Procedia Computer Science

Volume 29, 2014, Pages 24722482

ICCS 2014. 14th International Conference on Computational Science

Design Virtual Learning Labs for Courses in

Computational Science with use of Cloud Computing
Technologies
Alexey Dukhanov1, Maria Karpova1, Klavdiya Bochenina1
1
ITMO University, Saint-Petersburg, Russia
dukhanov@niuitmo.ru, 91ms91@gmail.com, k.bochenina@gmail.com

Abstract
This paper describes the approach to the design and imp lementation of a v irtual learning laboratory
(VLL) with the use of cloud co mputing technologies within the model of AaaS (Applicat ion as a
Service). The formal model of co mposite application and a set of learning models using cloud-based
VLL are proposed. The relation to learn ing objectives in accordance with the revised Bloo m's
taxono my was identified for each model. The software tool to auto mate the creation and configuration
VLL, based on the cloud computing platform CLA VIRE are presented. The paper ends with the
description of case study implementation with the use of the offered approach.

Keywords: Virtual learning lab, the AaaS model, cloud computing, workflow, learning models, learning
objectives

1 Introduction
The rise of eLearning technologies requires new forms and approaches to the design and creation
of digital educational resources (DER), including virtual learn ing labs (VLL), which allow carrying
out scientific experiments with the use of one or mo re p ieces of expensive elaborate equip ment and
software in the remote access mode. Put otherwise, the VLL can be considered as a supporting remote
access distributed hard-software co mplex which can simu late any objects and processes. Usually these
products contain application software and packages for nu merical simu lation of various processes,
data sources, results interpretation and visualizat ion means, unique and expensive equipment, and
other instruments for solving tasks usually in mult i- and trans-disciplinary scientific areas. The cloud
computing technologies can be considered as a perspective approach [1] for preparing DER. For DER
design automation the following models of cloud computing may be considered.
1. IaaS (Infrastructure as a Service). A un iversitys computational infrastructure is
virtualized and shared for the purpose of solving internal tasks, includ ing special

2472 Selection and peer-review under responsibility of the Scientic Programme Committee of ICCS 2014

c The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.
doi:10.1016/j.procs.2014.05.231
Virtual Learning Labs in Computational Science Courses A. Dukhanov, M. Karpova, K. Bochenina

software installation. This infrastructure may be used as a base for the creation and
deployment of VLL.
2. PaaS (Platform as a Serv ice). Virtualized resources with installed required packages are
shared, but DER applications are absent.
3. SaaS (Software as a Serv ice). The most common model of VLL representation is as a
web-service. The successful examples can be found in [2] and [3].
4. DaaS (Data as a Service). It is an additional model for provid ing data sources as a cloud
services.
5. HaaS (Hardware as a Service). Th is model is used for sharing unique equipment, e.g.
near-field scanning optical microscopes [4] through an appropriate interface.
The amount of interd isciplinary research areas and associated educational programs [5] is rising.
The design an inter(mult i)- or trans-disciplinary course (module) requires application software and
hardware in different scientific areas, wh ich are in d istributed heterogeneous computational
environment. The VLL should be presented to the end user (e.g. student) as a joint-free application
instead of the set of software and hardware. The most eligib le model of cloud computing for the
considered reasons is the model of AaaS (Application as a Service) [6]. Th is model allows us to create
and use composite applications (CA), which consists of interacting cloud services for solving co mplex
tasks: data source access, computer simu lation, results processing and analysis. The most popular
technique of CA representation is workflow formalism [7], which allows us to describe the
corresponding distributed process in terms of the directed graph. This paper offers the set models of
cloud VLL application with the use of the AaaS model [8].

