SIGCSE 2008
March 12-15, 2008
Portland, Oregon USA
Technical Symposium on Computer Science Education
SIGSCE 2008
March 12-15, 2008 • Portland, Oregon, USA
March 12-15, 2008 • Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract:
Presentation on MSR's External Research efforts and
assessment in Educational Research; ranging from new technologies;
TabletPC, Surface, games (XNA GS), robotics (MSRS), computational science,
new media
and distance education. Harold and his team will be showcasing new
educational technologies, results from current initiatives and MSR ER&Ps
plans going forward.
Harold Javid, PhD, is Director of Microsoft Research's education research
group and manager of the New Faculty Fellows and Microsoft Faculty Summit.
Abstract:
This session will explain how the academic community can use SunSpot
devices as creative learning tools and the java.net online community
for class projects. The session will kickoff a SunSpot/TrackBot
programming contest.
A brief overview of java.net will be provided followed by an introduction
by the java.net Mobile and Embedded Community Leader of the SunSpot,
"... an experimental platform to inspire developers to build
the next great toy, sensor, communication device ...Sun SPOT devices
provide
a flexible hardware platform as well as the software and tools to
make it easy to innovate, experiment, and prototype whatever a developer
can imagine."
The Robotics Community Leader will then show how SunSpots are used to
provide the 'application brain' for TrackBots, a small bot "...designed
specifically for university-level education and research,
based on educational experiences." Included are design goals learned
from cockroaches, simulation and development tools and a demonstration
of the Greenfoot environment and a TrackBot swarm.
The session will close with a description of how java.net is being used
as an inovative platform for teamwork and collaborative development
internationally in the academic arena and the announcement of a
SunSpot/TrackBot programming contest hosted on java.net.
Abstract: Cluster computing is an increasingly relevant technology across the computing industry. Until recently, teaching about how to use these systems was difficult to perform at the undergraduate level. New tools such has Hadoop, based on Google's MapReduce architecture, now lower the barrier to entry for students, making it easier for universities to introduce this important topic to their students.
This session will introduce several open source technologies that make
cluster computing viable in the classroom. It will also describe highlights
from courses already in progress at several schools, and provide
suggestions
for how to incorporate these components into a course at your own
institution. Attendees will learn how to set up clusters using available
resources, ideas for cluster computing projects, and thoughts on curriculum
development.
Abstract:
Phoenix is the code name for the application development framework that is
the basis for all future Microsoft compiler technologies. The Phoenix
framework can be adapted to read and write binaries and Microsoft
Intermediate Language assemblies and represent the input files in an
Intermediate Representation, which can be analyzed and manipulated by
applications by using the Phoenix API. These extensible features makes
Phoenix an ideal tool for teaching software analysis, optimization, and
security studies, This tutorial will provide a introduction to Phoenix and
walk you through examples of how Phoenix can be used in classrooms to
enhance teaching/learning experience.
Abstract:
Computer processor manufacturers have switched from single core to
multicore
designs, creating the opportunity (need?) for software to make the
corresponding switch, from serial to parallel. The initial multicore chips
are straightforward: symmetric, typically with 2 or 4 cores. However,
indicators point to a near future of much larger numbers of cores, with the
likelihood of specialized cores, complex cache management, and
sophisticated
communication requirements. Today's multicore software techniques --
primarily threading -- may not be sufficient to utilize these manycore
systems efficiently. This talk will explore possible approaches to the
challenge.
Bio: Michael Wrinn is a senior course architect in the Intel Software College, where he collaborates with universities to bring parallel computing to the mainstream of undergraduate education. Prior assignments include managing Intel's software engineering lab in Shanghai, and directing the human interface technology research. He was Intel's representative to the committee which produced the first OpenMP specification, and remains active in the parallel computing community. Before joining Intel, Michael worked at Accelrys (San Diego), implementing commercial and research simulation codes on a wide variety of parallel/HPC systems. He holds a Ph.D. (in quantum mechanics) and a B.Sc. (mathematics/chemistry/physics) from McGill University.
Abstract:
Join Computer Science professors from around the world as they discuss the
ways in which using OpenSolaris has changed their operating system class in
our Real World Observability Tools in Computer Science Education session.
Three professors from the US, China and the Philippines will briefly share
personal experiences and then join a panel discussion.
OS concepts such as memory management, process scheduling, and
synchronization, are frequently illustrated with separate programming
projects. However, recent developments in open source operating systems
(most originating from the OpenSolaris project) provide the capability to
observe operating system activity directly in production. In particular,
the open source DTrace (Dynamic Tracing) framework, (developed within the
Sun's OpenSolaris project and subsequently ported to Apple's OS X) can be
incorporated into the CS curriculum, providing new insight into OS behavior
under production conditions. Real World Observability Tools in Computer
Science Education will include discussion of the use of DTrace in a
graduate level OS course at George Mason University's Volgenau School of
Information Technology and Engineering.
Similar work done has been taking place in China. A group of Chinese
professors collaborated on a project to incorporate a number of OpenSolaris
features, including DTrace, into their OS curriculum. The result was a
comprehensive OS Lab curriculum based on DTrace and MDB, OpenSolaris'
Modular Debugger. The courseware includes lecture slides, teaching notes,
demonstrations, webcasts, and a textbook which is going into publication.
In addition, a group of students in China used DTrace to develop a number
of graphical tools illustrating kernel activity. Prof. Chen Xiangqun from
Peking University, a leader of this work, will introduce a demonstration of
these tools and present the experience of using OpenSolaris to teach OS
courses.
Abstract:
Google Code for Educators is a growing repository of Computer Science
materials (Creative Commons licensed). This session will begin by walking
through the goals of the program and a review of what is currently
available. Following that, we'll describe opportunities to get involved as
well as have a lively discussion about the priorities for the future. Time
permitting, we'll walk through some other academic/research-related
programs
that Google offers that may be of interest.
Abstract:
Parallel and concurrent programming has long been considered a dark and
mysterious art relegated to scientific computation and fraught with too
many
hazards and ills to make it worthwhile for the common programmer to worry
about. Besides, historically the hardware to the lead and increased
application performance was always just around the corner with the next
faster processor. With the production of multi-core chips, parallel
execution is now available to everyone and utilizing multiple cores is now
the means for getting increased application performance. Software abnd
optimization is the key to increased application performance.
In 2006 Intel Corp. began focusing on connecting with university faculty
with course material and sw tools for use in teaching parallel programming
concepts. The next generation of software engineers are already at or just
ready to enter university now and must be trained in developing, testing,
and tuning parallel and multithreaded programs. This talk will review the
Intel Multicore Program which has focused on introducing parallel
programming to the undergraduate curriculum. What has worked well and what
didn't, what is currently available, the impact the program has had on
universities that have participated, and a peek into the future plans and
directions.
Bio: Beverley Bachmayer, Intel Software College University Program
Manager.
In
this role, she is responsible for the global program strategy and
implementation, to prepare the next generation of software professionals
for
upcoming technologies, through helping to expand computer science
curricula.
Before joining the ISC team, she was the EMEA SAP Onsite Team manager. Bev
joined in Intel in 1983 and holds degrees in Computer Science and an MBA.