The authors attempt to explain how students and teachers used a simulation-visualization environment in a distributed systems course. Since hands-on experience is the most effective way to learn computing skills, the approach given in this paper is definitely a useful one for students.

The paper contains five sections, including an introduction and conclusion. The second section, which is an overview of related tools, is really not needed in the context of this paper; it is not a survey of similar tools, and does not add much weight to the overall discussion. The third section explains LYDIAN, the tool itself, and its characteristics. It would have been useful if diagrams were provided in this section, showing screen shots of the tool to help describe various features, since the paper’s main theme is visualization and animation. The diagrams would have provided readers with a better grasp of the tool itself, and they would thereby appreciate the paper more. Sections 3 and 4 describe the assignments given to the students, and the outcome and observations.

It is not clear from the paper whether or not LYDIAN is a Web-based tool that could be used for broader distribution to several students, in order to measure its effectiveness in this context.

Overall, the authors conclude that their approach helped students to understand the concepts of distributed computing better, and that such methods are useful in computing curricula.