2 Related works
The design and development of VLL for provid ing simple access to unique approaches and
technologies is presented in many works. Most of them deal with v irtual machines with installed
required applicat ion software and emu lators of special devices and equipment. The acc ess to these
mach ines is provided with the use of software like a remote desktop. For examp le, the virtual learning
laboratory for a Co mputer Forensics course is considered [9]. More than ten special applicat ions and
six devices were required for the design of this course. The authors of this wo rk were ab le to use a
virtual mach ine (server) running on a Windows 2003 Server, hard ware emu lators, and equivalents or
trial versions of software. Students are proposed to perform several labs outside of the virtual
considered environment. The authors of the paper [10] offer to apply WMware application for
virtualizing computer networks in the framework of Computer Networking Laboratories design.
Other works offer to use standard cloud decisions like GoogleDocs, iGoogle Gadgets, and original
instruments for the creation of personal v irtual learning environ ments (VLE) [11]. It is a very popular
approach because it does not require expensive resources and uses well-known cloud instruments.
An original approach is presented in [12], where the authors developed the architecture for the
integration of external tools in VLE. This architecture provides a creation VLE within well-known
learning management systems (LMS) with the use of external tools with a special p rogram interface
and tools adapters. It allo ws the user to integrate LMS in very popular instruments , such as Google
Documents [13], Dabbleboard [14], and Facebook Live Stream [15] thanks to separately developed
tools adapters. As a result, this architecture allo ws a user to apply any software, including unique
application packages, if the corresponding tools adapter exists. The presented demonstration [16]
shows that the creation of learning resources within Mood le with the use of GLUE! can take five
times less time than if it was done without GLUE!
As can be seen, the above mentioned works use some type of cloud technology. For examp le,
Co mputer Forensics Labs were developed with the use of IaaS, PaaS, and GLUE! SaaS and HaaS

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Virtual Learning Labs in Computational Science Courses A. Dukhanov, M. Karpova, K. Bochenina

(in the case of sharing hardware through an adapter) models. For training which requires the use of
unique and expensive equipment (or application software) it is necessary to create a virtual machine
and install hardware emulators (trial versions of application software) or to develop corresponding
tools adapters.

3 Features of the organization of Virtual Learning Labs with

the use of the AaaS model
Based on the AaaS model, VLL is presented as software, which operates in a distributed
computing environment. It can provide the following features:
1. CA Design and Execution support in a cloud co mputing environ ment. The CA is formed
with the use of different proven application packages ; therefore, the AaaS model is useful
for interdisciplinary researches.
2. The user does not have to install a special local client. An internet browser is enough for
working with VLL. A variety of packages is used for solving interdisciplinary problems.
Setup and maintenance of these software programs can be very d ifficult for a user. The
software developed in accordance with the model of AaaS solved this problem.
3. Intelligent users support. Self-study of the application package may be d ifficu lt,
therefore, the user often needs support while perfo rming a lab and durin g the whole
learning process.
4. Ensuring informat ion security within an open-circuit system (the features and location of
the prospective user are not defined). Protection against legit imate users , which have
authorized access to VLL resources but who may have the ability of unauthorized usage
of one or more application packages , is important.
5. The efficiency of the combined use of supercomputers resources and the resources of
grid and cloud computing environments. This feature enables a user to apply applica tion
packages which require unique computational resources and special software. The user
must be isolated from the layer of co mputational resources, and as a consequence
resource selection for solving particular tasks must be implemented automatically (fo r
e.g. minimizing cost or time of computing).
6. Hot plug of packages and computational resources. This hot plug does not require
hard efforts of users, such as package/resource developers and/or owners. This feature
makes VLL open, portable and scalable. When the package becomes a part of the VLL it
is not considered as a competitor and is annotated by the overall system of intelligent
support. The method of unified annotation of packages and resources is described in
section 6
The AaaS model attracts particular attention in the context of the development of interdisciplinary
researches. This model enables the user to design and use Co mposite applications (CA) a co mplex
of interconnected cloud services which are oriented together to solve a whole prob lem. The workflow-
formalis m is the most well-known approach of CA-representation. This formalism describes
connections between particular operations in the distributed computational environment using the
notations of a directed acyclic graph. The co mplicated CA is created by means of existing software
and is executed in distributed resources of the cloud environment.

