Increasing Student Involvement with Handson Activities in Online Computer Science Classes

1

• Increasing Student Involvement with Hands-on
  Activities in Online Computer Science Classes
• Dr. Wayne Summers,
• Dr. Bhagyavati,
• Prof. Chris Whitehead
• Columbus State University
• Columbus, GA
• summers_wayne,bhagyavati,whitehead_christopher_at_c
  olstate.edu
• http//csc.colstate.edu/online

2
Introduction

• Different learning styles of students
• Designing and delivering hands-on activities to
  engage the kinesthetic learner are particularly
  challenging in computer science courses
• CHALLENGE - Provide students in Computer Science
  courses the same hands-on experiences that are
  standard in courses taught in a face-to-face
  environment
• "The more engaged the user is, the more likely
  the learning experience is to be positive.1
• 1 "Virtual Labs E-Learning for Tomorrow,"
  Camillan Huang, PLoS Biology, Vol 2, Iss 6, June
  2004

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Agenda

• Computer science assignments using students
  computers
• Computer science assignments developed for the
  virtual lab
• Problems encountered with both types of
  assignments
• Solutions and workaround for the problems
• Repository of hands-on assignments for use in
  online and blended classes

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Computer Science Body of Knowledge
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Security Lab Assignmentsusing student computers

• Elementary Cryptography
• Uses spreadsheets to replicate cryptography
• Program Security
• Requires downloading software
• Computer Forensics
• Requires downloading software and data
• Security Policy Review
• Requires inspecting website and collaboration
  with classmates
• CyberProtect (Network Security Management)
• Requires downloading software or mailing a CD

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Security Lab Assignmentsusing virtual lab

• Firewall Policy
• Uses software that would require reconfiguring
  students computer
• Network Security - Intrusion Detection
• Uses software that students should not be running
  over the Internet

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Problems

• Assignments have to be designed so as not to be
  limited by the students computing resources.
  Students typically have access to only one
  computer and one operating system which limits
  the flexibility in the assignments
• Issues with Software or OS version
• Most students only have access to a Windows
  environment
• Different versions of Visual Studio are not
  directly compatible. This is particularly
  important when using teams because the different
  team members have to have the same version.
• Some of the applications won't work or are
  limited with Windows XP Home edition
• Security issues with software (e.g. SQL Server)
• Unwise to allow students to use their personal
  computers to experiment with security software
• Software coordination problems with teams

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Solutions

• Specify computer requirements at the start of
  class and require students to acknowledge system
  setup
• Limit assignments to those that do not require
  special technology (what about student with
  Win95?)
• Use Simulations / Tutorials instead
• http//csc.colstate.edu/linton/6125.f2003/sockekts
  05.swf
• http//csc.colstate.edu/summers/NOTES/6128/vpn-cli
  ent/default.html
• Use Concurrent Versions System (CVS) / Visual
  SourceSafe for programming

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Solutions

• Use a liveCD Operating System (Knoppix)
• Use virtual machines (VM) to emulate the
  hware/sware of different computers in a network
• VirtualPC (http//www.microsoft.com/windows/virtua
  lpc/default.mspx),
• VMWare (http//www.vmware.com/),
• Planetlab (http//www.planet-lab.org/),
• Emulab (http//www.emulab.net/)
• Virtual network/security lab
• SAIL - Using a Virtual Lab to teach an online
  Information Assurance Program
• Technical problems in the virtual lab

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Computer Security Class Student Agreement

•  I understand that I am taking a class that will
  teach me computer access techniques that can be
  used to break in to, damage or otherwise alter
  ("hack") computer systems. I also understand that
  it is the purpose of the class that this
  knowledge be used to protect information
  resources and not to compromise or destroy them
  or otherwise break any laws or disrupt
  educational, commercial or other activities. Any
  access to a system without the administrator/owner
  s permission is illegal.
• The following actions are clearly not ethical
• Breaking into a computer system without the
  permission of the owner or administrator of that
  computer system.
• Doing anything that substantially interferes with
  other user's access to computer-based services
  (i. e., denial of service attacks).
• Accessing computer-based information without
  appropriate authorization.
• Accessing any computer-based service without
  appropriate authorization.
• Unauthorized monitoring of electronic
  communication.
• I agree that I will not damage, disrupt or access
  any computer systems or other students work
  during this class. I also understand that I will
  be expected to work with other students to test
  security, but I agree that it will always be done
  with their knowledge. I addition I will not
  destroy or damage their work and will let them
  know what I have accessed on their system. I will
  cease accessing their system when asked.
• I understand that if I can not accept these
  terms, I can drop the class with no academic
  penalty. Once accepted, their violation entitles
  the class administrator to administer
  disciplinary consequences if I fail to abide by
  these agreements.

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Other Issues

• Collaborative Work can be enhanced since
  students dont need to physically meet
• Students can be enlisted to help answer questions
  (via asynchronous discussions)
• Assessment of student work
• Can be automated
• May be difficult to upload/download
• CHALLENGE Verification of students

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Summary

• Students need to be provided with hands-on
  assignments
• Many of the problems and solutions are not much
  different from face-to-face classes
• Where there are a unique problems in online and
  blended classes, there are typically a variety of
  solutions
• There are opportunities in an online environment
  that can enhance hands-on opportunities

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Where to Get More Information

• http//csc.colstate.edu/online
• http//csc.colstate.edu/summers/NOTES/6126/
• http//csc.colstate.edu/summers/NOTES/6128/
• http//csc.colstate.edu/summers/NOTES/6136/
• summers_wayne_at_colstate.edu