Biography
Steve Kanicki, lecturer in Information Technology, teaches a wide range of courses including human-centered design, networking, programming, database systems, and security and risk analysis. His classes emphasize project-based learning and hands-on design, giving students the opportunity to engage in real-world challenges and creative problem-solving.
In Kanicki’s courses, students design and build robotics and tech prototypes, develop interactive systems, and participate in immersive activities like escape rooms and encryption challenges that simulate real-world cybersecurity scenarios. Other projects include network configuration labs, database-driven web applications, and programming challenges that foster both technical and collaborative skills.
Kanicki’s classes prepare students for a variety of careers, including:
- Software development
- Network administration
- Database design and administration
- Cybersecurity analyst
- IT project management
- Systems analysis
- UX/UI design
- Penetration testing
- Technical support engineering
Students are also well-prepared for graduate studies in fields such as information technology, cybersecurity, computer science, and human-computer interaction.
Research Interests
- Human-computer interaction
- Cybersecurity education
- Gamification in learning
- Technology-enhanced learning environments
- Prototyping and design thinking
Education
M.S. in Information Technology, Rochester Institute of Technology, New York
B.S. in Business Administration, Buffalo State College, New York
Papers and Presentations
June, 2025
Presentations
Ticket to Play: Motivating Students with Token-Based Rewards
Teaching Professor Conference
Washington, DC
Co-presented with Michelle Kurtyka at the Teaching Professor Conference in DC, sharing gamified strategies to boost student engagement through a token reward system. Session emphasized motivation, participation, and practical classroom tools.
April, 2025
Presentations
Ticket to Play: Motivating Students with Token-Based Rewards
Brown Bag
Monaca, PA
Co-presented with Michelle Kurtyka at Penn State Beaver’s Brown Bag series, sharing gamified teaching strategies using a token reward system to promote student motivation, attendance, and active participation.
March 23, 2024
Demonstrations
Rapid Prototyping with Lego Spike
Teaching and Learning with Technology
University Park, PA
Presented LEGO Spike Robot assignment at University Park. Attendees came away with a better understanding of rapid prototyping and how Lego Spike kits can be implemented in a fun, engaging project with an emphasis on active learning, research, problem-solving, teamwork, and teambuilding. I was especially proud to include my students in this presentation. They demonstrated their projects and answer questions regarding their personal experiences. The presentation garnered a lot of positive feedback from symposium attendees.
October, 2023
Demonstrations
Rapid Prototyping with Lego Spike
Brown Bag
Monaca, PA
Presented a project that I introduced to my IST331 (Human Centered Design class in the fall of 2023. The project incorporates the Lego-Spike kits provided by Penn States multimedia department. In addition to a presentation, students from my class brought their Lego robots to demonstrate the capabilities of Lego Spike technology, and block coding.