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Virtual Learning Labs in Computational Science Courses A. Dukhanov, M. Karpova, K. Bochenina

4 The Formal model of the composite application

CA is represented by the WF model of the directed acyclic graph (DA G) whose nodes are data
processing units with the input and output parameters and arcs are the relat ionships between the nodes.
For examp le, a node may be the launch of the package, procedu re, node to vary parameters,
conditional branching, and cycle. Each node of co mposite applicat ion represents a tuple
Nl Ins, P, Outs, F , where l 1..k , k - quantity of the WF nodes, Ins {Ii : i 0..nl  1, Ii Id }
the set of identifiers of input parameters of the unit, Outs {Oi : i 0..ml  1, Oi Id } the set of
identifiers of output parameters of the unit, P : Type( I 0 ) u ...u Type( I n ) o {true, false} a set of all
identifiers of parameters), the predicated defining entering of the given set of input values in the
feasible reg ion for a package (i.e. validating a correctness), Type : Id o B the operator which
defines identifier type, F the function translating transmitted input values into output values.
^    ` ^ 
F : x : x TypeI 0 u ...u Type I nl 1 P( x) o y TypeO0 u ...u Type Oml 1 .  ` (1)
Relationships of two types between nodes can be set of data relations and control relations. Data
relation connects the output parameter of one unit to the input of another, and as a result the order of
execution of units is also set. Control of relationships explicitly sets an order of execution of units, and
this relationship is used as a base for build ing controlling constructions , such as condition, cycle, or
units of a variation of parameters. In general, the CA is a tuple Ins wf , Outs wf , N , D, C , where
Ins wf ^Ii | i 0..n, Ii Id ` a set of identifiers of input WF parameters,
Outs wf
^O j | j 0..m, O j Id ` a set of identifiers of the output WF parameters,
N ^Nl | Nl : Node, l 0..k` a set of the WF nodes (here Node the WF node), D a set of data
dependencies, C a set of dependencies on control. In the proposed model the control relat ion is a
twain Child C , Parent C , Child C N a dependent node, and Parent C N a node on which

depends, thus Child C z Parent C . Data dependency is the trip le Child D , Parents D , Fconv , where

Child D  Ins N i
Outs wf a dependent node, Parents D  Outs N i
Ins wf a set of nodes on
N i N N i N
D
which Child depends, Fconv data conversion function. Data relation is set between each (one)
input parameter and several outputs:
  
Fconv : Type Parent 0D u ...u Type Parent zD o Type Child D , z    Parents D . (2)
For whole WF or for each of its unit interpretations the Interpretation function can be introduced.
This function allows the user to transform a set of input data to a set of output data:
Interpretation(WF) : TypeI1 u ...u TypeI n  o TypeO1 u ...u TypeOm  (3)

4.1 The models interpretation for VLLs

Exp ressions (1)(3) can be used in both direct and reverse forms for the description of the
informat ion processes occurring while the trainee does the VLL. In particu lar, the direct form
reproduces user actions in the case of selecting and configuring the individual application -oriented
packages (1), co mbin ing them in CA (2), and can also start and perform the whole CA in a distributed
environment (3). One can notice that the function (2) makes the CA as a joint -free applicat ion for the
trainee. Inverse relationships can be interpreted as criteria for checking trainee act ions and their
success in the passing stages of VLL.

