According to Alec Fyfe, Systems Analyst Intern for the AIS department at St Petersburg College (SPC), NETLAB+ is an Internet-based lab for instructor-led training developed by the NDG (Network Development Group, Inc.). Through the use of an Internet browser, NETLAB+ provides a gateway to course content located on servers within the EpiCenter campus at SPC. These servers contain high amounts of virtual machines attached to physical hardware allowing for a student to interact. Essentially, the NETLAB+ device provides a gateway to virtual labs from anywhere an Internet connection can be made.

For the purposes of St. Petersburg College (SPC), NETLAB+ has been incorporated and managed by SPC’s CCIT department. The device is currently being used by three professors for online classes.  Fyfe stated that John Long, a professor for the CCIT department, will soon complete a class using NETLAB+.  Professors’ Michael Gordon and Dr. Holly Hoopes will be conducting their own classes soon with the heavy usage of NETLAB + to serve their students’ lab environment.

Fyfe believes that NETLAB+ is very beneficial in an academic setting since students enrolled in a class associated with NETLAB+ have no need to show up to any campus and conduct lab testing. NETLAB+ allows for that connection to be made from anywhere a student can gain access to the Internet. Since the class and lab content are virtualized with NETLAB+, the lab is not limited to a physical campus with hours of operation that might not fall in line to student work hours.

The good news is that NETLAB+ is not limited to just one browser, which makes NETLAB+ extremely user friendly. Fyfe further stated that there are several companies and organizations currently working with NDG, Inc. which has several certifications that go along with these organizations. So far, SPC has utilized only three of these classes offered. Fyfe is optimistic that this device usage will “prove to be very valuable in SPC’s future since it increases our presence within the community and the world.”