Collaborative Project: CSR-CSI Making Sensor Networks Accessible to Undergraduates Through Activity-Based Laboratory Materials

传感器网络被认为是“将改变世界的十大新兴技术”之一。教授传感器网络概念是具有挑战性的，因为该领域借鉴了一组不同的计算学科。对于传感器网络编程教育，存在一些“教程”，但其目标受众主要是研究生和专业研究人员。PI的经验表明，这些教程对于本科生来说很难，因为他们没有必要的先决条件知识。在过去，没有实验室练习是适合于这个新的和令人兴奋的领域的活动为基础的教学本科生。为了填补这一空白，这个CSR-CSI项目正在开发示范性的实验室练习在两个机构：刘易斯克拉克学院，一个小型的私人文科院校，和波特兰州立大学，博士-授予研究型大学。在学生、工业顾问和教育顾问的投入下，PI正在开发示范性实验练习，确定适当的主题，澄清先决知识和预备材料，并以适合本科生的格式呈现材料。这项工作的智力价值在于澄清使用和编程传感器网络的先决知识，并为本科生教授这些主题奠定基础。该项目还丰富了美国的科学和工程研究能力，并为本科生提供了基于活动的学习。在为大量少数民族和妇女服务的机构的大学生中测试了这些材料的有效性。

Sensor networks are considered one of the "10 Emerging Technologies That Will Change the World". Teaching sensor network concepts is challenging because the field draws upon a disparate set of computing disciplines. For sensor network programming education, some "tutorials" exist, but their target audience is largely graduate students and professional researchers.The PIs' experience shows that the presentation of these tutorials is difficult for undergraduate students as they do not have the prerequisite knowledge necessary. In the past, no lab exercises were available that are appropriate for activity-based teaching of this new and exciting field to undergraduates.To fill this void, this CSR-CSI project is developing exemplary laboratory exercises at two institutions: Lewis & Clark College, a small private liberal arts institution, and Portland State University, a Ph.D.-granting research university. With input from students, industrial advisors, and an educational consultant, the PIs are developing exemplary lab exercises, identifying topics that are appropriate, clarifying prerequisite knowledge and preparatory material, and presenting the material in a format that is suitable for undergraduates.The intellectual merits of this work are in clarifying the prerequisite knowledge to employing and programming sensor networks, and building a foundation for teaching these topics to undergraduates. This project also enriches the scientific and engineering research capability of the US, and provide undergraduates with activity-based learning. The effectiveness of the materials is tested on undergraduates at institutions serving a large population of minorities and women.