Sebowa CHPC Cloud Platform Guide¶

Introduction to Sebowa for DBE Teachers¶

Sebowa is CHPC's (Centre for High Performance Computing) cloud computing platform designed for educational and research purposes in South Africa.

What is Sebowa?¶

Sebowa is a cloud computing platform provided by CHPC that offers: - Cloud Infrastructure: Virtual machines and computing resources - Storage Services: Cloud-based file storage and backup - Development Environments: Cloud-based coding and development tools - Educational Access: Free or low-cost access for educational institutions

Key Features¶

1. Cloud Computing Resources¶

Virtual machines (VMs) for running applications
Scalable computing power
On-demand resource allocation
Pay-as-you-use or educational credits

2. Storage Services¶

Cloud file storage
Data backup and recovery
Shared storage for collaboration
Secure data management

3. Development Tools¶

Online development environments
Code repositories
Collaboration tools
Version control integration

4. Educational Benefits¶

Free tier for educational use
Student and teacher accounts
Project hosting
Resource sharing

Getting Started with Sebowa¶

Step 1: Account Creation¶

For Educational Institutions: 1. Contact CHPC for educational account setup 2. Provide school/institution details 3. Request teacher/student accounts 4. Verify educational status

Account Types: - Teacher Accounts: Full access, can manage student accounts - Student Accounts: Limited access, supervised by teachers - Institutional Accounts: School-wide access

Step 2: Accessing Sebowa¶

Web Interface: - URL: (Check with CHPC for current URL) - Login with credentials provided - Access dashboard and services

Command Line Access (Advanced): - SSH access available - API access for automation - Integration with other tools

Dashboard Features: - Resource overview - Project management - Storage management - User management (for teachers)

Using Sebowa for Coding and Robotics Education¶

1. Project Storage¶

Store Student Projects: - Upload Scratch projects - Save Arduino code files - Store project documentation - Create project portfolios

Benefits: - Access from anywhere - Automatic backup - Easy sharing - Version history

2. Collaborative Development¶

Team Projects: - Share code with students - Collaborative editing - Peer review features - Group project management

Teacher Collaboration: - Share lesson plans - Resource library - Best practices sharing - Curriculum materials

3. Cloud-Based Coding¶

Online Development: - Access coding environments - Run code in the cloud - Test projects remotely - No local installation needed

Integration: - Works with Scratch Online - Supports Arduino cloud tools - GitHub integration - Jupyter Notebooks support

4. Data Management¶

Sensor Data: - Store Arduino sensor readings - Cloud-based data logging - Data visualization tools - Long-term data storage

Student Data: - Assessment records - Project portfolios - Progress tracking - Analytics and reporting

Practical Applications for DBE Teachers¶

Application 1: Student Project Portfolios¶

Setup: 1. Create folder structure for each student 2. Upload project files 3. Organize by subject/topic 4. Share with parents/administrators

Benefits: - Digital portfolios - Easy assessment - Showcase student work - Track progress over time

Application 2: Resource Library¶

Create Shared Resources: - Lesson plans - Project templates - Assessment rubrics - Tutorial videos - Code examples

Access Control: - Public resources (all can access) - Private resources (teacher only) - Shared with specific teachers - Student-accessible materials

Application 3: Collaborative Lesson Planning¶

Features: - Real-time collaboration - Version control - Comments and feedback - Template sharing

Workflow: 1. Create lesson plan document 2. Share with colleagues 3. Collaborate in real-time 4. Finalize and publish

Application 4: Remote Learning Support¶

When Students Work from Home: - Access projects from any device - Continue work seamlessly - Submit assignments online - Receive feedback digitally

Integration with Other Tools¶

GitHub Integration¶

Connect Sebowa with GitHub: - Sync code repositories - Version control - Collaborative coding - Project management

Google Workspace Integration¶

Use with Google Tools: - Import/export documents - Share files between platforms - Unified workflow - Cross-platform access

Arduino Cloud Integration¶

Connect Arduino Projects: - Upload sensor data - Remote monitoring - Data visualization - IoT applications

Security and Privacy¶

Data Protection¶

Security Features: - Encrypted storage - Secure access - User authentication - Access controls

Privacy Considerations: - Student data protection - FERPA/COPPA compliance (where applicable) - South African data protection laws - Institutional policies

Best Practices¶

Use Strong Passwords: Complex, unique passwords
Enable Two-Factor Authentication: If available
Regular Backups: Don't rely solely on cloud
Access Control: Limit who can access what
Monitor Usage: Regular security checks

Cost and Access¶

Educational Pricing¶

Free Tier: - Limited storage - Basic features - Educational use only - Student accounts