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Virtual
Virtual Learning Labs in Computational Science Courses A. Dukhanov, M. Karpova, K. Bochenina
Virtual Learning
Learning Labs
Labs in
in Computational
Computational Science
Science Courses
Courses A.
A. Dukhanov,
Dukhanov, M.
M. Karpova,
Karpova, K.
K. Bochenina
Bochenina

4.2
4.2 The models
models example
example
Let
Let us consider the example in terms of the model mentioned above. Imagine that we have access
Let us
us consider
consider the
the example
example in in terms
terms of
of the
the model
model mentioned
mentioned above.
above. Imagine
Imagine that
that we
we have
have access
access
to
to the
the following
following packages
packages for
for (Error!
(Error! Reference
Reference source
source not
not found.):
found.):
to the following packages for (Error! Reference source not found.):
1.
1. making of a satellite image and record ing it in the spatial storage in the RAW fo rmat
1. making
making of of aa satellite
satellite image
image and
and record
record ing
ing it
it in
in the
the spatial
spatial storage
storage in
in the
the RAW
RAW fo fo rmat
rmat
N ;
N11 ;;
N 1
2.
2. converting the satellite image in selected standard format (e.g. png-format) NN 22 ;;;
2. converting
converting the the satellite
satellite image
image in in selected
selected standard
standard format
format (e.g.
(e.g. png-format)
png-format) N 2
3.
3. processing satellite image in required standard graphics format (e.g. identification of
3. processing
processing satellite
satellite image
image inin required
required standard
standard graphics
graphics format
format (e.g.
(e.g. identification
identification ofof
atmospheric cyclones) N3 ; ;
atmospheric cyclones)
atmospheric cyclones) N N 33 ;
4. visualization of the results of processing (e.g. drawing isobars) N .
4.
4. visualization
visualization of of the
the results
results of
of processing
processing (e.g.
(e.g. drawing isobars) N
drawing isobars) N 44 .. 4

Figure
Figure 1: The example of workflow in the terms of formal model
Figure 1:
1: The
The example
example of
of workflow
workflow in
in the
the terms
terms of
of formal
formal model
model
Suppose, that the second package N 2 knows,
knows, where the satellite image is in a RAW-fo rmat,
Suppose,
Suppose, that that the the second package N
second package N 22 knows, where where the the satellite
satellite image
image is is in
in aa RAW-fo
RAW-fo rmat, rmat,
recorded
recorded by the first package, and may access it itself and convert it. Then it can be started after the
recorded by the first package, and may access it itself and convert it. Then it can be started after the
by the first package, and may access it itself and convert it. Then it can be started after the
complet
complet ion ion
ion ofof the
of the first
the first package
first package (dependence
package (dependence
(dependence on on control).
on control).
control). TheThe third
The third package
third package
package uses uses the
uses the output
the output
output of of
of the
the
complet the
second
second package,
package, and and thethe fourth
fourth the
the output
output of of the
the third
third (data
(data dependencies).
dependencies). The The process
process of of solving
solving
second package, and the fourth the output of the third (data dependencies). The process of solving
the problem
the problem of of atat mospheric
mospheric cyclones
cyclones identification
identification fro fro m
m satellite
satellite images
images can can bebe represented
represented as as aaa WF,
WF,
the problem of at mospheric cyclones identification fro m satellite images can be represented as WF,
shown
shown in in the
in the Figure
the Figure
Figure 1. 1. This
1. This
This WF WF determines
WF determines
determines four four identifiers
four identifiers
identifiers for for input
for input parameters I
parameters II11,...,I
input parameters ,...,I (including
,...,I 44 (including
(including
shown 1 4
configuration
configuration options for packages; coordinates of area, that to be photographed, for the first package,
configuration optionsoptions for for packages;
packages; coordinates
coordinates of of area,
area, that
that to to be
be photographed,
photographed, for for the
the first
first package,
package,
two identifiers
identifiers for output output parameters (( O - the visualized
visualized results of of processing, O - the imageimage in
two
two identifiers for parameters ( O
for output parameters O111 -- the
the visualized results processing, O
results of processing, O222 -- the
the image in in
standard
standard format).
format). The
The identifier
identifier C
C 1 means
means the
the dependence
dependence on
on control
control between
between the
the first
first and
and the
the second
second
standard format). The identifier C11 means the dependence on control between the first and the second
packages (the dotted line in the Figure 1). The identifiers D , D2 mean the data dependences between
packages
packages (the (the dotted
dotted lineline in
in the
the Figure
Figure 1).1). The identifiers D
The identifiers D111 ,, D
D22 mean
mean the
the data
data dependences
dependences between between
packages
packages N
N 2 ,, N
N 3 and
and N
N 3 ,, NN 4 respectively.
respectively.
packages N 22 , N 33 and N 33 , N 44 respectively.
D
If
If the node N
the node N 33 supports
supports the the same
same image
image format,
format, which
which thethe second
second package
package returns,
returns, thenthen F D11 for
D 1
N Fconv for
If the node 3 supports the same image format, which the second package returns, then Fconv conv for
D 1 (2)
D1 (2) is
(2) is the
is the identify
the identify function.
identify function.
function. Let Let the
Let the third
the third package
third package return
package return some
return some matrix,
some matrix, and
matrix, and package
and package
package N N requires
N 4 requires
4 requires the the
the
D 1 4
D
transposed matrix. Then joint-free relation D requires the function F D22 MTrans , where MTrans
transposed
transposed matrix.
matrix. Then Then joint-free relation D
joint-free relation D 222 requires
requires the function F
the function D
Fconv MTrans , where MTrans
conv MTrans , where MTrans
2
conv
-- operator of transposition of matrices. The functions (1) and (3) are described in the next section.
- operator of transposition of matrices. The functions (1) and (3) are described in
operator of transposition of matrices. The functions (1) and (3) are described in the
the next
next section.
section.

