An Integrated Structure for a Virtual Networking Laboratory

Author

Prieto-Blázquez, Josep ; Arnedo-Moreno, Joan ; Herrera-Joancomartí, Jordi

Author_Institution

Dept. of Comput. Sci. & Multimedia, Open Univ. of Catalonia, Barcelona

Volume

55

Issue

6

fYear

2008

fDate

6/1/2008 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2334

Lastpage

2342

Abstract

A virtual laboratory is a virtual space where students are able to carry out practical activities. This paper presents an integrated structure for a virtual laboratory consisting on nine resources divided into pedagogical, human, and technological factors. Such a structure is based on the experience gained in design and development of virtual laboratories during the past 11 years in a virtual university. The proposed structure has been applied to different virtual laboratories, and this paper presents the special case of a virtual networking laboratory (VNLab) where students can access real networking devices. The VNLab structure described in this paper has been used at the Open University of Catalonia for the Cisco Networking Academic since 2001. Its suitability has been evaluated by the students using a Web questionnaire, and its correctness for the industrial electronics field has been analyzed.

Keywords

computer aided instruction; educational courses; groupware; laboratories; telecommunication computing; telecommunication engineering education; telecommunication networks; VNLab integrated structure; networking courses; virtual networking laboratory; virtual university; Cisco NETLAB+; networking laboratory activities; remote laboratory; virtual laboratory; virtual learning environment; virtual learning environment (VLE); virtual networking laboratory; virtual networking laboratory (VNLab);

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Industrial Electronics, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0278-0046

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/TIE.2008.921231

Filename

4475514