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Network Simulator Software Utilization as a Teaching Method for Distance Learning

Part of the Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems book series (LNNS,volume 389)

Abstract

During the Covid-19 pandemic period, the transition from a physical classroom into a virtual online environment led to the redesign of the teaching practices so that it is pedagogically and technologically adapted to distance education. The main questions raised by the research concern, on the one hand, the possibilities for improvement in terms of benefits through modern Information and Communication Technologies and, on the other hand, the directions for building optimal teaching and learning solutions for the existing teaching method. This paper aims to verify whether the use of remote online learning environments positively enhances learning outcomes. For this purpose, we used weighted online questionnaires, which we submitted to our students. In particular, we investigate the pedagogical effectiveness of the internet version of the “Packet Tracer Anywhere” as applied in the teaching of computer networking courses. Through the presentation of the positively enhances learning outcomes, we describe the benefits and the pedagogical significance of the operation as a whole. Teachers and researchers need to know in detail, in which way specific types of software’s as Network Simulator Software, activate students in distance learning and teaching situations. What we achieved through this research is to record the degree of activation and the degree of satisfaction from the involvement of the students in this specific educational environment.

Keywords

  • Network Simulator Software
  • Teaching methods
  • Synchronous and asynchronous distance learning, and teaching

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Acknowledgment

This work has been partially supported by UPRC (University of Piraeus Research Center) and by COSMOTE through a PEDION24 grant.

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Correspondence to Dimitrios Kotsifakos .

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Magetos, D., Sarlis, I., Kotsifakos, D., Douligeris, C. (2022). Network Simulator Software Utilization as a Teaching Method for Distance Learning. In: Auer, M.E., Hortsch, H., Michler, O., Köhler, T. (eds) Mobility for Smart Cities and Regional Development - Challenges for Higher Education. ICL 2021. Lecture Notes in Networks and Systems, vol 389. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-93904-5_28

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