55 Learning
Learning models
models
Based
Based on formal model (1) - (3), there are three models of learning, which reflect approaches to the
Based on
on formal
formal model
model (1)
(1) -- (3),
(3), there
there are
are three
three models
models of
of learning,
learning, which
which reflect
reflect approaches
approaches to
to the
the
use
use of
of interdisciplinary
interdisciplinary VLL.
VLL.
use of interdisciplinary VLL.

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Virtual Learning Labs in Computational Science Courses A. Dukhanov, M. Karpova, K. Bochenina

1) Model "A": interpretation function (3) is applied to the WF as a whole ( Figure 2, a), and it is
assumed that the CA in the form of WF was previously created and debugged. The student receives
immed iate access to it without the ability to view and change internal structures in the implementation
VLL. This approach, with use of the integrated VLL with access to remotely executing application -
oriented packages, is used for training specialists. An advantage of the approach is the possibility of
the "seamless" comb ining of packages as a part of the CA wh ich allo ws a user to expand the range of
tasks and composition of operations of the virtual laboratory b ased on the same application-oriented
packages and computational resources.
2) Model " B": function of interpretation (3) is applied to WF in units, but the user cannot change
the WF structure. Figure 2, b shows the process of access to the internal structure of WF for the trainee
without the possibility of edit ing. Obv iously the output parameters of the given unit, denoted by the
symbol O, are the input parameters (marked with the symbol I) of the dependent unit. For instance, the
output parameter O1N1 of the unit N1 is also the input parameter I1N 3 of the unit N 3 . In such a mode
the step by step interpretation of the operation of WF and the monitoring of the intermediate
parameters is possible. In this model, except for functions (3) and (2) the function of the intermediate
interpretation of WF (4) on a node are implemented.
     
Debug Nl WF  : TypeI1 u ...u Type I n o Type O1Nl u ...u Type OmNl (4)

where O Njl , j 1..m - the output parameter of a node (unit) N l .

Figure 2: Non-Editable Closed (a) and Opened (b) Workflow

This is the same situation when only the (1) function of interpretation, which is independent for
each of the informat ive units of WF, is under consideration. This approach is oriented on training in

