Jordan University of Science and Technology
College of Computer and Information Technology
Computer Engineering Department
Course Assessment Report
Semester:
First 2006/2007
Instructor:
Dr. Mohammad AL-Rousan
Course title and number: CPE 770- Advanced Computer Networks
Course format: (3-0-3)
Enrollment:
Section 1: Registered: 32 ; withdrawals: 3
Class Grade Point Average (GPA): 79.6/100
I. Course Objectives
Table I: Course Objectives
No
1
Objectives
Coverage
Percentage
0 – 100
To understand the state-of-the-art in network protocols, architectures and
applications.
Analyze existing network protocols and networks.
95
3
4
Develop new protocols in networking
100
To understand how networking research is done
100
5
To investigate novel ideas in the area of Networking via term-long
research projects.
100
2
1
95
II.
Learning Outcomes from Students.
I have conducted an in-class evaluation for my course as shown in Tables II and III. The students
have been told this is self- and none-official evaluation that is meant to improve the learning and
teaching process for the course; i.e. it has nothing to do with their grades. Therefore, no names or IDs
are put on the evaluation sheets. The evaluation sheets were collected by one of the students.
The evaluation results in Tables II and III shows that most of the course outcomes and objectives
have and been accomplished. On the average, more than 78% students (19 out of 25) have agreed
upon doing the outcomes of the course. Only 10.5% of the students have specifically disagreed on
doing the outcomes. This is general very good for the course. However, we notice around 5 students
are not sure if they know IPv4/IPv6 (Outcome 5). We have not covered this topic in the course; But it
is somehow included in many major topics such as WLAN and Ad-hoc networks. It looks like that
Ad hoc networks and protocols (Outcomes 9 and 10) are not clear enough to some (5) students.
Although I have spent three lectures on this topic, but it looks like it needs more clarifications.
In general, I am very pleased with the achievement obtained in this course. More precisely, I am very
pleased with the research project they have performed. More 90% of students were able to come up
with new research ideas, wrote the idea in professional proposals, and conduct simulation or
analytical results. I believe this group of students is ready to perform professional research studies in
many areas in computer engineering.
III. Learning Barriers and Problem Areas
There is a set of barriers was encountered in teaching this advanced course as explained below.
1. Students came from different schools; hence gaps between their backgrounds exist. At one
extreme, some students never covered basic topics networking, such as IP and routing
protocols. At another extreme, a group of students have studied ATM networking.
2. Most students have no clue about simulation, which is a major skill that is required in my
course. Simulation is needed to conduct class projects and to understand published papers in
the area of networking.
3. Almost all students only show up at school if they have class. This even true for students who
are not working outside campus. This made me feel that we do not really deal with master
students; we are just a class teachers.
IV. Modifications for Enhanced learning




To overcome the first problem, I suggest asking a newly admitted student to submit to the
Research Committee at our department a syllabus (course description) for networking courses
he/she took in undergraduate study.
For the second problem, I suggest to give student a short and quick assignment on simulation.
This may help them develop the necessary skill for the course before assigning the major
class project. There is no way to teach students simulation in this course.
I have no idea how to solve the third problem. At the end, 90% of students have managed to
submit acceptable work for the class project.
I suggest cancelt Frame relay from the syllabus since it is relatively old WAN technology.
ATM
V. Confidential comment:
None
2
CPE 770 (Advanced Computer networks), 1st Semester, 2006/2007
Course Outcome Assessment
DONE BY STUDENTS
Please complete the following table.
Your feedback will be used for continuous improvement of the course.
1. Strongly agree
2. Agree
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Disagree
5. Strongly disagree
Table II: Learning outcomes from students
I am able to
1
1
2
3
4
5
11
12
1
1
0
10
11
2
2
0
6
15
3
0
1
10
11
1
2
1
3
11
5
3
3
14
9
0
2
0
9
11
2
2
1
8
10
3
3
1
7
10
5
2
1
8
9
5
2
1
10
9
3
2
1
6
11
3
5
0
11
7
3
3
1
7
14
2
0
2
10
11
1
1
2
9
11
3
1
1
10
9
4
1
1
9
11
2
3
0
8
12
3
2
0
9
12
3
1
0
List techniques used to achieve 100 and 1000 Mb/s in Ethernet
2 Explain the IEEE 802.11 WLAN protocol
3
State the cons and pros of IEEE 802.11b & IEEE 802.11g standards
4 Compare between IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11b standards
5
Understand each field in IPv4 and IPv6
6 Appreciate the challenges in design of Wireless Sensor Networks
7
8
Understand and analyze proposed protocols at MAC and routing layers
of WSN (e.g LEACH)
State the properties and challenges of Ad Hoc wireless networks
10
List the cons and pros of routing protocols proposed for Ad Hoc
Networks such as DSR, TORA, AODV.
