Do you teach objects and object-orientation? Do you teach an objects-first CS1, or perhaps an advanced course in OO design and modeling? If you're a CS educator who is interested in sharing teaching techniques or exploring pedagogical issues in a workshop setting, this workshop may be for you!

The "Killer Examples" workshop has been held at OOPSLA since 2002. The goal of this workshop series has been to tap into the expertise of the OOPSLA community to improve the teaching of object orientation. Past workshops have focused on (educational examples for) design patterns and "process in OO pedagogy". This year the workshop theme is WORKED EXAMPLES. Worked examples are instructional devices that provide a problem together with a model solution for a learner to study.

The Jargon File defines a killer app as an "application that actually makes a sustaining market for a promising but under-utilized technology." A killer example provides clear and compelling motivation for some concept. The theme of this workshop is worked (killer) examples for sound oo pedagogy.

Today's computer science students are tomorrow's software developers. As such they will be expected to design and implement solutions to complex problems. Object orientation is an excellent approach to managing the complexity of large, real-world software systems. Many educators have been slow to adopt, or unsuccessful at adopting, or worse, reluctant to try adopting, an object oriented approach, especially in CS1-CS2 courses. We believe part of the difficulty stems from educators lacking convincing and coherent examples for teaching "object thinking".

There are two ways to participate: you can either submit a short paper and/or an actual (worked) example, or you may apply to attend as a discussant. Either way you will have plenty of opportunity to talk about process and sound pedagogy for teaching object orientation.

The deadline for submissions/applications is September 2, 2008, but earlier submissions are encouraged.

If you have questions about the workshop, do not hesitate to contact us at alphonce(at)cse(dot)buffalo(dot)edu, with subject line "OOPSLA-2008 Workshop Query". We look forward to hearing from you!

Carl Alphonce, University at Buffalo, USA
Jürgen Börstler, Umeå University, Sweden
Michael Caspersen, Univeristy of Aarhus, DK
Adrienne Decker, University at Buffalo, USA