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Virtual Learning Labs in Computational Science Courses A. Dukhanov, M. Karpova, K. Bochenina

the application of indiv idual application-oriented packages, including preparat ion of input data, start
on execution, and the visualizat ion and interpretation of the results of computation (Figure 2, a). The
goal of this model is not so much the study of the interdisciplinary phenomena but the addition of
competences of the trainee by skills of using application-oriented packages, which are specific to a
particular subject area.
3) Model "C": (1)-(3) functions are applied sequentially to the separate units WF application-
oriented packages, from the beginning to the end. In this case the trainee has an opportunity to
research the processes occurring in the interdisciplinary system step by step, analyze the output data of
each of the packages, and interpret their impact on the results of the subsequent computation. There
are additional actions over WF (adding addit ional units, variable researches, etc.), for obtaining
necessary data for research (Figure 3, a). Th is operation mode is preferable for VLL because it allo ws
the user to reproduce the "tangible" relationship between objects of research and their components.
Variable research on node N 3 returns as the results of operation parameters not with single values
and with sets of the values, the size of which is equal to the quantity of elements of a variation. In fig.
 N N N

2a three elements of a variation are presented: O1N3 O1 3,1 , O1 3, 2 , O1 3,3 . This is the reason for
changing the description of the N 4 and N 5 nodes: in them the variable search is also defined by the
results of the N 3 node execution or is selected as one value fro m the received sets. The additional node
AN1 should also select one value from the received set or accept all values and do a variable search
afterwards. In the second case, the output parameter AO1AN1 is a set of three values.

Figure 3: Editable Workflow (a), Checking Workflow (b)

Automations of quality assessment of the performed VLL can be created/modified by trained WF

or can be implied with the special checking WF ( Figure 3, b). The trainees results of working with
VLL are gathered in archive I1 . Check parameters I 2 can be used if necessary. Node N1

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decompresses the archive and transfers to a checking node N 2 group of files. After the checking,
results are transferred to WF ( O1 ) and to a node of creation of a graphical representation of check
results.
For the analysis the consistency of models - C we need to define measure of co mpetence,
developing with corresponding VLL (each type of VLL develop different range s of learning
objectives). The type of grade scales for competences depends on the chosen educational standards or
accepted learning theories. For instance, we have used revised Blooms taxonomy of learning
objectives [17] grading to find correspondences between them and learning models.
In our work, a co mpetence is represented by a set of learning outcomes correlated with VLL, that
can be grouped into modules (parts of educational course) correlated with learning objective s.
The model A helps to answer for the question What will happen if in relat ion with
considered process with use of one package or closed workflow (retrieving, recognizing, in ferring,
comparing Table 1). The model B includes properties of the model A and also allows to analy ze
the structure of process by preparing and execution related workflow (learning o bject ives Apply and
Analyse). The model "C" has the greatest range of the of the objectives descriptions, also including
checking intermediate results and reorganizing elements in the new structure WF (learning objectives
Evaluate and Create).
Learning Objective Description Model A Model B Model C
objectives
Remember Retrieving, recognizing, and recalling + + +
relevant knowledge from long-term
memory
Understand Constructing meaning from oral, written, + + +
and graphic messages through interpreting,
exemplifying, classifying, summarizing,
inferring, comparing, and explaining
Apply Carrying out or using a procedure through + +
executing, or implementing
Analyze Breaking material into constituent parts, + +
determining how the parts relate to one
another and to an overall structure or
purpose through differentiating,
organizing, and attributing
Evaluate Making judgments based on criteria and +
standards through checking and critiquing.
Create Putting elements together to form a +
coherent or functional whole; reorganizing
elements into a new pattern or structure
through generating, planning, or producing
Table 1: Learning objectives in relation to VLP learning models

Chosen model of the work with WF shows some students qualities like responsibility (e.g.
stimulat ion of in itiat ive responsibility by involvement of the trainee in the process of construction or
modification of WF), motivation and organizing skills.
The competences are interconnected and can be classified, thus , we can present it by DAG. For
each learning course in the co mpetence-oriented education (that is frequently used) a set of developing
competences, is defined. Thus , we can present educational process like a WF that consists of courses
and represents relations between competences. The course we can also present as WF, where part of
the educational WF is the learning objective oriented node module, and they are connected by a

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logical structure of the course by the teacher or expert. Each module contains VLL (or a set of them
organized in WF and connected by output and input data) learning outcomes oriented unit.

