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Game playing as a technique for teaching parallel computing concepts

Published: 01 September 1992 Publication History

Abstract

Blackboard tracing of algorithms, while an effective tool for the teaching of sequential programming, is singularly ineffective and confusing when applied to parallel computing. The use of classroom games to illustrate concepts and pathologies proves to be a useful alternative technique. Games in which students play the role of processors can be used to illustrate simple parallel algorithms as well as more complex concepts. Live demonstrations are stimulating for both the participants and the class as a whole. This paper discusses guidelines regarding the development of such exercises and presents several examples.

References

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[AKL] S. G. Akl, The Design and Analysis of Parallel Algorithms , Prentice-Hall, 1989.
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[BACHELIS] G. Bachelis and B. Maxim, "Tutorial: Introducing Parallel Algorthms in Undergraduate Computer Science Courses," ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, 22 (1), p. 255 (1990).
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[CARRIERO] N. Carriero and D. Gelernter, How to Write Parallel Programs, MIT Press, 1990.
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[FOX] G. Fox, et al., Solving Problems on Concurrent Processors , Vol. 1, Prentice-Hall, 1988.
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[HOARE] C. A. R. Hoare, "Communicating Sequential Processes," Communications of the ACM, 17 (10), pp. 549- 557, (1974).
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[KNUTH] D. E. Knuth, The Art of Computer Programming, Vol. 2: Seminumerical Algorithms, Addison-Wesley, 1969.
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[JONES] J. S. Jones, "Participatory Teaching Methods in Computer Science," ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, 19 (1), pp. 155-160 (1987).
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[QUINN] M. J. Quinn, Designing Efficient Algorithms for Parallel Computers, McGraw-Hill, 1987.
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[SCHALLER] N. C. Schaller, "Panel: Parallel Computing in the Undergraduate Computer Science Curriculum," Proceedings Supercomputing '91, p. 148, Albuquerque, Nov. 1991.

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  • (2019)Assessing the Integration of Parallel and Distributed Computing in Early Undergraduate Computer Science Curriculum using Unplugged Activities2019 IEEE/ACM Workshop on Education for High-Performance Computing (EduHPC)10.1109/EduHPC49559.2019.00008(17-24)Online publication date: Nov-2019
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Published In

cover image ACM SIGCSE Bulletin
ACM SIGCSE Bulletin  Volume 24, Issue 3
Sept. 1992
69 pages
ISSN:0097-8418
DOI:10.1145/142040
Issue’s Table of Contents

Publisher

Association for Computing Machinery

New York, NY, United States

Publication History

Published: 01 September 1992
Published in SIGCSE Volume 24, Issue 3

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Cited By

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  • (2020)PDCunplugged: A Free Repository of Unplugged Parallel Distributed Computing Activities2020 IEEE International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium Workshops (IPDPSW)10.1109/IPDPSW50202.2020.00060(284-291)Online publication date: May-2020
  • (2020)Research on Parallel Computing Teaching: state of the art and future directions2020 IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE)10.1109/FIE44824.2020.9273914(1-9)Online publication date: 21-Oct-2020
  • (2019)Assessing the Integration of Parallel and Distributed Computing in Early Undergraduate Computer Science Curriculum using Unplugged Activities2019 IEEE/ACM Workshop on Education for High-Performance Computing (EduHPC)10.1109/EduHPC49559.2019.00008(17-24)Online publication date: Nov-2019
  • (2017)One step at a timeJournal of Parallel and Distributed Computing10.1016/j.jpdc.2016.12.024105:C(4-17)Online publication date: 1-Jul-2017
  • (2014)Limited Time and ExperienceProceedings of the 2014 IEEE International Parallel & Distributed Processing Symposium Workshops10.1109/IPDPSW.2014.184(1071-1078)Online publication date: 19-May-2014
  • (2014)Game design for bioinformatics and cyberinfrastructure learningConcurrency and Computation: Practice & Experience10.1002/cpe.326126:13(2303-2315)Online publication date: 10-Sep-2014
  • (2013)Human centered game design for bioinformatics and cyberinfrastructure learningProceedings of the Conference on Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment: Gateway to Discovery10.1145/2484762.2484833(1-8)Online publication date: 22-Jul-2013
  • (2012)Cross teaching parallelism and ray tracingProceedings of the 43rd ACM technical symposium on Computer Science Education10.1145/2157136.2157288(523-528)Online publication date: 29-Feb-2012
  • (2010)Parallel computingProceedings of the 41st ACM technical symposium on Computer science education10.1145/1734263.1734361(280-284)Online publication date: 10-Mar-2010
  • (2005)Lab activities requiring minimal resources for courses in computer networkingJournal of Computing Sciences in Colleges10.5555/1088791.108880621:1(88-94)Online publication date: 1-Oct-2005
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