creating an educational tool for computer science students masters project defense ben stroud 1 ben...

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Wireless Sensor Network Simulator

Creating an Educational Tool for Computer Science Students

Masters Project Defense

Ben Stroud

Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense

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Project Goal Introduction Need Addressed Technologies Used Related Work Lessons Learned Challenges Mistakes Demonstration of Application Future Work Deliverables Summary Questions


Presentation Agenda

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Create a tool to educate students about Wireless Sensor Networks◦ Intuitive and Approachable GUI◦ Interactive Scenarios◦ Easy to Install◦ Effective Demonstration of Wireless Sensor Network

Deployment, Formation, and Execution Quantifiable Results Understand Effect of Software in Education


Project Goal

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Definition of a Wireless Sensor Network◦ Similar to Ad-hoc networks◦ Unique Challenges

Node “Death” Conservation of Power

Project goal is to educate, not evaluate


Introduction

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Educators Want to Impart Key Lessons from WSNs How to Do This in an Interesting and Dynamic Way? Software!

◦ Interactive◦ Engaging

Existing Simulators Geared for Research/Development◦ Intimidating◦ Cumbersome◦ Difficult to Install/Interact With


Need Addressed

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Silverlight◦ Multiplatform 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 Flash◦ Created by Microsoft

.NET


Technologies Used

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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# codebase Sliverlight limits the developer to a subset of libraries Application is isolated from the OS Debugging capability in Visual Studios 2010 is lacking

◦ Front-End: Silverlight and WFC controls Traditional web technologies (Javascript, XML, HTML) wrap

new Silverlight controls – based on older WFC technology Fast Execution, but comber-some development

Silverlight


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IDEs◦ Silverlight 4 – Visual Studios 2010, Visual Web

Developer 2008, MS Expression Blend Coding

◦ Languages – any .NET or Dynamic (Ruby, Python etc) language, HTML, JS and more

Deployment◦ Upload XAP (executable) Plus Support Files to

Web Server.◦ Client Side Execution

Silverlight -Developing


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Performance◦Back-End Computing Calculating Prime Numbers (1000000)

Flash –1.259 seconds Silverlight - 0.564 seconds

◦Front End Animation Displaying 50 Rotating Images

Flash – 64 fps 60% CPU Silverlight – 100 fps 45% CPU

Took 80 images to get to 64fps◦ For More Comparisons See Paper

Silverlight - Comparison to Flash


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Implementation on More Platforms (Linux, Android, Windows Mobile, ect)

Hardware Accelerated 3D Support 64-bit support More Advanced Networking Capability Better use of Dynamic Objects More Generic, Less Silverlight Targeted

Code◦ Combine WPF and Silverlight Programming Models

Silverlight –Future DirectionsDevelopment Community


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Better Integration with Visual Studios Better Debugging Capabilities Include all C# libraries More intuitive links between controls and

code More access to the client operating system Make Deployment Application Behavior

Exactly Like Development Behavior

Silverlight – Future DirectionsMy Findings


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Comparative Study of Wireless Network Simulators◦ Lessmann J. et al., 2008.◦ Survey of Existing Wireless Network Simulators

Sensor Network Component Based Simulator◦ Chen, G., Szymanski B., 2007.◦ Compiled Research Oriented Simulator

JavaSim◦ Java Based Generic Network Simulator◦ Not tailored for WSNs

Current UCCS Wireless Network Simulator◦ Static – not Interactive


Related Work - Simulators


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Mixed Findings Meta Study by University of Michigan

◦ Analyzed 254 studies◦ Shows that Computer Aided Learning usually

Increases Test Scores◦ Increase from 50th to 62nd Percentile

Study by DoE◦ More Recent◦ Analyzed ◦ Only Found One

Related Work - Effectiveness of Software in Education

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Related Work - Bloom’s Taxonomy


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Deeper WSN understanding Limitations of Discovery Learning

Must be paired with instruction Lack of Student Participation Technology

◦ Debugging◦ Creating Multi-Page Application◦ Linking Front End Code to Backend◦ Learning New Language◦ Lack of Full C# codebase Support


Lessons Learned

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Discovery Learning◦ Little to no instructor lead activities◦ Student explores independently◦ Advocates claim deeper understanding and higher level

of engagement Exclusive Discovery Learning has been shown in

some studies to be less effective than traditional learning

Blending 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

Lessons Learned – Limitations of Discovery Learning


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Learning new languages/technologies◦ Lots of research◦ Trial and error

Creating a reusable framework (Application Design)◦ Well thought out OO approach◦ Meaningful Objects and Lots of Documentation

Understanding relationship between education and software

Creating a meaningful assessment tool based on educational research◦ Research – Bloom’s Taxonomy◦ Unable to integrate into the Application

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 Research

Assuming Classmates Would be More Responsive

Not Enough Focus on Early, Detailed Software Architectural Design

Mistakes Made


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URL


Demonstration of Application

http://stroudspot.com/public_html/WSNSim/WSNSimTestPage.html

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More Algorithms More realistic/complex simulations

◦ 3d terrain◦ Obstacles/Objects (Weighted lines)◦ GPS capability

Lesson Plan to Include Application in Course Integrate Survey with Application


Future Work

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Proposal◦ Document and Presentation

Software Requirements Specification Design Documentation User Documentation Software

◦ Source Code and Deployable Web Components Survey Defense Presentation Final Project Document Presentation Viewgraphs


Project Deliverables

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Created an Educational Tool◦ Helps Students Learn about WSNs◦ Easy to Use◦ Current Technology◦ Extensible

Explored How to Evaluate Educational Techniques Explored Effectiveness of Software in Education Explored Best Practices for Utilizing Discovery

Learning Identified Additional Work to be Done


Summary

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Questions?


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