Creating an Interactive Online Tutorial (for Grid Computing)

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Creating an Interactive Online Tutorial (for Grid
Computing)

• PI Dr. Bina Ramamurthy
• Computer Science and Engineering Dept.
• Graduate Student Surabhi Abhayankar
• Undergraduate Student Min Suk Cha
• This project is partially supported by
• Educational Technology Grant of
• University at Buffalo and
• NSF DUE CCLI AI 0311473

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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 AI 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 missingDissemination of
  information was not easy
• We needed visual tool for attracting student
  audience and nondomain users

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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
• Executive Summary
• High level information
• Basic Concepts
• Architectural details and building blocks
  enabling a grid
• Grid Programming
• Programming models with optional code details

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Tool Screen Shot
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ViGOR1.0
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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 ETCs 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 UBs 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
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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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