Educational Interests

I have developed both undergraduate networking courses at UVA, Computer Networks (CS 457) and Internet Engineering (CS 458, now: CS 551). Since 1999, my main teaching project is a lab-oriented course in computer networking (see: Internet Engineering, VINTLab, ITLab).  
  • Graduate Computer Networks (CS 757)
    • I completely revised the course in Fall 2000.
    • This is the website. 
  • Undergraduate Computer Networks (CS/ECE 457)
    • A "standard" introductory networking course that I developed in 1996.
    • The course has also been developed into a graduate course at Polytechnic University (EL 536).
    • The last time, I taught  the course was in 1999. The website is here.
  • Internet Engineering (CS 458/CS 551)
    • A course on Internet protocols with hands-on lab exercises (see VINTLab).
    • The website is here.

  • Graduate Seminars: 
    • Multimedia Systems (Fall 1996)
    • Quality of Service in Computer Network, Part 1 (Fall 1998)
    • Quality of Service in Computer Network, Part 2 (Spring 1999)
    • Multicast Communication on the Internet (Fall 2000)
    • Wireless and Mobile Networks (Fall 2002)
  • Non-network Courses:
    • Undergraduate Algorithms
    • Software Development Methods (C++ course)
    • Graduate Operating Systems (website archive is here)

Teaching-related Activities

In the last 5 years, I have worked on a  lab-oriented approach in computer networking education.  With equipment support from MCI/Worldcom, Cisco, and other companies, I have created a teaching lab, called VINTLab (Virginia Internet Teaching Lab) for undergraduate education in networking. The opening of the VINTLab in April 1999, saw a lot of publicity, and is even mentioned on the records of US Congress:

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today as co-chairman of the bipartisan Congressional Internet Caucus to recognize a major step taken last week to develop the growing Internet economy of the United States.

In my home state of Virginia, just a few hours from the United States Capitol, the University of Virginia took the first step last week toward developing America's most technologically advanced Internet Engineering curriculum.  […] UVa is now creating VINT-Lab, the premier high-tech training facility of its kind.”

Remarks made by Representative Bob Goodlatte,
in: Congressional Record, April 14, 1999.

“The Internet economy is transforming the way we work, live, play and learn. By establishing an Internet Engineering course, the University of Virginia is ensuring that today's students are prepared for tomorrow's jobs.”

John T. Chambers, Cisco Systems President and CEO,
in: UVA News (Press Release), April 5, 1999.

“MCI Telecommunications, together with Cisco Systems, Inc., is committed to forming an Internet laboratory at the University of Virginia […] The value of this donation will exceed one million dollars, and the lab itself will immediately become one of the premier facilities for Internet  technology across major universities in the United States.”

Vint Cerf, Senior Vice President MCIWorldcom,
 Letter to the Dean of Engineering,
University of Virginia, August 1998.


Over a period of several years, I developed a lab manual for a course in Internet Engineering. An adaptation of this lab manual has been disseminated to approximately 30 universities in the context of a National Science Foundation supported project to develop an Internet Engineering curriculum. In June 2001, I hosted the 3rd NSF sponsored 3rd Internet Teaching Labs (ITL) Workshop, which included a training component for instructors on the lab manual. I have completed a textbook for a lab networking course with Prof. Magda El Zarki from UC Irvine, which is published by Addison-Wesley in August 2003.
 

I am involved in efforts to advance education in computer networking. I was a co-organizer of the First and Second ACM Sigcomm Workshops on Computer Networking Education in 2002 and 2003. The goal of the workshops is to shape a template curriculum for computer networking education, and their outcome are recommendations that will be adopted by ACM Sigcomm as guidelines for networking educators.

In 1995, I received a fellowship from the Teaching  and Technology  Initiative at the University of Virginia. Within the context of this fellowship, I have developed a set of multimedia applications which adopted early Internet teleconferencing tools and collaborative applications for use in teaching, called the grounds-wide tele-tutoring system (gwTTS). In 1997, in a project funded by Litton-Fibercom and Virginia's CIT, I developed the DLC (Distance Learning Controller) system, which enhances gwTTS by delivering broadcast-quality video. The DLC system has been licensed to Litton-Fibercom and became a commercial product.