Increasing Student Involvement with Hands-on Activities in Online Computer Science Classes

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• 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

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Introduction

• Different learning styles of students
• Designing and delivering hands-on activities to
  engage the kinesthetic learner are particularly
  challenging in computer science courses
• Provide students in Computer Science courses the
  same hands-on experiences that are standard in
  courses taught in a face-to-face environment

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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
Discrete Structures Programming Fundamentals Algorithms and Complexity Architecture and Organization Operating Systems Net-Centric Computing Programming Languages http//csc.colstate.edu/online/ Human-Computer Interaction Graphics and Visual Computing Intelligent Systems Information Management Social and Professional Issues Software Engineering Computer and Network Security
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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 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
• Unwise to allow students to use their personal
  computers to experiment with security software
• 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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Solutions

• Limit assignments to those that do not require
  special technology
• Use virtual machines (VM) to emulate the hardware
  of different computers in a network
• 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

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Summary

• Students in online and blended courses can be
  provided with hands-on assignments
• There are a variety of solutions

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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