Using Inexpensive Microclusters and Accessible Materials for Cost-Effective Parallel and Distributed Computing Education
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Authors
Adams, Joel C.
Matthews, Suzanne J.
Shoop, Elizabeth
Toth, David
Wolfer, James
Issue Date
2017-12
Type
journal-article
Language
Keywords
Beowulf clusters , microcluster , Computer Science , Distributed Parallel , Education , Teaching
Alternative Title
Abstract
With parallel and distributed computing (PDC) now in the core CS curriculum, CS educators are building new pedagogical tools to teach their students about this cutting-edge area of computing. In this paper, we present an innovative approach we call microclusters – personal, portable Beowulf clusters – that provide students with hands-on PDC learning experiences. We present several different microclusters, each built using a different combination of single board comput ers (SBCs) as its compute nodes, including various ODROID models, Nvidia’s Jetson TK1, Adapteva’s Parallella, and the Raspberry Pi. We explore different ways that CS educators are using these systems in their teaching, and describe specific courses in which CS educators have used microclusters. Finally, we present an overview of sources of free PDC pedagogical materials that can be used with microclusters.
Description
Citation
Adams et al., “Using Inexpensive Microclusters and Accessible Materials for Cost-Effective Parallel and Distributed Computing Education.”
Publisher
The Shodor Education Foundation, Inc.
License
Journal
Volume
Issue
PubMed ID
ISSN
2153-4136