Suggest modifications for protocols in Ad Hoc networks
11
Categorize layers in ATM protocol
9
12 Understand switching in WAN Networks such as ATM and Frame
13
Relay networks
Calculate the number of ATM cells in ATM sublayers
14 Explain how congestion is handled in TCP
15
Explain slow start mechanism in TCP
16 Calculate congestion window size (cwnd) in TCP congestion
17
mechanism
Dedifferentiate between flow control and congesting control
18 Write a proposal for a research project
19
Analyze simulation results for a network protocol
20 Write a professional technical report for a proposed research project
3
CPE 770 (Advanced Computer networks), 1 st Semester, 2006/2007
Course Outcome Assessment
DONE BY STUDENTS
Please complete the following table.
Your feedback will be used for continuous improvement of the course.
1. Strongly agree
2. Agree
3. Neither agree nor disagree
4. Disagree
5. Strongly disagree
Table III: Learning outcomes from students
I am able to
1
2
3
4
5
44.0%
48.0%
4.0%
4.0%
0.0%
40.0%
44.0%
8.0%
8.0%
0.0%
24.0%
60.0%
12.0%
0.0%
4.0%
40.0%
44.0%
4.0%
8.0%
4.0%
12.0%
44.0%
20.0%
12.0%
12.0%
56.0%
36.0%
0.0%
8.0%
0.0%
36.0%
44.0%
8.0%
8.0%
4.0%
32.0%
40.0%
12.0%
12.0%
4.0%
28.0%
40.0%
20.0%
8.0%
4.0%
32.0%
36.0%
20.0%
8.0%
4.0%
40.0%
36.0%
12.0%
8.0%
4.0%
24.0%
44.0%
12.0%
20.0%
0.0%
44.0%
28.0%
12.0%
12.0%
4.0%
28.0%
56.0%
8.0%
0.0%
8.0%
40.0%
44.0%
4.0%
4.0%
8.0%
36.0%
44.0%
12.0%
4.0%
4.0%
40.0%
36.0%
16.0%
4.0%
4.0%
36.0%
44.0%
8.0%
12.0%
0.0%
32.0%
48.0%
12.0%
8.0%
0.0%
36.0%
35.0%
48.0%
43.2%
12.0%
10.8%
4.0%
7.6%
0.0%
3.4%
1 List techniques used to achieve 100 and 1000 Mb/s in Ethernet
2
Explain the IEEE 802.11 WLAN protocol
3 State the cons and pros of IEEE 802.11b & IEEE 802.11g standards
4
Compare between IEEE 802.11a and IEEE 802.11b standards
5 Understand each field in IPv4 and IPv6
6
Appreciate the challenges in design of Wireless Sensor Networks
7 Understand and analyze proposed protocols at MAC and routing layers of
8
WSN (e.g LEACH)
State the properties and challenges of Ad Hoc wireless networks
9 List the cons and pros of routing protocols proposed for Ad Hoc Networks
such as DSR, TORA, AODV.
10 Suggest modifications for protocols in Ad Hoc networks
11 Categorize layers in ATM protocol
12 Understand switching in WAN Networks such as ATM and Frame Relay
13
networks
Calculate the number of ATM cells in ATM sublayers
14 Explain how congestion is handled in TCP
15 Explain slow start mechanism in TCP
16 Calculate congestion window size (cwnd) in TCP congestion mechanism
17 Dedifferentiate between flow control and congesting control
18 Write a proposal for a research project
19 Analyze simulation results for a network protocol
20 Write a professional technical report for a proposed research project
Average
4
14
12
100-90
10
89-80
8
79-70
6
70 ‫اقل من‬
4
2
0
100-90
89-80
79-70
70 ‫اقل من‬
Figure 1: Grades distribution
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
1st 05%
1st 06%
1st 05%
1st 06%
Figure 2: Comparison with previous years
5