Take a look at the new version of this page: [ beta version ]. Tell us what you think.

ABSTRACT

Computer Networking is one of the most challenging subjects to learn and to teach in an efficient way. On one hand, students may find the topic too technical and dry when presented. On the other hand, most IT instructors still primarily use lectures as the exclusive means to teach. As stated in SIGITE Computing Curricula, it is strongly recommended to incorporate hands-on lab components into teaching as they help students apply the theory to solve real-world problems. In this paper, we designed and implemented open source lab and curriculum that cover a set of learning outcomes recommended by SIGITE IT computing curricula. The design is guided by one of most commonly used instructional design models - Dick and Carey model. This research is aimed at producing students that can configure, maintain and troubleshoot the network from a "hands-on" perspective. In addition, the labs developed in this research, which map the SIGITE IT model curricula, will be helpful in the efforts to pursue ABET accreditation

REFERENCES

• 1: Abler, R., Contis, D., Grizzard, J.,&Owen, H. (2006). George Tech "Hands On" Network Security Laboratory. IEEE Transactions on Education, 212--225.
• 2: José Carlos Brustoloni, Laboratory experiments for network security instruction, Journal on Educational Resources in Computing (JERIC), v.6 n.4, p.5-es, December 2006 [doi>10.1145/1248453.1248458]
• 3: Angela Carbone , Jens J. Kaasbøll, A survey of methods used to evaluate computer science teaching, Proceedings of the 6th annual conference on the teaching of computing and the 3rd annual conference on Integrating technology into computer science education: Changing the delivery of computer science education, p.41-45, August 18-21, 1998, Dublin City Univ., Ireland
• 4: Martin Casado , Nick McKeown, The virtual network system, Proceedings of the 36th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, February 23-27, 2005, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
• 5: Chen, L.,&Lin, C. (2007). Combining Theory with Practice in Information Security Education. Proceedings of the 11th Colloquium for Information Systems Security Education, 167--171.
• 6: Chenoweth, J., Pfeiffer, P.,&Yuan, Q. (2003). Implementing a Networking Component in a CS/IT Curriculum: An Experience Report. Consortium for Computing Sciences in Colleges.
• 7: Mark Claypool , David Finkel , Craig Wills, An open source laboratory for operating systems projects, Proceedings of the 6th annual conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education, p.145-148, June 2001, Canterbury, United Kingdom
• 8: Douglas E. Comer, Hands-on Networking with Internet Technologies (2nd Edition), Prentice-Hall, Inc., Upper Saddle River, NJ, 2004
• 9: Dick, W.,&Carey, L. (1996). The Systematic design of instruction (4th ed.). New York: Harper Collins.
• 10: Mike Erlinger , Titus Winters , Mart Molle , Chris Lundberg , Roy Shea, TinkerNet: a low-cost networking laboratory, Proceedings of the sixth conference on Australasian computing education, p.63-67, January 01, 2004, Dunedin, New Zealand
• 11: Brenton D. Faber, Educational models and open source: resisting the proprietary university, Proceedings of the 20th annual international conference on Computer documentation, p.31-38, October 20-23, 2002, Toronto, Ontario, Canada [doi>10.1145/584955.584961]
• 12: Guo, J., Xiang W.,&Wang, S. (2007). Reinforce Networking Theory with OPNET Simulation. Journal of Information Technology Education, Volume 6, 191--198.
• 13: C. Richard G. Helps, Instructional design theory provides insights into evolving information technology technical curricula, Proceedings of the 7th conference on Information technology education, October 19-21, 2006, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA [doi>10.1145/1168812.1168845]
• 14: Vasil Y. Hnatyshin , Andrea F. Lobo, Undergraduate data communications and networking projects using opnet and wireshark software, Proceedings of the 39th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, March 12-15, 2008, Portland, OR, USA
• 15: IEEE/ACM. (2008). CC-2008 Task Force, Computing Curriculum (Final Draft). Retrieved January 16th, 2009 from http://www.acm.org//education/curricula/IT2008%20Curriculum.pdf
• 16: Kearsley, G. (1998). Educational technology: a critique. Educational Technology, 38(2), 47--51.
• 17: Bruce Kneale , Ain Y. De Horta , Ilona Box, Velnet: virtual environment for learning networking, Proceedings of the sixth conference on Australasian computing education, p.161-168, January 01, 2004, Dunedin, New Zealand