Paid Tiers (if needed): - More storage - Advanced features - Priority support - Custom configurations

Getting Access¶

For Schools: 1. Contact CHPC Helpdesk 2. Request educational account 3. Provide school documentation 4. Complete setup process

Contact Information: - CHPC Helpdesk: (Check CHPC website) - Email: (Check CHPC website) - Support Portal: (Check CHPC website)

Classroom Implementation¶

Setup for Classroom Use¶

Step 1: Account Setup - Create teacher account - Set up student accounts (or guide students) - Organize into classes/groups - Set permissions

Step 2: Initial Training - Teach students how to access - Show basic navigation - Practice uploading files - Demonstrate sharing

Step 3: Regular Use - Daily/weekly project uploads - Portfolio building - Resource access - Collaboration activities

Managing Student Accounts¶

Best Practices: - Use school email addresses - Monitor account activity - Set appropriate permissions - Regular account maintenance

Troubleshooting¶

Common Issues¶

Login Problems: - Verify credentials - Check account status - Reset password if needed - Contact support

Access Issues: - Check permissions - Verify account type - Review access controls - Contact administrator

Storage Issues: - Check storage limits - Clean up old files - Archive projects - Request more storage

Performance Issues: - Check internet connection - Clear browser cache - Try different browser - Contact support

Resources and Support¶

Documentation¶

CHPC Documentation: Check CHPC website
Sebowa User Guide: Platform-specific documentation
Video Tutorials: If available
FAQs: Common questions and answers

Training¶

CHPC Workshops: Regular training sessions
Online Tutorials: Self-paced learning
Community Forums: User support
Helpdesk Support: Direct assistance

Community¶

Teacher Network: Connect with other users
Best Practices: Share experiences
Resource Sharing: Collaborative materials
Support Groups: Help and advice

Comparison with Other Cloud Platforms¶

Feature	Sebowa	Google Drive	OneDrive	GitHub
Storage	Yes	Yes	Yes	Code only
Collaboration	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
Version Control	Yes	Limited	Limited	Yes
Development Tools	Yes	No	No	Yes
Educational Focus	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
South African	Yes	No	No	No
Cost (Education)	Free/Low	Free	Free	Free

Advantages of Sebowa for DBE¶

Local Support¶

South African Based: Local support and servers
CHPC Expertise: Access to HPC knowledge
Educational Focus: Designed for education
Language Support: May support local languages

Integration¶

CHPC Ecosystem: Works with other CHPC tools
Research Access: Connection to research resources
Training Programs: Access to CHPC training
Community: South African educational community

Cost Effectiveness¶

Educational Pricing: Free or low-cost for schools
No Hidden Costs: Transparent pricing
Scalable: Pay only for what you need
Long-term Support: Sustainable for schools

Next Steps¶

For Teachers¶

Request Access: Contact CHPC for educational account
Explore Platform: Familiarize yourself with features
Plan Integration: Decide how to use in classroom
Train Students: Teach students to use platform
Build Resources: Create shared resource library

For Schools¶

Institutional Account: Set up school-wide access
Teacher Training: Train all teachers
Student Onboarding: Set up student accounts
Resource Development: Build school resources
Ongoing Support: Maintain and update

References¶

CHPC Website: https://www.chpc.ac.za
CHPC Training: https://github.com/ChpcTraining
DSI Coding School: https://github.com/ChpcTraining/dsi_coding_school
Cloud Computing Module: https://github.com/ChpcTraining/dsi_coding_school/tree/main/cloud_computing
Sebowa Documentation: (Check CHPC website for current links)

Integration with Day 3 Curriculum¶

Where Sebowa Fits¶

Session: Cloud Storage & Collaboration - Use Sebowa as primary cloud storage - Demonstrate file management - Show collaboration features

Session: Cloud-Based Coding Platforms - Access development environments - Host student projects - Version control integration

Session: Data Visualization - Store sensor data - Access data from anywhere - Share visualizations

Session: IoT & Cloud Integration - Connect Arduino data to Sebowa - Remote data access - Long-term data storage

Quick Start Checklist¶

[ ] Contact CHPC for educational account
[ ] Complete account setup
[ ] Explore dashboard and features
[ ] Create folder structure
[ ] Upload test files
[ ] Practice sharing and collaboration
[ ] Set up student accounts (if applicable)
[ ] Create resource library
[ ] Plan classroom integration
[ ] Train students (when ready)

Note: This guide provides an overview of Sebowa. For specific technical details, current URLs, and latest features, please refer to the official CHPC documentation and contact CHPC support.

Last Updated: 2024
Version: 1.0