Evolution of skills ...
Andrew Smith SFHEA FRSA ????
UK Academic, HE in FE Specialist, Digital Technology Skills Evangelist, EDI Hero (according to WorldSkillsUK), Author & National Qualification Consultant [degrees | vocational | vendor | academic | apprenticeships]
Take a close look at the above image, in its original form, it was the NetAcad CCNAv1 practical lab topology from the late 1990's and early into the next millennium before the curriculum as updated and the lab structure became the foundation for the Router eSim, Packet Tracer predecessor.
There is much hidden in this structure, the use of hubs, serial cables, classful class C addressing and RIPv1 amongst other challenges ... this linear structure was the introduction to infrastructure networking for many and the foundation of what we are now still trying to accomplish.
While there is a tinge of academic romanticism when recalling this network, natural evolution and technological demands require us to change what we teach. If one was still using this network or the equipment, when teaching, while it would not be incorrect, it would be anachronistically out of date. Missing out on so many other essential skills required by the students - for example, there were IPX lab activities, that could be applied on this system - where are they now (hopefully in a museum).
Our evolution, means that we can now simulate, virtualise and scale the in class experience. We can build labs to focus on the hands on skills, offer remote solutions as well as offer greater complexity via simulators such as Packet Tracer at a considerably lower cost.
Nostalgia is there - but, I do not want to return to teaching using this lab, if the risk is a backwards step for everyone else.
Fagl?rer at Teknisk Erhvervsskole Center
3 年That were the days.
Lecturer in Informatics & Cyber Security at TU Dublin
3 年Have to admit I still use this and the students love it. All of these technologies still in use....somewhere....
Ccna basic elab
CiberOps @ [redacted]
3 年"Colision domains" vs "broadcast domains" --- love this one!!
Nice reading! Still believe that RIP because of its simplicity, is a great protocol to understand routing. Having taught the topology above, cant believe that I could start a class lesson like a grandpa "Once upon a time... " :)