• 18: Kurose, J., Liebeherr, J., Ostermann, S.,&Ott-Boisseau, T. (2002). Curriculum Designs and Education Challenges. ACM SIGCOMM Workshop on Computer Networking.
• 19: Linn, M. C.&Burbules, N. C. (1993) Construction of knowledge and group learning. In Kenneth Tobin (Ed.), The Practice of Constructivism in Science Education, 91--119.
• 20: Alasdair McAndrew, Teaching cryptography with open-source software, Proceedings of the 39th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, March 12-15, 2008, Portland, OR, USA
• 21: Andrew Meneely , Laurie Williams , Edward F. Gehringer, ROSE: a repository of education-friendly open-source projects, Proceedings of the 13th annual conference on Innovation and technology in computer science education, June 30-July 02, 2008, Madrid, Spain
• 22: Merrill, M. D. (1996). Instructional transaction theory: An instructional design model based on knowledge objects. Educational Technology, 36(3), 30--37.
• 23: Minch, R.,&Tabor, S. (2003). Networking Education for the New Economy. Journal of Information Technology Education, Vol 2, 191--217.
• 24: Morgan, C., Erlinger, M., Davoli, R.,&Goldweber, M. (2007). Environments for a Networking Laboratory. 20th Annual Conference of the National Advisory Committee on Computing Qualifications, 53--59.
• 25: Nakagawa, Y., Suda, H., Ukigai, M.,&Miida, Y. (2003). An innovative hands-on laboratory for teaching a networking course. 33rd ASEE/IEEE Frontier in Education Conference, Boulder, CO.
• 26: Thomas L. Naps , Guido Rößling , Vicki Almstrum , Wanda Dann , Rudolf Fleischer , Chris Hundhausen , Ari Korhonen , Lauri Malmi , Myles McNally , Susan Rodger , J. Ángel Velázquez-Iturbide, Exploring the role of visualization and engagement in computer science education, ACM SIGCSE Bulletin, v.35 n.2, June 2003
• 27: Daniel Nelson , Yau Man Ng, Teaching computer networking using open source software, Proceedings of the 5th annual SIGCSE/SIGCUE ITiCSEconference on Innovation and technology in computer science education, p.13-16, July 11-13, 2000, Helsinki, Finland
• 28: David A. Patterson, Computer science education in the 21^st century, Communications of the ACM, v.49 n.3, March 2006 [doi>10.1145/1118178.1118212]
• 29: Pfaffenberger, B.(2000). Linux in Higher Education: Open Source, Open Minds, Social Justice. Linux Journal. March 21, 2000. http://linuxjournal.com/article.php?sid=5071 {accessed February 2009}.
• 30: Reigeluth, C. M. (1983). Instructional Design Theories and Models. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawarence Erlbaum.
• 31: Michael P. Rogers, Working Linux into the CS curriculum, Proceedings of the seventh annual consortium on Computing in small colleges midwestern conference, p.85-91, December 2000, Valparaiso, Indiana, United States
• 32: Sarkar, N. I., Al-Qirim, N. A. Y. (2005). Teaching TCP/IP Networking Using Hands-on Laboratory Experience. The second International Conference on Innovations in Information Technology (IIT'05).
• 33: Seel, N. M.,&Dijkstra, S. (2004). Curriculum, plans, and processes in instructional design: International perspectives. Mahwah, NJ: Erlbaum.
• 34: Peter Steenkiste, A network project course based on network processors, Proceedings of the 34th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, February 19-23, 2003, Reno, Navada, USA
• 35: Linus Torvalds , David Diamond, Just for Fun: The Story of an Accidental Revolutionary, Harper Audio, 2001
• 36: Ken Wong , Tilman Wolf , Sergey Gorinsky , Jonathan Turner, Teaching experiences with a virtual network laboratory, Proceedings of the 38th SIGCSE technical symposium on Computer science education, March 07-11, 2007, Covington, Kentucky, USA
• 37: Wright, J., Carpin, S., Cerpa, A.,&Gavilan, G. (2007). An open Source Teaching and Learning Facility for Computer Science and Engineering Education. FECS 2007, 368--373.
• 38: Ekstrom, J., Gorka, S., Kamali, R., Lawson, E., Lunt, B., Miller, J., Reichgelt, H. (2006). Journal of Information Technology Education. The Information Technology Model Curriculum, 5, 1--19.
• 39: The Information Technology Association of America (ITAA). (2004). Adding Value&Growing Careers, The Employment Outlook in Today's Increasingly Competitive IT Job Market. Retrieved 5 June, 2009, http://www.itaa.org/workforce/docs/04workforcestudy.pdf

INDEX TERMS

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

Additional Classification:
  K. Computing Milieux
  K.3 COMPUTERS AND EDUCATION
      K.3.2 Computer and Information Science Education
          Subjects: Computer science education; Accreditation; Information systems education

General Terms:
Design, Experimentation, Performance

Keywords:
curriculum, laboratory, network