TEACHING COMPUTER NETWORKS THROUGH SIMULATION EXPERIMENTS AND ANIMATION LIBRARY (THE NET-SEAL PROJECT)

University Of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, North Dartmouth MA

Investigators

Abstract

Computer Science (31) Intellectual Merit: The Teaching Computer Networks through Simulation Experiments and Animation Library (NET-SEAL) project is creating curriculum materials which are enabling undergraduates to experiment with computer networks. Using NET-SEAL, students are creating network simulations which use animation to visualize the dynamics of the network protocols. Through a collaboration with a two-year college, the project is addressing the needs of two-year college curriculums by expanding the simulation support to include popular commercial networking components. NET-SEAL engages students with dynamic animations and provides an experimental environment which promotes learning-by-doing. Broader Impact: NET-SEAL is being distributed by a commercial publisher as a supplement to a widely used undergraduate networking textbook.