MIT iLabs:MIT iLabs:Laboratories Without FrontiersLaboratories Without Frontiers

JesJesύύs A. del Alamos A. del Alamo

MITMIT

4th Annual MIT LINC International Symposium4th Annual MIT LINC International Symposium: : Technology-Enabled Education: A Catalyst for Technology-Enabled Education: A Catalyst for Positive ChangePositive Change

October 27-30, 2007 October 27-30, 2007

Sponsorship: Carnegie Corp. of New York, NSF, Microsoft Corp.Sponsorship: Carnegie Corp. of New York, NSF, Microsoft Corp.

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Motivation to iLabsMotivation to iLabs

There is enormous educational value in hands-on laboratory experiences

But, conventional labs… … are expensive and have complex logistics … can’t easily be shared

iLabs: real laboratories that are accessed through the Internet from anywhere at any time

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iLabs at MIT iLabs at MIT

Microelectronics device characterization (EECS, deployed 1998)

Shake table (Civil Eng., deployed 2004)

Dynamic signal analyzer (EECS, deployed 2004)

Polymer crystallization (Chem. E., deployed 2003)

Heat exchanger (Chem. E., deployed 2001)

ELVIS (EECS, deployed 2006)

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Microelectronics Device Microelectronics Device Characterization iLabCharacterization iLab

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Typical AssignmentTypical AssignmentTransistor characterization project:Transistor characterization project:

Measure transistor characteristics Extract transistor parameters Compare measurements with class models

Also, do whatever else you want with the transistor…

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iLab CapacityiLab Capacity

exercise out on Friday exercise due on Friday

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Oct. 13-20, 2000 (~100 students)

• When do students carry out their assignment?

• What is the lab system capacity?

Oct. 13-20, 2000 (~100 students)

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iLab CapacityiLab Capacity

exercise out on Friday exercise due on Friday

System capacity: > 2,000 users/week > 15,000 experiments/week

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Friday Saturday Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday

Oct. 13-20, 2000 (~100 students)

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over 5400 student users over 5400 student users (for credit) since 1998 (for credit) since 1998 from 4 different from 4 different continentscontinents

iLab iLab UseUse

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1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

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MIT graduate

MIT undergraduate

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iLab: the OpportunitiesiLab: the Opportunities Order of magnitude more laboratories available to Order of magnitude more laboratories available to

our studentsour students Unique labs: Unique labs:

Unusual locations, expensive equipment, rare Unusual locations, expensive equipment, rare materialsmaterials

Rich pedagogical experiences:Rich pedagogical experiences: More lab time available to studentsMore lab time available to students GUI to lab integrating graphing, simulation, GUI to lab integrating graphing, simulation,

collaboration, tutoringcollaboration, tutoring Worldwide communities of scholars created Worldwide communities of scholars created

around labs sharing contentaround labs sharing content

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iLab: the ChallengesiLab: the Challenges

Developing an iLab from scratch is a lot of work!Developing an iLab from scratch is a lot of work! Great attention needed to user scalabilityGreat attention needed to user scalability Needs to be done by domain specialistNeeds to be done by domain specialist

Managing a broadly shared iLab is also a lot of Managing a broadly shared iLab is also a lot of work!work! Disincentive for owner to share labDisincentive for owner to share lab

Key challenge: Key challenge: iLab ScalabilityiLab Scalability

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The MIT iLab ArchitectureThe MIT iLab Architecture

Lab ServerService BrokerClient

Campus network Internet

Three tier architecture:Three tier architecture: Lab ServerLab Server: brings experimental setup online: brings experimental setup online ClientClient: GUI to lab: GUI to lab Service BrokerService Broker: :

Serves GUI, mediates between Client and Lab ServerServes GUI, mediates between Client and Lab Server Performs generic functions (user management, data storage)Performs generic functions (user management, data storage)

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The MIT iLab ArchitectureThe MIT iLab Architecture

