TITLE: Get Ready for OOPSLA 2005
AUTHOR: Eugene Wallingford
DATE: January 21, 2005  1:09 PM
DESC: The call for participation at OOPSLA 2005 is out.  The Educators Symposium seeks submissions, too.
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Back in October, I signed on for a second year as program
chair for the
<A HREF="http://www.oopsla.org/2005/ShowPage.do?id=Home">
   OOPSLA</A>
Educators Symposium.  Last year's symposium
<A HREF="http://www.cs.uni.edu/~wallingf/blog/archives/monthly/2004-10.html#e2004-10-26T10_41_04.htm">
   went well</A>,
with
<A HREF="http://www.cs.uni.edu/~wallingf/blog/archives/monthly/2004-11.html#e2004-11-06T21_03_42.htm">
   Alan Kay's keynote</A>
setting an inspirational mood for the symposium and
conference, and I welcomed the chance to help put
together another useful symposium for OO eductaors.
Besides, the chance to work with
<A HREF="http://st-www.cs.uiuc.edu/users/johnson/">
   Ralph Johnson</A>
and
<A HREF="http://www.dreamsongs.com/">
   Dick Gabriel</A>
on their vision for an evolving OOPSLA was too much
to pass up.

The
<A HREF="http://www.oopsla.org/2005/ShowPage.do?id=SubmissionsHome">
   calls for submissions</A>
to OOPSLA 2005 are available on-line now.  All of
the traditional options are available again, but
what's really exciting are the new tracks: Essays,
Lightning Talks, Software Studies, and FilmFest.
Essays and Lightning Talks provide a new way to
start serious conversations about programming,
languages, systems, and applications, short of the
academic research papers found in the usual technical
program.  I think the Software Studies track will
open a new avenue in the empirical study of programs
and their design.  Check these CFPs out.

Of course, I strongly encourage all of you folks who
teach OOP to consider submitting a paper, panel
proposal, or nifty assignment to the
<A HREF="http://www.oopsla.org/2005/ShowPage.do?id=CallEducatorsSymposium">
   Educators Symposium</A>.
As much as software development, teaching well depends
on folks sharing successful techniques, results of
experiments, and patterns of instructional materials.

This year, the symposium is honored to have
<A HREF="http://c2.com/cgi-bin/wiki?WardCunningham">
   Ward Cunningham</A>
as our keynote speaker.  As
<A HREF="http://www.cs.uni.edu/~wallingf/blog/archives/monthly/2004-10.html#e2004-10-26T23_08_52.htm">
   reported here</A>,
Ward spoke at last year's OOPSLA.  I love Ward's
approach to programming, people, and tools.  "OOPSLA
is about programming on the edge, doing practical
things better than most."  "Be receptive to discovery."
The symposium's program committee is looking forward
to Ward sharing his perspective with educators.

If you've been to OOPSLA before, you know how valuable
this conference can be to your professinal development.
If not, ask someone who has been, or trust me and try
it yourself.  You won't be disappointed.
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