to computer science. He uses astronomy as an analogy, where telescopes are used to view the larger picture, yet the telescope itself is not intensely studied.
Computers are more a tool used to solve the greater problem at hand.
Jens teaches Computer Science 171, where the attending students range in skill from a serious computer user and future CS major to a novice who's really never mastered the double-click. His class is project-based, so if you don't feel as comfortable writing programs you can always explore the topics of how computers affect our society and our ethics. In CS 171, the first homework assignment is to find a definition of computer science. This engages the students in a discussion about what technology is and what it does or doesn't do for us. The second homework assignment is to create a web page.