BLOG@CACM – Page 43 – Communications of the ACM

Feb 20 2012

Why Don’t We Use Worksheets in Computer Science Education?

Worksheets (short, constrained, sets of exercises with mostly fill-in-the-blank, true/false, and multiple choice activities) are unusual in CS education. Use of worksheets is a natural progression towards a broader audience for CS education.

Mark Guzdial

Education

Feb 17 2012

Most Smartphone Apps Are Spyware

Why does this flashlight app use an Internet connection? Why does this Bible quotes app want my location data? Why does this game want my contacts list?

Jason Hong

Computing Applications

Feb 10 2012

All Grown Up Now: Service and Serial Reciprocity

Computing is central to the debate about so many aspects of our present and future that we have a duty and responsibility to be active and enthusiastic participants. By paying it forward (serial reciprocity), we create an environment where a new generation can thrive, just as the founders of the field did for us.

Daniel Reed

Computing Applications

Feb 1 2012

Researchers’ Big Data Crisis; Understanding Design and Functionality

Michael Stonebraker issues a call to arms about research groups' data-management problems. Jason Hong discusses the nature of functionality with respect to design.

Michael Stonebraker and Jason Hong

Computing Applications

Jan 28 2012

Royal Society Report Recommends CS in English Schools: Implications For USA?

The Royal Society, the world's oldest scientic academy, released a report this month calling for a radical change to English schools: Real Computer Science for all. What are the implications for the United States?

Mark Guzdial

Education

Jan 16 2012

The Way Forward For Computer Science in the U.K.

The last week has seen some interesting developments in Computer Science Education in the U.K., with some sensible suggestions for improvements published in a report by the Royal Society.

Judy Robertson

Education

Jan 12 2012

Research Data Sustainability and Access

The dramatic growth of research data, the collaborative nature of international research, expectations for economic returns, and disciplinary differences all make data sustainability and access a pressing and difficult problem.

Daniel Reed

Computing Profession

Jan 1 2012

Understanding CS1 Students; Defective Software

Mark Guzdial writes about why teachers must grasp introductory CS students' theories about computing. Bertrand Meyer argues for the necessity of analyzing large-scale software disasters and publishing a detailed technical study.

Mark Guzdial and Bertrand Meyer

Computing Applications

Dec 31 2011

We Needn’t Be Malevolent Grumps in 2012

I propose that 2012 is the year to solve the nastiness problem in Computer Science. Zero tolerance for rude reviewers starts from midnight tonight.

Judy Robertson

HCI

Dec 21 2011

Online Stanford Classes Explore New Models For CS Learning

What's cool about the online Stanford CS classes is not the numbers, but the models. They are explorations of new ways to teach computer science.

Mark Guzdial

Education

Dec 15 2011

Is the Computer Security Community Barking Up the Wrong Trees?

There's a big mismatch right now between what the data says about computer security vulnerabilities and what kind of research is being done and products offered.

Jason Hong

Computing Profession

Dec 9 2011

Planting Seeds in the Field of Knowledge

In these challenging economic times, universities are under great stress--economically, politically, and socially. It is tempting for those of us in computing to ignore these issues but, like agriculture and engineering before us, I believe computing has a social responsibility to be an active and enthusiastic partner in helping chart the nature of higher education.

Daniel Reed

Computing Profession

Dec 4 2011

Hadoop AllReduce and Terascale Learning

In a breakthrough last summer, we came up with the first learning algorithm I've seen that is provably faster than any future single machine learning algorithm.

John Langford

Computing Applications

Dec 1 2011

Conferences and Video Lectures; Scientific Educational Games

John Langford analyzes whether conferences should offer video lectures. Judy Robertson discusses the merits of the Game Design Through Mentoring and Collaboration project.

John Langford and Judy Robertson

Computing Applications

Nov 29 2011

Enrollment and Quality: Does It Matter to Measure?

CS is declared to be the hottest major on campus based on enrollment at the top institutions. But is it rising everywhere? We don't really know how to measure computing knowledge. Is that a problem?

Mark Guzdial

Education

Nov 17 2011

Celebrate Computing!

Computer Science Education Week 2011 is a call to action. It gives the computing community an opportunity to raise awareness about the societal impact of computing, the richness of computing careers, and the critical need for computer science education.

Debra Richardson

Education

Nov 13 2011

SC11: The Cray, Fernbach, and Kennedy Awards

The Cray, Fernbach, and Kennedy awards and the work of the recipients reflect the evolving interplay of technology, software, applications and algorithms in advancing high-performance computing. They also recognize intellectual leadership and mentoring of a new generation of high-performance computing talent.

Daniel Reed

Computing Applications

Nov 12 2011

Techwomen Alumnae Attend Grace Hopper

Here is information about the Techwomen program and its attendees at Grace Hopper.

Valerie Barr

Education

Nov 12 2011

Exciting New Research Presented at Grace Hopper

The Grace Hopper Conference includes a Ph.D. Forum that showcases the research of current Ph.D. students, with the additional goal of providing support and mentoring.

Valerie Barr

Computing Applications

Nov 11 2011

Alain Chesnais Welcomes Grace Hopper Attendees

Alain Chesnais, President of ACM, welcomed attendees to the 11th Grace Hopper Conference

Valerie Barr

Education

Nov 11 2011

Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing Keeps Growing!

The official opening of the Grace Hopper Conference (GHC) on 11/10/2011 was an exciting event. Conference statistics show a growth of 35% since 2010.

Valerie Barr

Education

Nov 11 2011

Sheryl Sandberg’s Keynote at Grace Hopper

Sheryl Sandberg gave the opening keynote at the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing and spoke about why careers in technology are important and why it is critical that women go into these careers.

Valerie Barr

Computing Profession

Nov 8 2011

A Futuristic Health IT Scenario

Our technology is the change agent for healthcare in the future.

Jeannette M. Wing

Computing Profession

Carnegie Mellon Professor Jeannette Wing

Nov 1 2011

In Support of Open Reviews; Better Teaching Through Large-Scale Data Mining

Bertrand Meyer writes about his long-standing decision not to provide anonymous reviews. Greg Linden considers how educational practices could be improved through the data mining of students' schoolwork.

Bertrand Meyer and Greg Linden

Computing Applications

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