"Strategies, tools, and materials for teaching
Parallel and Distributed Computing"
David P. Bunde,
Erik Saule, and
KR Subramanian
This page has the materials for our tutorial at
IPDPS 2026 on Monday 5/25 in
Balcony I.
Abstract
Virtually all the devices that students will program are fundamentally concurrent and parallel systems. This can no longer be ignored as most modern programming models expose concurrency and/or parallelism to the developer. However, teaching parallel and distributed computing (PDC) in the traditional way remains difficult because it requires deep understanding of programming, systems, and algorithms; and so it is often relegated to upper-division electives.
This tutorial will enable the attendees to present parallel computing concepts at different technical levels so that they can be taught at different points in the curriculum, from early classes to technical electives.
This tutorial will teach engaging pedagogical practices.
This tutorial is intended for all who engage with students. It is in
particular helpful to graduate students who intend to apply for
faculty positions and early-career faculty who want new ways to teach
PDC in all their courses.
Schedule
| 1:30-1:40 | Introductions |
| 1:40-2:15 | Flag maker unplugged activity
(slides: pdf, pptx) |
| 2:15-2:40 | Course design (slides) |
| 2:40-3:00 | CS1/CS2 exemplars
(slides: pdf, pptx) |
| 3:00-3:30 | Coffee break |
| 3:30-3:55 | Assignment design and BRIDGES (slides) |
| 3:55-4:15 | Peachy assignments
(slides: pdf, pptx) |
| 4:15-4:40 | Time to plan/prepare a new assignment |
| 4:40-5:00 | Discussion |
Other resources