For Teachers and Admins
Vocareum Notebook is a cloud-based, Jupyter-powered environment designed to support computer science, data science, and AI education.
This is our flagship lab type for delivering interactive learning experiences that require advanced computing power and specialized software environments. It was built from the ground up to empower educators with:
Cloud-optimized Jupyter Notebook support.
Streamlined task automation and autograding.
Powerful environment customization options.
Easy access to budgeted generative AI (GenAI) and GPUs.
Learning Management System (LMS) integration for enrollment, access, and grade pass-back.
It also addresses the challenges of complex technical setup and differential learning experiences by providing a browser-based interface that requires no local downloads or installations, allowing students to focus on learning rather than environment management.
The student interface is straightforward and approachable, making it ideal for learners who are new to Integrated Development Environments (IDEs). It also excels in supporting advanced use cases, such as curricula that require access to high-performance GPUs, GenAI models, or customized coding environments. Note that before a Vocareum course can use certain resources, such as GPUs or GenAI models, they must be configured at the organizational level by an Administrator.
Key Features and Capabilities
Advanced Jupyter Environment
The platform uses a containerized architecture to provide customized lab environments that support multiple programming languages, including Python, R, and Julia. Every environment is pre-configured with popular data science and AI libraries, ensuring that the necessary tools are available to learners immediately upon launching a lab. You can further customize these environments by installing global packages or modifying system configurations and saving a new container image.
Generative AI and GPU Resources
You can leverage cutting-edge GenAI models, such as ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, in a managed sandbox environment. The platform also provides built-in AI learning tools, including:
AI Assistants: Customizable chatbots that can serve as AI tutors.
Code Generation: An agent that generates or modifies code based on cell context.
AI-Assisted Cells: A tool that provides guidance and suggestions directly within Jupyter Notebook cells.
For compute-intensive tasks, such as training large-scale models, the platform offers single-click access to GPUs. Administrators can also provision dedicated server clusters for labs with specific compute requirements. All high-cost resources are managed through real-time budget tracking and automated controls to ensure cost-effective utilization.
Teaching and Administrative Tools
Seamless Course Management
Vocareum Notebook integrates with leading LMS platforms, including Canvas, Blackboard, Moodle, and D2L Brightspace, using LTI 1.3. Single Sign-On (SSO) is also supported. These options simplify student access and allow you to track progress and manage assignments within your existing institutional workflow.
Grading and Feedback
The platform streamlines assessments with robust auto-grading capabilities. For Jupyter Notebooks running Python, you can define manual or automated rubric criteria directly within notebook cells. The autograding syntax is compatible with open-source tools like nbgrader, so your files remain fully portable. For other types of coding files, such as Python or R files, Vocareum Notebook supports script-based autograding.
To enhance the learning experience, you can provide learners with immediate feedback from the autograder, add in-line grading comments, or facilitate peer reviews.
Resource Links
For detailed instructions on configuring assignments, please refer to the following guides: