Using Simulation and Modeling Tools in Teaching Computer Network Courses

The Computer Networking course commonly taught in mixed mode involving lecture and practical session whereas beside face-to-face theory session, students need to experience hands-on activities in order to appreciate the technology and contents. Nevertheless the abstraction in Computer Networking course such as the complexity in TCP/IP network layering, the connection and configuration of client and server’s framework, differences in static and dynamic IP address configuration had imposed a great challenge for students to understand and grab the main concept of computer networking technology. As such, an approach of using computer network simulation and visualization tool in teaching and learning Computer Networking course is seen beneficial for educators and students. In this research, computer network simulation software of CISCO Packet Tracer was utilized in Computer Networking (MTN3023) course. Students (N=55) were exposed to CISCO Packet Tracer on which they developed Wide Area Network (WAN) that consists of configuration activities of Personal Computer (PC), Servers and Switches according to CISCO standard. Subsequently, student’s feedback and their insight on the effectiveness of CISCO packet Tracer in learning computer networking were probed using questionnaire. All the feedbacks were investigating statistically using SPSS 16.0. From the analysis, the descriptive results shown that all students were agreed (N=32 : Strongly Agree; N=23 : Agree) that CISCO Packet Tracer had successfully help them to understand several key concepts of computer networking and at the same quash some abstractions they faced in the course. In a nutshell, CISCO Packet Tracer as a simulation and visualization tool had been proven to be an effective software in supporting the teaching and learning of computer networking course.

Computer networking is taught for some time at universities. A network is a complex mix of applications, communications protocols and link technologies, traffic flows and routing algorithms. Teaching the networking concept, the network design process is a challenging task, requiring designers to balance user performance expectations with costs and capacities. One of the obvious approaches employed to deal with its complexity is through the use of modelling and simulation techniques. This paper examines three best educational tools that can be used in the Computer Networking course at Cardiff Metropolitan University or any University for educational purpose. The paper demonstrates that a successful teaching programme needs to combine a range of teaching tools to achieve its aims. Analysing various aspects of the course provides evaluation of the overall success of the tools. Many network design and simulation tools have been studied. Based on our research and experiment, the best educational tools were selected that could be used for the purpose of teaching in the area of computer communications networks. The wide area network modelling tool Delite, the network simulator ns-3, the topology generation tool Brite can be used together to teach students the networking concepts. These tools can not only help students to understand computer network principles but also improve their network practical skills. Currently there are various tools available that are created by different companies and groups of researchers in academia and that are intended for use as practical and/or educational tools for network design including security issues. To make this task easy, different users, researchers and companies have developed different network modelling and simulation (MS) tools. Very often, such tools are addressing different issues in the network design process which are complementary to each other. It would be useful for learning and improving the network design process by allowing the use of a variety of tools.

This paper describes the education and improved curricular content of computer networking and communications courses through the introduction of hands-on ATM and wireless network programming to students. The authors' institutions are in the process of establishing two laboratories to teach advanced computer networking. Traditional computer networking courses primarily tend to provide students with hands-on software development and network performance experience with TCP/IP networks. These labs plan to enhance the expertise of students through introducing next-generation networks. In particular, projects and experiments based on ATM networks and wireless networks will be introduced, both of which are increasingly important technologies in the industries students hope to join. The objective is to prepare the students for both industry and advanced graduate research. Two different approaches will be used to teach practical advanced networking concepts. At WSU, a project-based approach will be used where the students focus on writing software applications using the ATM and wireless application programming interface (API). A&T will follow an experiment-based approach where each course will typically involve two hours of theory and two hours laboratory work.

The computer network course is a fundamental professional course in the School of Computer Science, with strong theoretical and practical significance. In order to improve teaching quality and student motivation, the team teachers of computer network courses must constantly try to adjust teaching methods and techniques. Therefore, the OBE concept is integrated into this course, with the core of solving the problem of "disconnection between teaching and learning, and separation between theory and practice" in traditional teaching, making teaching more focused on improving students' abilities and practical needs. According to feedback from students after teaching practice, the application of OBE based teaching design in the "Computer Network" course can focus on teaching outcomes, improve the teaching process, cultivate students' self-learning ability, and achieve good teaching results.

A number of modeling and simulation tools have been developed and more are being developed for emergency response applications. The available simulation tools are mostly meant for standalone use. Addressing an emergency incident requires addressing multiple interdependent aspects of the situation. The simulation tools addressing different aspects of an emergency situation need to be integrated to provide the whole picture to planners, trainers and responders. A framework is required to ensure that modeling and simulation tools can be systematically integrated together to address the overall response. This paper proposes a framework for integration of modeling, simulation and visualization tools for emergency response. The development and implementation of the proposed framework will significantly improve the nation's capability in the emergency response area.

Experimenting in courses such as operating systems, computer networks, and distributed systems is challenging due to the need to access system kernels and network infrastructures, as well as the distributed nature of these experiments. In this paper, we design and develop a laboratory platform that can be rapidly and economically adopted in any educational institutions to teach introductory computer networks courses. By using commercial, off-the-shelf hardware and open-source software, and together with our technical solutions, the platform gives students an opportunity to experiment in a real, flexible and scalable network, and to interact with the network both as a network user and more importantly as a network operator. These features can help students to better understand the algorithms, protocols and practice of computer networks. This easy-to-use lab platform has been received favorably by students. Also, the low-cost platform is easy to maintain, and can be repeatedly used in multiple, back-to-back lab sections.

As a core course for students in computer science and technology major in local university, computer network is a strong theoretical and practical course. In this paper, the problems are discussed, which exist in each step of teaching and practice for computer network course. On the other hand, some suggestions are also proposed in computer network course teaching, such as teaching contents, teaching methods, teaching means, and experiment teaching.

