3/23/2007Education Technology Presentation 2007 1 Creating an Interactive Online Tutorial (for Grid...

3/23/2007 Education Technology Presentation 2007

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Creating an Interactive Online Tutorial (for Grid Computing)

PI: Dr. Bina RamamurthyComputer Science and Engineering Dept.Graduate Student: Surabhi AbhayankarUndergraduate Student: Min Suk ChaThis project is partially supported byEducational Technology Grant of University at Buffalo and NSF DUE CCLI A&I 0311473

http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~bina/gridforce/first.htm


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Abstract

Learn about the creation of the Visual Grid tutorial (ViGor) developed as part of a recent UB Educational Technology Grant. This project introduces a user-friendly visual learning tool for the emerging area of grid computing and technology. Professor Ramamurthy will discuss how this interactive tutorial has affected her students’ learning. She will also provide insight about her experiences regarding the UB Ed Tech Grant process.


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Scope of this talk

• Grid computing

• Visual Grid Tutorial (ViGOR tool)

• My experience in creating this tool– Will discuss how to get there rather than a

particular solution

• My experiences with ETC grant process


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Introduction: Grid Computing

• Grid computing offers an open and standard framework for integrating resources and computations across distributed, heterogeneous and dynamic organizations.

• It is an emerging technology that is expected to provide scalable solutions for a wide range complex scientific problems.– Examples: drug discovery, advanced weather

prediction models; modeling spreading of avian flu; financial portfolio management; space applications


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Teaching Grid Computing

• NSF CCLI (Course, Curriculum, Laboratory and Instruction) grant NSF DUE CCLI A&I 0311473

• Two courses CSE486/CSE487• Industrial training• Guest lectures at Erie Community College, National

Conferences• Abundant text material generated: project GridForce

(192 pages of pdf)• Yet something was missing…Dissemination of

information was not easy• We needed visual tool for attracting student audience

and non–domain users

http://www.nsf.gov/pubs/2007/nsf07543/nsf07543.htm

http://www.cse.buffalo.edu/~bina/gridforce/first.htm


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Problems Addressed

• While the grid can solve a wide range of problems, lack of a proper learning tool was hiding its real worth and impairing its growth and application.

• To address these problems, we designed and implemented a Visual Grid Tutorial (ViGOR) tool to disseminate to grid concepts and application models.


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ViGOR Tool

ViGOR tool exposes grid concepts at three levels of detail:

1. Executive Summary• High level information

2. Basic Concepts • Architectural details and building blocks enabling a

grid

3. Grid Programming• Programming models with optional code details


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Tool Screen Shot


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ViGOR1.0

http://www.eng.buffalo.edu/Research/VIGOR/index.html


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Design Details

• Fully animated visual tour of the concepts presented at three levels.

• The levels presented are embedded within each other and one can easily navigate among the three.


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Implementation Details

• Vector graphics offered by Flash and the related e-learning support offered by Macromedia worked in favor of choosing Flash as the basic medium for development of ViGOR.

• ViGOR has been developed as a stand alone, web-accessible tool.


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Grid Computing Concepts Illustrated in VIGOR

• Different types of grid• Core services offered by the grid

– soft-state management, notification, service data, routing, logging and virtualization

• System level services– Security and job execution

• Higher level services– Storage services, information services and resource

framework

• Application models• Programming models


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Broader Impact

• Provide a healthy support for the growth of grid. • Present a visual tour of the grid technology.• Offer an appealing façade to motivate

undergraduates and visual learners to explore the grid.

• Adaptable, independent, and easily accessible medium.

• Framework for collaboration among grid computing specialists and domain experts.


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Measures of Success for ViGOR

• ViGOR is a unique project that showcases grid technology.

• Learning tool ViGOR will complement the grid curriculum effort that is underway at UB and elsewhere.

• We are using it in CS486/586 for introducing grid computing (“easy transition”).

• We used ViGOR to introduce grid computing to EAS230 students (“cool”).

• Convenient tool for discussing the project with prospective collaborators and sponsors.


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The Real Measures of Success

• The learning process and the interaction with ETC – Weekly meetings Monthly meetings– Hopeless start to a decent tool– Very ambitious plan to a achievable goal : “server-based”

architecture to a “web-based tool”– Conceptualization, technology selection, support – Constructive reviews and trouble shooting – Team support from ETC’s Tom and Robin– Support material: books to professional tools

• Financial support for a graduate student (ViGOR1.0)• Undergraduate student worked on ViGOR1.2 and

exhibited it in UB’s Annual Celebration of Academic Excellence in Undergraduate Research; he is a graduate student now.


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ViGOR Version 2

• Improved visual appeal: Version1.0 was still textual

• More content added: grid computing area is vast


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ViGOR1.0ViGOR1.2

http://www.eng.buffalo.edu/Research/VIGOR/index.html

http://www.eng.buffalo.edu/~mcha


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My Involvement in ETC• 2003/2004: Attended many workshops offered by Etc.

– Etc. offers some valuable workshops, services and facilities– Macromedia series

• 2005: attended Etc. showcase to observe projects and results of EdTech Round 6 (2004) grants

• June 2005: applied for Etc. grant • 2005/2006: (Grant approved)

– Project ViGOR design and implementation– Frequent meetings with Etc. folks Tom and Robin– Completed the project ViGOR(1.0, 1.2)

• 2006: Presented at the Etc. showcase• 2006: Attended ”Blogging” workshop and “Blended Learning”

webinar• 2007: Presentation on making of ViGOR (Today)


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Grant Details

• ETC grant proposal round 7, June 2005• Proposal was written with an urgent need• Request for all $9000 max allowed• Budget requested:

– $6600 (max allowed) of it for a student to implement ViGOR– $2400 some for software + some for travel to publicize the tool

• (A panel of peers discuss the proposals and make selections)

• Etc director + Tom + I met to discuss project & budget• Project scope scaled down and budget scaled down to

$5500; I requested all of it for the student.


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http://www.eng.buffalo.edu/~mcha

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