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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
Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense
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
Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense
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
Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense
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
Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense
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
Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense
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
Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense
Related Work - Simulators
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Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense
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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
Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense
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
Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense
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URL
Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense
Demonstration of Application
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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
Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense
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
Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense
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
Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense
Summary
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Questions?
Ben Stroud Masters Project Defense