Design and development of computer networking modules using virtual instruments and object oriented programming

The students' over reliance upon formulas and routine use of technique in problem solving too often lead to poor performance in advanced courses and a high attrition rate in the engineering, technology, and science programs. The students' lack of comprehension of mathematical concepts results in time wastage during laboratory experiments, misinterpretations of lab data and underachievement in standardized science and engineering tests that stress the fundamentals. This problem can be effectively addressed by improving the student's conceptual understanding and comprehension of the topics covered in introductory science and technology courses. One way to achieve this is through interactive learning and teaching and upgrading the existing laboratories with modern equipment. This will require increased funding and resources. But in recent years there is a decrease in resource allocation making it increasingly difficult to modernize the laboratories to provide adequate levels of laboratory and course work and universities are under pressure to look for alternative cost effective methods. One way to achieve this is through interactive learning and teaching through the use of software packages like LabVIEW (Virtual Instruments) and Java/Visual Basic (Object Oriented Programming).LabVIEW and Java/Visual Basic are currently used in a number of engineering schools and industries for simulation and analysis. By introducing virtual instrumentation (LabVIEW) and object oriented programming (Java/Visual Basic) to the existing laboratory facilities and course(s) the students can be well trained with the latest design techniques and computer aided instrumentation, design and process control used throughout industry. This will also allow the students greater interaction with the subject matter and improve his/her skills in the use of number of applied engineering software packages.LabVIEW is based on graphical programming and easy to use. It is an interactive problem-solving environment, where the students can analyze, visualize, and document real-world science and engineering problems. A number of books are available covering the use and application of LabVIEW.LabVIEW also provides an extensive library of virtual instruments and functions to help in programming. It also contains application specific libraries for data acquisition, GPIB and serial instrument control, data analysis, and file input/output with conventional program debugging tools that can be used to set breakpoints, single-step through the program, and animate the execution so that the flow of data can be observed.At South Carolina State University (SCSU), the PC and VI based system concept is used to design and develop a laboratory called Computer Based Virtual Engineering Laboratory (CBVEL). The CBVEL consists of IBM compatible computers with appropriate software and hardware from National Instruments (NI), Simulation software such as C++, Visual Basic, Java, PSPICE, etc., and is connected to School of Engineering Technology and Sciences (SETS) network and existing equipment. Virtual Instrument (VI) and Object Oriented Programming modules for different courses and research areas are currently developed and used to teach various courses. Examples of some of these VIs are Circuit Analysis, Electronics, Communications, Digital Signal processing, Networking, and Digital Filters.This paper discusses design and development of some of the modules such as Number Systems, Internet Protocol Addresses, Address Classes, Subnet Masks, and Sub-netting using LabVIEW and Visual Basic/Java.