TY - GEN
T1 - A Visual Unplugged Activity to Introduce PDC
AU - Smith, Mary
AU - Srivastava, Srishti
AU - Bunde, David P.
AU - Crockett, April
AU - Gerten, Michael
AU - Maher, Peter
AU - Spacco, Jaime
AU - Suo, Xiaoyuan
AU - Wang, Jiayin
AU - Zhu, Michelle
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 IEEE.
PY - 2025
Y1 - 2025
N2 - We introduce an unplugged activity designed for CS1 students to explore fundamental parallel computing concepts. The activity requires only gridded paper and basic coloring tools, such as pens, markers, crayons, or colored pencils. It was piloted in CS1 courses across six universities, where faculty successfully incorporated the activity into various CS1 curricula taught in different programming languages. Learning outcomes were assessed through surveys and examination of student work product. Student engagement was measured using a survey that evaluated participants' perceptions of engagement (enjoyment, participation, and focus), understanding (comprehension of the material and computing concepts), and instructor effectiveness (preparedness, enthusiasm, and availability). Qualitative student feedback was favorable, and survey results suggest the activity effectively introduced parallel and distributed computing concepts.
AB - We introduce an unplugged activity designed for CS1 students to explore fundamental parallel computing concepts. The activity requires only gridded paper and basic coloring tools, such as pens, markers, crayons, or colored pencils. It was piloted in CS1 courses across six universities, where faculty successfully incorporated the activity into various CS1 curricula taught in different programming languages. Learning outcomes were assessed through surveys and examination of student work product. Student engagement was measured using a survey that evaluated participants' perceptions of engagement (enjoyment, participation, and focus), understanding (comprehension of the material and computing concepts), and instructor effectiveness (preparedness, enthusiasm, and availability). Qualitative student feedback was favorable, and survey results suggest the activity effectively introduced parallel and distributed computing concepts.
KW - Parallel computing education
KW - Unplugged activity
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105015372688
U2 - 10.1109/IPDPSW66978.2025.00102
DO - 10.1109/IPDPSW66978.2025.00102
M3 - Conference contribution
AN - SCOPUS:105015372688
T3 - Proceedings - 2025 IEEE International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium Workshops, IPDPSW 2025
SP - 658
EP - 665
BT - Proceedings - 2025 IEEE International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium Workshops, IPDPSW 2025
PB - Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Inc.
T2 - 2025 IEEE International Parallel and Distributed Processing Symposium Workshops, IPDPSW 2025
Y2 - 3 June 2025 through 7 June 2025
ER -