Communications of the ACM
SIGCSE 2010: Keywords, Final Thoughts
CACM Senior Editor Jack Rosenberger
Some bits and bytes about SIGCSE 2010 (and a glance ahead at SIGCSE 2011):
Hot Topics
The keywords for SIGCSE 2010 included computational thinking, parallel programming, compilers, introductory CS courses, and Initial Learning Environments like Alice, Greenfoot, and Scratch. If these subjects interest you, visit this link for more information about the numerous papers, posters, panels, special sessions, and workshops about them.
Wieman’s Early, Early Morning Drive
Carl E. Wieman was scheduled to give the keynote address on March 12. His flight departed from either Boulder or Vancouver, I believe, on the night of March 11, but the plane could not land at Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport due to fog. The plane was redirected to Indianapolis, where it landed at 2 AM. Undaunted, Carl proceeded to rent a car and drive 243 miles (392 kilometers) from Indianapolis to Milwaukee.
"The difficult thing wasn’t the four-and-a-half hour drive at 2 AM--it was being trapped next to a conspiracy nut during what seemed like an endless flight," he joked at the beginning of his speech. "The whole experience has given me a new evaluation of the Internet."
If you missed his keynote, “Science Education for the 21st Century: Using the Insights of Science to Teach/Learn Science,” this PDF contains a good amount of the information that he presented at SIGCSE 2010.
SIGCSE Videos
Channel SIGCSE is the Video Exhibition of the SIGCSE 2010. Among the feaured videos are "Image Compression—Making Contact," "Sorting Algorithms (Unplugged),"and "Industry Fellow," a program at the University of Washington, Tacoma, that pairs a professional with a college professor for the purpose of teaching a course together.
Closed Captioning
Kudos to SIGCSE 2010 Co-chairs Steven Wolfman of the University of British Columbia and Gary Lewandowski of Xavier University and the Symposium Committee for providing closed captioning and an onstage sign language interpreter for all of the keynote addresses.
SIGCSE 2010’s Supporters
SIGCSE 2010 was made possible through the generous support of Microsoft, a Platinum Plus Supporter; Google and Intel, Platinum Supporters; and IBM, a Gold Supporter. Without their financial backing, conferences like SIGCSE 2010 would not be the same.
Next Year: SIGCSE 2011
The theme for SIGCSE 2011, which is being held in Dallas, Texas, is "Reaching Out."The symposium will focus on connecting with colleagues in other fields and developing interdisciplinary courses and research that integrate computer science and other fields. SIGCSE 2011 will also feature programs that attract and educate the next generation of computer scientists, especially currently underserved populations.
Jack Rosenberger is senior editor, news, of Communications of the ACM.
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