Assessment of a frugal, virtual and green computing lab infrastructure of the future

The impact of the computing field is becoming more profound everyday in all facets of modern society. Despite significant efforts from academia and relatively high demand for computing, technology producers are needed more than ever. This has been corroborated by a recent NSF Press Release [1], stating that computing is the only STEM discipline with more job openings than college graduates to fill them up. A major responsibility for such an outcome rests upon educators´ ability to produce professionals capable of handling ever more complex technical challenges. In this challenging environment, the importance of practical work in science and engineering, supported by lab exercises, is widely known. While it is desirable to create physical laboratories for teaching these technologies, it is not always possible nor desirable. In this paper, we present an effective alternative approach, in the form of an affordable, virtualized laboratory environment that can be used in a variety of computing and engineering courses, as well as in other fields, in lieu of physical labs. Results of a survey supporting the validity of this approach are also presented. Students in four different classes were surveyed concerning the effectiveness and desirability of this virtual laboratory approach. The survey results indicate that student response to and interest in the virtual environment is very strong.