6 Tool for automation of Virtual Learning Labs design

Implementation of VLP realizing learning models "A" "C" is rather time-consuming as it
includes not only the creation of co mposite appendices, but also, first of all deploy ment in the cloud
environment of required application packages. For the CLA VIRE p latform this process includes two
steps: installation of applicat ion packages on the computational resourc es in a cloud and their
registration in a database of the packages, including the description of different scenarios of use as a
part of the VLL. Fo r the description of scenarios we used the domain -specific language (DSL)
EasyPackage [8] based on the Ruby language. With this approach the same application package may
be represented in a "cloud" differently depending on the target audience. A packages owner has the
ability to restrict usages options (e.g. for protection fro m unau thorized users, representation of demo
version of the package).
The intellectual editor is developed for the auto mation of the process of embedding packages in
CLA VIRE and the elimination of the need in the manual description of scenarios for their use in the
formal language the CLA VIRE/PackageManager tool. It provides the interface of the designer,
which displays the packet description in the form of a set of fields, each of which describes the
corresponding attribute. This tool also provides editing of information about the attributes describing
the input and output data of the package and requires lexical and syntax parsing of the file with the
packet description. At the user's request for the creation of a new packages description the complete
set of fields and attributes for filling is provided to the user and they are automat ically assigned access
rights to create a package. To debug and verify the working of the added package in CLA VIRE the
task-focused interface (TFI) technology is used.
Intelligent editor CLA VIRE/PackageManager is implemented in JavaScript and HTM L languages.
It can be used as a Web applicat ion via a standard Internet browser. For data transfer and requests the
JSON data interchange format is used.

7 Case study implementation

Using the considered approach we designed several case studies for the following e -learning
systems in Computational Science:
1. E-learning complex Computer simulation in nanotechnologies;
2. E-Science center Sociodynamics ;
3. Case-study Public Ground Transport Scheduling
For the purpose of providing the above mentioned educational services to the users the web -portal
[18] was implemented, wh ich supports different kinds of learning materials , such as theoretical
informat ion, laboratory assignments, and video tutors and allows the students to construct and execute
the composite applications with the help of CLA VIRE tools. Note that all workflows execution
capabilit ies are fu lly availab le through a web interface (workflo ws CA can be prepared as a script on
the EasyFlow DSL [8] with use of the CLAVIRE/ Ginger component - Figure 4).

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Figure 4: Workflow preparation (Case-study Public Ground Transport Scheduling)

Each learning system provides the user with abilities to run a separate package (e.g. for finding of
optimal route in some city or calcu lation of the mo lecular bonds energy), and to obtain the skills of
solving monodisciplinary tasks. Also, they allow the user to consider the existing CA or build his own
CA (e.g. the comp lex network modelling and information spread simulation and flash mobs
predictions) fro m packages fo r d ifferent scientific areas and obtain the advanced skills of solving
interdisciplinary problems.

8 Conclusions and future work

In this paper we proposed an approach for the design and implementation of virtual learn ing labs
for solving interdisciplinary problems with the use of co mputational resources and application
packages which are in the cloud of distributed computational environ ments. This approach does not
require additional efforts to obtain unique computational resources and the installation of special
software. The ability of the options restriction provides an opportunity for protection from an
authorized user (in the case of a legal user who attempts to apply the package not for its intended
purpose). Teachers, students, and experts do not have to install anything on theirs personal co mputers.
The web-browser is enough for working with VLL. Th is paper shows that with the use of VLL, which
is imp lemented in the framework of the mentioned approach, a teacher (expert) may evaluate the level
of a student's skills and knowledge.
In the future we are p lanning to develop a method for the design of educational courses with the
use of VLL. The method will be based on the above mentioned abilities of knowledge and skills
evaluation.

9 Acknowledgement
This work was financially supported by the Government of the Rus sian Federation, Grant 074-
U01.

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