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Illustrating Networking Concepts with Wireless Handheld Devices

Illustrating Networking Concepts with Wireless Handheld Devices. Brad Richards & Nate Waisbrot Computer Science Department Vassar College. Project Overview. Writing custom apps for Cybiko “PDA for Kids” Wireless communication Illustrate selected topics via hands-on lab sessions

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Illustrating Networking Concepts with Wireless Handheld Devices

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  1. Illustrating Networking Concepts with Wireless Handheld Devices Brad Richards & Nate Waisbrot Computer Science Department Vassar College

  2. Project Overview • Writing custom apps for Cybiko • “PDA for Kids” • Wireless communication • Illustrate selected topics via hands-on lab sessions • Students interact with each other through Cybiko apps • Each has a Cybiko • Participate by sending routing info, data, etc. • Process orchestrated by an administrator • Funded by NSF CCLI grant ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002

  3. Overview of Talk • Motivation & Example • Cybiko Details • Project Status • Experiences • Ongoing Work ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002

  4. Motivation • Wanted easy way to introduce routing details • Had traditionally been a lecture-only topic • Was difficult to hold students’ interest • Hard to respond quickly to “what if” questions • Considered using simulator • Lots of good tools available • Often much more detailed than required • Non-trivial learning curve • Cybiko applications • Students enjoy interactive nature • Can arrange students to match virtual topology • Can be used in any setting ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002

  5. Students can: Send short text msgs Send DVs to neighbors Ping neighbors Display routing table Clear routing table Toggle msg forwarding Also displays: Incoming text msgs Arriving DVs Details on forwarding Administrator can: Change parameters: Split Horizon Split w/poison reverse Triggered Updates Force optimal routes “Kill” nodes Change NW topology Example: Distance-Vector Routing ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002

  6. Cybiko Details • Basic PDA applications • Wireless RF communications (19.2 Kbps) • Cheap! (US $30 for Classic) • Full QWERTY keyboard • Grayscale LCD display • 1 MB memory (expandable) • Tethers to PC to download apps, etc. • Free Software Development Kit • Book also available ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002

  7. Project Status • Routing applications finished • Flooding, Distance-Vector, Link-State • Lab materials available for faculty • Source code as well • Materials used with several groups: • My undergraduate Networks course, Fall 2001 • High-school students, Fall 2001 • Max Hailperin’s Networks course, Spring 2002 ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002

  8. Experiences • Did controlled study in Fall 2001 • Total of only 17 students (7 women, 7 of color) • Introduced routing algorithms in lecture • Gave assessment exam • Some concepts, some specific routing questions • Randomly split group into two halves • 8 Students got additional, more specific lecture • 9 Students covered same material via Cybiko • Gave same assessment exam again • Both groups improved, Cybiko more • Cybiko: 83103 (24%), 33% on detailed probs. • Lecture: 86100 (16%), 15% on detailed probs. ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002

  9. Experiences (cont’d) • Cybiko group wanted more examples • Both groups were asked if they wanted more • Could specify Flooding, DV, Link-State Routing • Most popular answer in lecture group: zero • Two and three were popular with Cybiko group ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002

  10. Experiences (cont’d) • My conclusion: • Cybiko students learned at least as well • Had more fun doing it • Max Hailperin’s experiences less positive • Used with 24 students • Had some hardware, user-interface difficulties • We’ve worked to address most concerns • Concluded that it didn’t add anything • Still, did say: “ability to match our collective wits against reality was the strongest positive aspect” ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002

  11. Ongoing Work • Currently working on apps for wireless NW • Demonstrate contention for shared channel • Hope to illustrate • Traditional Ethernet • ALOHA • WiFi (802.11) • Progress slower than anticipated… ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002

  12. Summary • Using inexpensive wireless devices • Demonstrate concepts interactively • Can incorporate by: • Using our applications in lab • Removing some of our code, students supply • Extend our framework in new directions • See www.cs.vassar.edu/cybiko • Demonstration on Wednesday ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002

  13. ITiCSE 2002, 6/24/2002

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