Lab ServerService BrokerClient

Campus network Internet

Development responsibilities:Development responsibilities: Lab Server, Client: Lab Server, Client:

Educator heavily involved in developmentEducator heavily involved in development Registered with Service Brokers around WorldRegistered with Service Brokers around World

Service Broker: Service Broker: Developed by MIT, open sourceDeveloped by MIT, open source Has well defined software interfacesHas well defined software interfaces

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The MIT iLab ArchitectureThe MIT iLab Architecture

Lab ServerService BrokerClient

Campus network Internet

Management responsibilities:Management responsibilities: Lab management (i.e. lab policy): Lab management (i.e. lab policy):

performed by lab providerperformed by lab provider

User management performed at Service Broker:User management performed at Service Broker: User registration, authenticationUser registration, authentication User data storage and archivingUser data storage and archiving Responsibility of user’s institutionResponsibility of user’s institution

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Unique Issues for iLabs Unique Issues for iLabs in developing countriesin developing countries

Opportunities:Opportunities: Paucity of labsPaucity of labs Great need for engineersGreat need for engineers

Challenges:Challenges: Limited access to networked computers and Limited access to networked computers and

educational software toolseducational software tools Limited appreciation of versatility of computerLimited appreciation of versatility of computer Severe bandwidth limitationsSevere bandwidth limitations

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Bandwidth limitationsBandwidth limitations(example: Makerere University, Kampala)(example: Makerere University, Kampala)

satellite gateway to Internet

campus wide single-mode optical fiber (2 Gb/s)

metropolitan network (total campus bandwidth=21 Mb/s)

academic buildings networked at 10/100 Mb/s

For comparison, MIT’s bandwidth is 8 Gb/s (all data for Nov. 2006)

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• Limited reach of optical fiber systemsLimited reach of optical fiber systems

• Limited national networksLimited national networks

• Similar problems in other regions in the WorldSimilar problems in other regions in the World

World Submarine Optical Fiber SystemsWorld Submarine Optical Fiber Systems

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Consequences for iLabs Consequences for iLabs (and other rich educational resources)(and other rich educational resources)

Need to deploy educational resources locally

Solutions engineered in the developed world not necessarily effective across digital divide

need to engage developing countries in educational technology innovation

Pedagogy likely to be different in bandwidth starved situations

need to be ready to experiment and modify

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Local Service BrokersLocal Service Brokers

Average Applet download time at OAU reduced from 79” to 22”

student results stored locally

applet delivered by local service broker

Installed at OAU, MUK and UDSM

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iLab development in AfricaiLab development in Africa

OAU Opamp iLab

Kayode Ayodele (OAU, Nigeria)

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Sustainability- Sustainability- The iLab ConsortiumThe iLab Consortium

Higher EdHigher Ed

Commerce Commerce & Industry& Industry

Foundation, Foundation, NonNon--Profit & Profit & GovernmentGovernment

KK--1212

Higher EdHigher Ed

Commerce Commerce & Industry& Industry

Foundation, Foundation, NonNon--Profit & Profit & GovernmentGovernment

KK--1212

Need for an iLab Consortium:Need for an iLab Consortium:

to create an efficient market to create an efficient market place for sharing and trading place for sharing and trading access to iLabsaccess to iLabs

to support communities of to support communities of scholars created around iLabsscholars created around iLabs

to lead evolution of iLab to lead evolution of iLab ArchitectureArchitecture

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ConclusionsConclusions

iLabs will enhance science and engineering education

iLabs and their educational content will be broadly shared around the world

iLabs can provide a path for the developed world to support education in the developing world

iLab Architecture: scalable framework to support iLab dissemination around the world

““If You Can’t Come to the Lab… If You Can’t Come to the Lab… the Lab Will Come to You!”the Lab Will Come to You!”

(Earth at 89 GHz; courtesy of J. Grahn, Chalmers U.)