Management Information Systems (MIS), Information Technology (IT), and computer science students need a better way to replicate learning environments. This is important as technology changes at a fast pace. More importantly there has to be a method to quickly replicate environments that match industry standards, professors‘ research labs, and other environments. Software applications such as Oracle Virtual Box, or VMware Player can provide the learning environment in a virtual sandbox. Professors can develop a Virtual Machine (VM) with all the coding examples, system configurations, test scripts, and more for students to work from for the entire course. This VM can be stored in a number of places with the ability to use any VM player at work, home, or at the institution. Gone are the days of institutions needing multiple labs for specialized software or different Operating Systems (OS).

1. TECHNOLOGY LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS IN A VIRTUAL
SANDBOX
M. DAWSON and J. KING. College of Graduate
Studies, Alabama A&M University, P.O. Box 429,
Normal, AL, 35762. Management Information
Systems (MIS)

2. Abstract
Management Information Systems (MIS), Information
Technology (IT), and computer science students need a better
way to replicate learning environments. This is important as
technology changes at a fast pace. More importantly there has
to be a method to quickly replicate environments that match
industry standards, professors‘ research labs, and other
environments. Software applications such as Oracle Virtual
Box, or VMware Player can provide the learning environment in
a virtual sandbox. Professors can develop a Virtual Machine
(VM) with all the coding examples, system configurations, test
scripts, and more for students to work from for the entire
course. This VM can be stored in a number of places with the
ability to use any VM player at work, home, or at the institution.
Gone are the days of institutions needing multiple labs for
specialized software or different Operating Systems (OS).

3. Associated Research
• Dawson, M., Al Saeed, I., Wright, J., & Onyegbula, F. (2014) Open Source Software to
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Enhance the STEM Learning Environment. Encyclopedia of Education and Technology.
Dawson, M., Al Saeed, I., Wright, J., & Omar, M. (2013). TECHNOLOGY ENHANCED
LEARNING WITH OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE FOR SCIENTISTS AND ENGINEERS.
INTED2013 Proceedings, 5583-5589..
Dawson, M., Wright, J., & Abramson, J. (2013). TRANSFORMING INFORMATION
SYSTEMS AND COMPUTER SCIENCE EDUCATION WITH VIRTUALIZATION. ICERI2013
Proceedings, 2679-2682.
Wright, J., & Dawson, M. (2013). IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRATING INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY RELATED CURRICULUM IN AMERICAN INNER CITY SCHOOLS.
INTED2013 Proceedings, 5666-5672.
Dawson, M., Wright, J., & Abramson, J. (2013). OPEN SOURCE SOFTWARE TO TEACH
TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP CONCEPTS AND PRACTICES. ICERI2013
Proceedings, 2637-2639.
Wright, J., & Dawson, M. (2013). IMPORTANCE OF INTEGRATING INFORMATION
TECHNOLOGY RELATED CURRICULUM IN AMERICAN INNER CITY SCHOOLS.
INTED2013 Proceedings, 5666-5672.
Dawson, M. E., & Al Saeed, I. (2012). Use of Open Source Software and Virtualization in
Academia to Enhance Higher Education Everywhere. Cutting-edge Technologies in Higher
Education, 6, 283-313.
Dawson, M., Burrell, D., & Emanuel, W. (2011, March). Utilization of e-learning tools, virtual
machines, & open source software to enhance graduate systems engineering Programs. In
Global Learn (Vol. 2011, No. 1, pp. 2088-2091).

4. Topic Motivation

5. Scenario of VM Environment

6. Hypervisors

7. Linux Distributions and Uses

8. Fedora Spins and Uses

9. Oracle Virtual Box

10. VMware Player

11. Tools in VMware Player

12. Python IDEs

13. SourceForge

14. Additional Info

15. Additional Info

16. Key Terms