Operating systems: visualization technique for teaching and learning

Abstract

Due to rapid pace of technology advancement in the computer science discipline, both educators and students in universities have experienced difficulties in the teaching and learning of number of computer-oriented subjects. These include operating systems, computer organization and computer networking. Because of the nature of the material covered in these subjects, they must be taught using a practical approach. This practical approach can include various techniques used to present the course materials and concepts in a visual frame of reference. When using a visual approach to convey course material, both students and teachers encounter challenges. These challenges include greater monetary expense for required equipment, greater expense in terms of time to adapt the course material to a visual format regardless of the type of teaching methodology used (i.e. distance education teaching and learning). In this paper we propose a visualization technique to address a number of issues related to teaching and learning of an operating systems course in a university environment.