Trial evaluation of visual educational tool on distributed multiple server system

This paper presents a trial evaluation of a visual computer simulator in 2011, which is developed to play a role of both instruction facility and learning tool simultaneously since 2001.And it illustrates an example of Computer Architecture education for University students and usage of e-Learning tool for Computer Architecture in order to realize an effective and efficient ICT-based Professional Information Education. Evaluation for our visual simulator has been carried out not only as an instruction facility but also as a self-learning tool, because it can be used by teacher in his/her classroom lecture as well as by students for their making reports(essays). Such evaluated results are based on viewpoints from instruction of internal structure and behavior in von Neumann computer, Assembly programming exercise, Student's essays with the simulator, and relationship between student's examination scores and usage of the simulator. Our evaluations have been performed through qualitative approach as well as quantitative ones. The former is based on student's feedback or remarks, and the later is achieved by statistical analysis of student's essays and its relationship of scores of short test and/or examination. It is also described whether such a simulator can be used in a cooperative education environment efficiently or not.