Darren Kessner, PhD
Math and Computer Science Teacher
Scientific Software Developer

ICGS 2026 Presentation Slides:
Coding Across the Curriculum

About

Darren Kessner, PhD

Program Head of Computer Science and Software Innovation
Marlborough School

Senior Software Engineer
Ellison Medical Institute

I am the Program Head of Computer Science and Software Innovation at Marlborough School in Los Angeles. I develop the computer science curriculum, and I work with faculty in various departments on collaborative projects showcasing the wide range of applications of computer science. In addition, I supervise students in research and interdisciplinary projects involving computer science and engineering.

I am also a Senior Software Engineer on the AI and Advanced Molecular Medicine team at the Ellison Medical Institute. I write software for data analysis and visualization related to: AI applications, data analysis pipelines, DNA sequencing, mass spectrometry, clinical and research databases.

I am a strong proponent of free and open source software, open public data, and open educational resources. I am also an advocate for increasing the diversity of voices in the STEM fields in general, and in software development in particular.

In the classroom I use free and open source software, open public data, and open educational resources. You can find out more about these resources on my Teacher Resources page.

This website was created with Simple.css. I created the animation with p5.js.

Links

Contact

Program Head of Computer Science and Software Innovation
Marlborough School
Darren.Kessner@marlborough.org

Senior Software Engineer
Ellison Medical Institute
dkessner@emila.org

home

Resources

Practical Coding in Java

Online textbook for AP Computer Science.

website pdf

Practical Coding in Python

Online textbook for first steps in Python.

website pdf

p5 examples

Tutorial examples for Javascript and p5.js.

website

Free and Open Source Resources for Teachers

A collection of open source software, open data, and open educational resources that I use in my classes.

website

Processing Library Examples (Java)

Tutorial examples for using the Processing libraries from Java (useful for AP Computer Science teachers)

website

Classes

2025-26

Summer 2025

2024-25

2023-24

2022-23

2021-22

home

Recent Projects

Murakami Flowers

An ode to Takashi Murakami's flowers, using p5.js drawing functions only (no textures)

website

sad2cat

A free online program to convert your sad face into a cat photo.

website

Alice's Adventures

A demonstration of a web-based visual novel using public domain content (Lewis Carroll's original images and text from Alice in Wonderland).

website

Parametric Playground

Draw surfaces using parametric equations (for my Multivariable Calculus class).

website

Mathematical Explorations

Miscellaneous mathematical explorations and demos.

website
home

Older Projects

processing-p5-convert

A source code translator that converts Processing/Java code to p5.js/Javascript code.

website

Youth Incarceration

Visualization of LAPD youth incarceration data, by student Isabelle '21.

website

Marlborough Hour of Code 2020

Hour of Code tutorials created by coding students at Marlborough School.

website

Project Pumpkin

Pumpkin coding activity for a virtual Halloween 2020.

website

Marlborough Summer Coding Intensive 2019

repo

CS Projects 2018-19: CPR training app

repo
home

Presentations

Coding Across the Curriculum

ICGS Conference, Toronto, June 2026

slides

Coding Across the Curriculum

ICGS Conference, Philadelphia, June 2025

slides

Open Educational Resources for Teachers

NCGS Global Forum, Boston, June 2022

slides

Open Educational Resources for Teachers

Grab & Go, STEM Think Tank & Conference, Harpeth Hall, Nashville (virtual), February 2021

slides

Building a Fun and Exciting Computer Science Curriculum

NCGS Conference, Westridge School, Los Angeles, June 2019

slides

Graphics Programming in Java with the Processing Software Libraries

Design and Maker Class Colloquium, Windward School, Los Angeles, June 2019

slides

Coding & Making: 10 Great Things That Go Great Together

Design and Maker Class Colloquium, Windward School, Los Angeles, August 2017

slides

Python Programming in the Classroom

Computer Science Roundtable

STEM Think Tank & Conference, Harpeth Hall, Nashville, July 2017

Coding + Art: Partnering Art and Computer Science Students to Create Interactive Art Projects

Design and Maker Class Colloquium, Windward School, Los Angeles, August 2016

pdf slides

Drawing and Animating with Code

Python Programming in the Classroom

STEM Think Tank & Conference, Harpeth Hall, Nashville, July 2016

Drawing and Animating with Code

NCGS Conference, St. Catherine's School, Richmond, July 2015

Drawing and Animating with Code

STEM Think Tank & Conference, Harpeth Hall, Nashville, July 2015

home

Publications

Why We Still Need Girls to Code

2020, Marlborough website

article website

Computer Science Education: Lessons from Industry and Academia

2018, Innovative Teaching + Learning: Disrupting the K-12 Classroom (book chapter)

pdf book

Power Analysis of Artificial Selection Experiments Using Efficient Whole Genome Simulation of Quantitative Traits

2015, Genetics

pdf

Analysis and Simulation Methods for Artificial Selection Experiments in the Investigation of the Genetic Basis of Complex Traits

2014, doctoral dissertation

pdf

forqs: Forward-in-time Simulation of Recombination, Quantitative Traits and Selection

2014, Bioinformatics

pdf supp repo

Maximum Likelihood Estimation of Frequencies of Known Haplotypes from Pooled Sequence Data

2013, Molecular Biology and Evolution

pdf repo

ProteoWizard: Open Source Software for Rapid Proteomics Tools Development

2008, Bioinformatics

pdf website
home