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Creating and Implementing Cloud-Based Simulations

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Conference

2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition

Location

Vancouver, BC

Publication Date

June 26, 2011

Start Date

June 26, 2011

End Date

June 29, 2011

ISSN

2153-5965

Conference Session

Simulation

Tagged Division

Computers in Education

Page Count

11

Page Numbers

22.393.1 - 22.393.11

DOI

10.18260/1-2--17674

Permanent URL

https://peer.asee.org/17674

Download Count

447

Paper Authors

biography

Joe Guarino Boise State University

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Joe Guarino is a Professor of Mechanical and Biomedical Engineering at Boise State University. His research interests include educational aspects of cloud computing, vibrations, acoustics, and dynamics.

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Seung Youn Chyung Boise State University

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Seung Youn (Yonnie) Chyung is a Professor in the Department of Instructional and Performance Technology in the College of Engineering at Boise State University. She teaches graduate-level courses on evaluation methodology and e-learning. Her research interests include the development of self-regulated e-learning strategies for adult learners and the pedagogical use of technology.

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Charles Adams Boise State University

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Charles Adams
Undergraduate Research Assistant
Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering
Boise State University
Boise, ID

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Rey DeLeon Boise State University, Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering Department

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Anthony Rey DeLeon is graduate research assistant with the Mechanical & Biomedical Engineering Department at Boise State University. His current research involves GPU-accelerated computational fluid dynamics. Past research included the software development of MATLAB simulations for abstract math concepts deployed on cloud computing resources.

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Marion Scheepers Boise State University, Department of Mathematics

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Educational Background:
Ph.D. in Mathematics (1988) from The University of Kansas.
Advisor: Fred Galvin.

Current Employment:
Professor, Department of Mathematics,
Boise State University,
Boise, ID 83725

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Francisco Castellon Boise State University

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Michael G. Wiedenfeld Kuna High School

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Michael Wiedenfeld has taught science at Kuna High School in Kuna Idaho for 20+ years. Michael currently teaches Chemistry and Introductory Research/Pre-Engineering.
Michael earned his masters degree in Educational Technology from Boise State University in 2002 and his undergraduate degree in secondary education (Emphasis: Physics) from the University of Idaho in 1989.
Michael has served on the Idaho Science Teachers Association board for nine years including as President in 2005. Michael currently serves as the Kuna School District Science Curriculum Chair and the Kuna High School STEM academy coordinator.
Michael has taught numerous teacher training workshops on the integration of technology into the classroom to k-12 teachers.

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Paul Williams Boise State University

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Abstract

Creating and Implementing Cloud-Based Simulations to Enhance a Multivariable Calculus CourseThe Cloud resource at our university was used to enhance a large section of Multivariable andVector Calculus (MATH 275) taken by engineering majors. This section was developed to dealwith rapidly-increasing engineering enrollment. Our hypothesis was that curricula could besuccessfully delivered to a very large class (120 students) by augmenting instruction with Cloudresources and Clicker technology. Interactive exercises, hosted on the Cloud, were assignedinstead of traditional text-based homework. Exercises were developed by a team of faculty andgraduate students funded by a Hewlett-Packard Labs grant. Exercises were created usingMATLABTM and Working ModelTM software. Student satisfaction and perception of learningwere measured using Clicker-based surveys associated with each exercise.Cloud computing resources hosted on university workstations provide access to licensedsoftware used by STEM students, such as MATLABTM, Working ModelTM, and SolidWorksTM.University students access the Cloud resource using the same user id’s and passwords that theyuse to access other University resources. Remote Graphics Software (RGS), available fromHewlett-Packard, enables students to remotely access any software made available to them onthe Cloud. Moreover, RGS enables the students to work together on the same file. Finally, RGSSender software enables the host computer to do most of the video processing, so that the remoteuser can run graphics-intensive software using a low-end PC or thin client without performanceimpairment. The Cloud was hosted on 16 Blade servers provided by a Hewlett-PackardInnovations in Engineering (IOE) award.In order to take full advantage of the Cloud resource, exercises must be properly structured to beboth interactive and team-based. Therefore, we developed a rubric for creating topic-focusedsimulations which strongly encouraged teamwork. We found that the simulations wereaugmented by a communications mechanism such as Google Chat or Google Wave, whichenabled the team to interact using an open chat window. Further, our team developed a routinewhich automatically graded and recorded student work on each exercise. Our project will resultin a suggested template for creating Cloud-based STEM activities.

Guarino, J., & Chyung, S. Y., & Adams, C., & DeLeon, R., & Scheepers, M., & Castellon, F., & Wiedenfeld, M. G., & Williams, P. (2011, June), Creating and Implementing Cloud-Based Simulations Paper presented at 2011 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Vancouver, BC. 10.18260/1-2--17674

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