Increasing Student Involvement with Hands-on 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]@colstate.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

3. 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

4. Computer Science Body of Knowledge

5. 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

6. Security Lab Assignmentsusing virtual lab • Firewall Policy • Uses software that would require reconfiguring student’s computer • Network Security - Intrusion Detection • Uses software that students should not be running over the Internet

7. 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

8. 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/sockekts05.swf • http://csc.colstate.edu/summers/NOTES/6128/vpn-client/default.html • Use Concurrent Versions System (CVS) / Visual SourceSafe for programming

9. Solutions • Use a liveCD Operating System (Knoppix) • Use virtual machines (VM) to emulate the h’ware/s’ware of different computers in a network • VirtualPC (http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/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

10. 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/owners 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.

11. Other Issues • Collaborative Work – can be enhanced since students don’t 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

12. 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

13. 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@colstate.edu