Using a Real Internet-Scale Environment for Protocol Testing in Undergraduate Courses: Students' Behaviour and Feedback

• Published in: International journal of electrical engineering & education 2012-01, Vol.49 (1), p.74-87
• Main Authors: Marquès, Joan Manuel, Juan, Angel A., Pérez-Bonilla, Alejandra, Daradoumis, Thanasis, Lázaro, Daniel, Mondéjar, Rubén
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ability tests; Analysis; anàlisi de dades educatives; análisis de datos educativos; aprendizaje colaborativo asistido por computador; aprenentatge col·laboratiu recolzat per ordinador; CAI; Computer assisted instruction; Computer engineering; computer-supported collaborative learning; Data Analysis; educació basada en internet; educació superior; educación basada en internet; educación superior; educational data analysis; Educational Environment; Electrical engineering; enginyeria de telecomunicació; Ensenyament virtual; Enseñanza virtual; entorno de protocolo-pruebas; entorns de protocol-test; Higher education; ingeniería de telecomunicaciones; Internet; internet-based education; internet-scale systems; Learning Activities; Learning Processes; protocol-testing environments; Real time; sistemas a escala de internet; sistemes a escala d'internet; Students; Surveys; telecommunications engineering; Web-based instruction
• ISSN: 0020-7209; 2050-4578; 2050-4578
• DOI: 10.7227/IJEEE.49.1.6

This paper presents a five-semester experience regarding the use of a real Internet-scale environment for testing protocols and services under realistic conditions. The paper discusses the convenience of using such real environments over other alternatives, i.e. emulated or simulated environments. Since most currently published work focuses primarily on technical specifications of academic testing environments, the paper also argues for the need to carry out studies which analyse students' opinions, performance, and behaviours while using these environments. Accordingly, an exhaustive survey analysis is included. This first analysis is complemented with a second one regarding the way students interact with the system. From both studies, several conclusions and recommendations are derived.