Critical Concepts in the Development of Courseware for CS Closed Laboratories

Abstract

In this paper we present some of the experiences that we have gained from having developed a number of laboratory-based courseware for teaching computing concepts. We point out that lab-based teaching is a special category of computer-based instruction (CBI). The intended lab usage imposes certain constraints on lab-based courseware such that the methodologies for developing traditional CBI software do not seem to fit the development of lab-based software very well. Lab-based software requires special considerations as to the presentation of its course content and the design of its user interface.