The VRSciT project (2020-1-PT01-KA204-078597) has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Exploring Supercomputing: a technical overview– Level 3

Objectives
· Know the technical details of the architectures, systems and technologies used in supercomputing centers.
· Know the best practices in the design, development and operation of high performance systems.
· Learn about the technical and management challenges involved in building and maintaining a supercomputing center.
· Understand the key role of high-performance computing in technological innovation and scientific and economic progress.
· Share knowledge and experience with other professionals and experts in the field of high performance computing.
· Obtain a comprehensive and in-depth view of the field of high performance computing and its impact on society and daily life.
Subjects
Technology
Target Group
Adults
Duration
120min
Digital Tools Utilized
Technical/Digital Skills to be Possessed by the Teachers
Teachers should have experience and knowledge in the field of high-performance computing, including architectures, systems and supercomputing technologies.
Description of the Lesson Plan
This Lesson Plan is aimed at students of higher education (degree, postgraduate and master), students of Professional Training in technical branches such as Engineering and with technical knowledge of computer science and communications.
The main features of the lesson are:
· Subject(s); Technology. The main subject of this lesson plan is computer science and technology. Since the supercomputing center is a space where advanced technologies are used, this lesson plan could be framed within this area of knowledge in subjects such as high performance computing and data science.
· Teaching Methodologies; Introductory talk to establish the knowledge base of supercomputers and their applications. 360º virtual tour to the supercomputing center to see how a supercomputer and its applications work.
· Description of a practical activities;
- Presentation of the platform: The teacher must present the platform in which the visit will take place, highlighting its main features and functionalities.
- Virtual tour: The virtual tour of the supercomputing center should be guided by the teacher, showing the facilities, explaining the processes and technologies involved, and highlighting the advances and achievements of the institution.
- Question-and-answer session: After the visit, time could be set aside for a question-and-answer session, where participants can ask questions to the instructor and clarify any questions they had during the visit.
· Duration of the lesson; 120 minutes.
· Step by step activities to complete the lesson plan:
1.- Introduction (10 minutes):
- Presentation on the history and evolution of supercomputing.
- Discussion on the importance of supercomputing in today’s world.
- Presentation of some technical concepts used in supercomputing.
2.- Virtual visit of the supercomputing center (50 minutes):
- Guide through the supercomputing center to see facilities and machinery.
- Choice of 3D objects that represent.
- Explanation of technical concepts related to the operation of these 3D objects representing supercomputing center equipment.
3.- Group discussion (30 minutes)
- Open questions and answers on the concepts presented so far.
- Discussion on how students can apply supercomputing in their respective fields of study and careers.
- Conduct discussions among students to discuss the importance of supercomputing in the modern world.
4.- Synthesis and analysis of the results (20 minutes):
-To share the views and conclusions of the debates and discussions in a common session.
5.- Conclusion (10 minutes):
·Review the lessons learned.
· Announcement of future opportunities to learn more about supercomputing.

The VRSciT Project

The VRSciT project (2020-1-PT01-KA204-078597) has been funded with support from the European Commission. This web site reflects the views only of the author, and the Commission cannot be held responsible for any use which may be made of the information contained therein.

Creative Commons License
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