Teaching experiences with a virtual network laboratory

ABSTRACT

The Open Network Laboratory (ONL) is an Internet-accessible virtual laboratory facility that can deliver a high quality laboratory experience in advanced networking [3,7]. Our experience with ONL indicates that it has potential to improve student understanding of fundamental networking concepts and increase enthusiasm for experimentation with complex technology. Furthermore, these benefits can be delivered with less effort from the instructor than using a traditional approach of socket programming and ns-2 simulation exercises. The system is built around a set of high-performance, extendible routers which connect personal computers acting as end systems. Users configure their virtual network through the Remote Laboratory Interface (RLI), an intuitive graphical interface. The RLI's real-time charts and user data facility make it easy to directly view the effect of system parameters on traffic behavior. These features can enhance learning by providing users with multiple representations of network phenomena. We describe how the ONL facilities have improved our ability to meet instructional objectives and discuss some approaches to improving the laboratory experience.

REFERENCES

• 1: Benjamin S. Bloom, et. al. (Ed.), "Taxonomy of Educational Objectives," New York: David McKay Company Inc, c1956--1964.
• 2: J. Confrey and A. Maloney (in press), "A Theory of Mathematical Modeling in Technological Settings," in Applications and Modeling in Mathematics Education, edited by W. Blum and H. Henn, Springer, 2006.
• 3: John DeHart , Fred Kuhns , Jyoti Parwatikar , Jonathan Turner , Charlie Wiseman , Ken Wong, The open network laboratory, Proceedings of the 37th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, March 03-05, 2006, Houston, Texas, USA
• 4: E. W. Ernst, "A New Role for the Undergraduate Engineering Laboratory," IEEE Trans. On Education, Vol. E-26, No. 2, May 1983, pp. 49--51.
• 5: James F. Kurose , Keith W. Ross, Computer Networking: A Top-Down Approach Featuring the Internet, Pearson Benjamin Cummings, 2004
• 6: Titus Winters and Tom Payne, What Do Students Know?, Proc. First Intl. Computing Education Research Workshop (ICER05), 2005.
• 7: Open Network Laboratory, http://www.arl.wustl.edu.
• 8: The Network Simulator ns-2, http://www.isi.edu/nsnam/ns/

INDEX TERMS

Primary Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education

Additional Classification:
  C. Computer Systems Organization
  C.2 COMPUTER-COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
      C.2.6 Internetworking
          Subjects: Routers

General Terms:
Experimentation, Human Factors, Measurement

Keywords:
education, experimental computer science, laboratory