Creating an Educational Tool for Computer Science Students Masters Project Defense Ben Stroud 1 Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense Project Goal Introduction Need Addressed Technologies Used ID: 402699
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Wireless Sensor Network Simulator
Creating an Educational Tool for Computer Science StudentsMasters Project DefenseBen Stroud
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Ben Stroud Masters Project DefenseSlide2
Project Goal
IntroductionNeed AddressedTechnologies UsedRelated Work
Lessons Learned
Challenges
MistakesDemonstration of ApplicationFuture WorkDeliverablesSummaryQuestions
Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense
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Presentation AgendaSlide3
Create a tool to educate students about Wireless Sensor Networks
Intuitive and Approachable GUIInteractive ScenariosEasy to InstallEffective Demonstration of Wireless Sensor Network Deployment, Formation, and Execution
Quantifiable ResultsUnderstand Effect of Software in Education
Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense
3Project GoalSlide4
Definition of a Wireless Sensor Network
Similar to Ad-hoc networksUnique ChallengesNode “Death”Conservation of PowerProject goal is to educate, not evaluate
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IntroductionSlide5
Educators Want to Impart Key Lessons from WSNs
How to Do This in an Interesting and Dynamic Way?Software!InteractiveEngagingExisting Simulators Geared for Research/Development
Intimidating
Cumbersome
Difficult to Install/Interact WithBen Stroud Masters Project Defense5Need AddressedSlide6
SilverlightMultiplatform application framework
Allows for interactive multimedia and animations on the front end Powerful traditional application or web oriented backend.Designed primarily for web based applications; Similar to FlashCreated by Microsoft.NET
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Technologies UsedSlide7
Silverlight
Backend: .NET (C#) – Object Oriented. Somewhere between C++ and Java – Makes creating applications for the web easy and increases the reusability of code.Don’t have access to the complete C# codebaseSliverlight limits the developer to a subset of librariesApplication is isolated from the OSDebugging capability in Visual Studios 2010 is lacking
Front-End: Silverlight and WFC controlsTraditional web technologies (Javascript, XML, HTML) wrap new Silverlight controls – based on older WFC technology
Fast Execution, but comber-some development
7SilverlightBen Stroud Masters Project DefenseSlide8
IDEs
Silverlight 4 – Visual Studios 2010, Visual Web Developer 2008, MS Expression BlendCodingLanguages – any .NET or Dynamic (Ruby, Python etc) language, HTML, JS and moreDeploymentUpload XAP (executable) Plus Support Files to Web Server.Client Side Execution8
Silverlight -Developing
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PerformanceBack-End Computing
Calculating Prime Numbers (1000000)Flash –1.259 secondsSilverlight - 0.564 secondsFront End AnimationDisplaying 50 Rotating ImagesFlash – 64 fps 60% CPUSilverlight – 100 fps 45% CPUTook 80 images to get to 64fpsFor More Comparisons See Paper
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Silverlight - Comparison to Flash
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Implementation on More Platforms (Linux, Android, Windows Mobile, ect
)Hardware Accelerated 3D Support64-bit supportMore Advanced Networking CapabilityBetter use of Dynamic ObjectsMore Generic, Less Silverlight Targeted CodeCombine WPF and Silverlight Programming Models10
Silverlight –Future Directions
Development Community
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Better Integration with Visual Studios
Better Debugging CapabilitiesInclude all C# librariesMore intuitive links between controls and codeMore access to the client operating systemMake Deployment Application Behavior Exactly Like Development Behavior11
Silverlight – Future Directions
My FindingsBen Stroud Masters Project DefenseSlide12
Comparative Study of Wireless Network Simulators
Lessmann J. et al., 2008.Survey of Existing Wireless Network SimulatorsSensor Network Component Based SimulatorChen, G., Szymanski B., 2007.
Compiled Research Oriented Simulator
JavaSim
Java Based Generic Network SimulatorNot tailored for WSNsCurrent UCCS Wireless Network SimulatorStatic – not InteractiveBen Stroud Masters Project Defense
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Related
Work - SimulatorsSlide13
Mixed FindingsMeta Study by University of Michigan
Analyzed 254 studiesShows that Computer Aided Learning usually Increases Test ScoresIncrease from 50th to 62nd PercentileStudy by DoEMore RecentAnalyzed Only Found One
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Related Work - Effectiveness of Software in EducationSlide14
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Related Work - Bloom’s Taxonomy
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Deeper WSN understanding
Limitations of Discovery LearningMust be paired with instructionLack of Student ParticipationTechnologyDebugging
Creating Multi-Page ApplicationLinking Front End Code to BackendLearning New Language
Lack of Full C# codebase Support
Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense15Lessons LearnedSlide16
Discovery LearningLittle to n
o instructor lead activitiesStudent explores independentlyAdvocates claim deeper understanding and higher level of engagementExclusive Discovery Learning has been shown in some studies to be less effective than traditional learningBlending Discovery Learning with traditional learning has been shown to yield the best results.This is the recommended approach when using this software as a teaching aid
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Lessons Learned – Limitations of Discovery Learning
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Learning new languages/technologies
Lots of researchTrial and errorCreating a reusable framework (Application Design)Well thought out OO approachMeaningful Objects and Lots of DocumentationUnderstanding relationship between education and softwareCreating a meaningful assessment tool based on educational researchResearch – Bloom’s TaxonomyUnable to integrate into the Application
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Challenges
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Assuming Creating Web Applications using Silverlight would be Similar to Creating Other Windows Applications
Not Enough Up-Front Focus on Educational ResearchAssuming Classmates Would be More ResponsiveNot Enough Focus on Early, Detailed Software Architectural Design18
Mistakes Made
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URL
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Demonstration of ApplicationSlide20
More Algorithms
More realistic/complex simulations3d terrainObstacles/Objects (Weighted lines)GPS capabilityLesson Plan to Include Application in Course
Integrate Survey with Application
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20Future WorkSlide21
Proposal
Document and PresentationSoftware Requirements SpecificationDesign DocumentationUser DocumentationSoftware
Source Code and Deployable Web ComponentsSurvey
Defense Presentation
Final Project DocumentPresentation ViewgraphsBen Stroud Masters Project Defense21
Project DeliverablesSlide22
Created an Educational Tool
Helps Students Learn about WSNsEasy to UseCurrent TechnologyExtensibleExplored How to Evaluate Educational Techniques
Explored Effectiveness of Software in EducationExplored Best Practices for Utilizing Discovery Learning
Identified Additional Work to be Done
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Questions?
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