Implement virtual programming lab with cloud computing for web-based distance education

In Web-based distance education, the authors' experience has shown that some courses are more challenging than others for both students and instructors when offered at a distance. Among those challenges, providing students with access to laboratories is a big one for some science and engineering courses. Over the years, researchers and practitioners have devised and tried different ideas to solve this problem, and virtual labs are the newest and most promising solution. In computer science, such virtual labs are often called virtual computing labs or virtual programming labs. In this chapter, the authors discuss cloud computing based solutions to the development of virtual computing and programming labs. In particular, they present the design and implementation of A-VPL, a virtual programming lab designed and implemented at Athabasca University. The chapter discusses the technologies used in detail, and the unique features they have.