Computer network is a compulsory course for computer related majors in colleges and universities. In view of the problems existing in the traditional teaching of computer network courses, under the background of industry-university cooperation, this paper studies and practices the computer network courses from the aspects of teacher training, course system construction, course teaching, course practice, course assessment, course resource construction and so on. It improves the teaching effect of the course, enhances the students' practical ability, and has certain reference function to the principle course.

With the rapid development of information technology, as a new classroom teaching model, flipped classroom has a great impact on the traditional classroom teaching, and provides new ideas and methods for college teaching reform. Combining with the connotation and characteristics of the flipped classroom, this paper proposes the computer network course teaching model under the flipped classroom model, and gives the specific implementation strategy of the flipped classroom in combination with the teaching case, which provides a reference for the teaching reform of computer network course.

Editorial: "Cyber Security Prevention, Defenses Driven by AI and Mathematical Modelling and Simulation Tools". The rise of the Smart Computation driven by the Artificial Intelligence with the ubiquitous access to Data Computer Communication Technologies and Internet by anyone, from anywhere at any time, has become a working, learning and socializing platform for people worldwide and if often known as Cyberspace. The past century technological advancements in the Data Communications Technologies , Semiconductor Industry (SI) and a Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) contributed to significant increase of computer systems performance and computational capacity of small portable computers and cell phones that have become available at low cost for people anywhere in the world. Due to relatively low cost, anyone and anywhere in the world may purchase a PC, Laptop, Smart Phone, or Tablet. These smart-computational devices are capable of powerful computation and connecting almost any computer system in the world via Internet 24/7. Given the current unstable geopolitical ecosystem in conjunction with the dynamic development in the artificial intelligence (AI), smart computation and fast Internet with the ubiquitous access to Internet 24/7, the reliable and secure provision of confidentiality, integrity and accessibility of data available via Internet, has become essential for government, business, the industry and individual worldwide. The fast developments in the field of AI gave rise to a new era of smart computation that can easily be utilized by the governments, special groups or very well trained and skilled individual with malicious intend due to their political , economic or personal motivation. Given the rise of next generation of smart cyberattacks, the use of AI and Mathematical Modeling and Simulations Tools has become essential part of cybersecurity tool kit, to make sure that contra cyber measures are most effective and reliable in real-time 24/7. The Research Topic was received with great interest in the scholastic and professional community worldwide. The paper selection was very competitive based on rigorous reviews presenting seven papers. The Research Topic presents a collection of selected peer reviewed papers presenting most recent advances and the state-of-the-art in the field of. Applied AI and Mathematical Modelling in Cyber Security. The papers show evidence that cyberattacks are becoming much more sophisticated, computationally complex, and challenging for the current cyber security mechanisms, which drives the research, innovation, and development of the next generation of AI assisted Cyber Security imbedded with the Mathematical Modelling and Simulations tools. The first paper presents practical application of eXplainable AI (XAI) in cybersecurity while enabling a machine-human interaction. The second paper discusses effective use of AI applied in the cyberattacks prevention utilizing Intrusion Detection and Prevention Systems (IDPS). The third paper presents use of deep learning and machine learning algorithms to identify the malicious malware. The fourth paper discusses the use of encryption and cryptographic algorithms in creating an effective cyber defenses in the Internet of Thing Cyber Infrastructures. The fifth paper presents effective methods to identify possible cyberattacks utilizing the noisy audio evidence. The sixth paper illustrates utilization of simulation based on the dropout mechanisms to identify obfuscated malicious traffic. The seventh paper presents effective applications of Generative AI Influenced Spread, Extended Models and Awareness Spread Models to analyze fake news propagation and enable the intervention strategy assessment. The Research Topic brings to light most recent developments in the field of applied AI and Mathematical Modeling and Simulations in Cyber Security, while presenting current and future challenges presented by ongoing challenges in the field of studies. Given the current dynamic advancements in the field of AI, Smart Computation and AI, we are yet at the very beginning of new era of new generation of ultra-smart and most sophisticated cyberattacks that will require a new ultra-smart cyber defenses to make sure that the future cyberspace will be safe, reliable and beneficial to the betterment of mankind for future generations for many years to come. The Research Topic promotes creation of the AI Inspired Cyber Security Center, bringing together multidisciplinary research teams working together while seeking best solutions and mechanism to make the current and future cyberspace safe, secure and reliable 27/7 in the nation and worldwide. The Topic Editors would like to use this opportunity to express most sincere gratitude to contributors, reviewers, to Dr. Enrique Morillas, Dr. Nicola Zannone, Mr Sean O'Reilly Ms Alice Gooch, and Colleagues at Frontiers in Computer Science for their strong support, kind guidance and good counsel provided during the course of the project.

Packet analysis can be used in computer networks course to help students better understand the fundamental networking concepts and the principle of protocols. This paper presents a platform for understanding Computer network protocol based on packet analysis online and its use in a computer network course. The platform provides a channel for automatically analyzing the typical protocols implementation's behavior by inspecting packet traces of the protocols' activity, furthermore it can interprets the trace as a whole and show protocol interactions and the relationships between objects. The evaluation result shows that using the platform enhances student learning on networking protocols and interest in the subject of computer networks.

This paper analyzes the problems of large difference of learning effect between students learning by inquiry through blended learning in our computer network course, and then put forward a new learning system called blended inquiry through blended learning based on learning style and blended learning. The paper presents that what constitute the learning system, how the learning system averages the learning effect of students and the applying result.

Comunicació presentada a EDULEARN2019, 11th International Conference on Education and New Learning Technologies (July 1-3, 2019, Palma, Mallorca, Spain).

This research aims to improve the learning quality of Computer Network course through the implementation of Waterfall method in the development of learning model. Waterfall method, with its focus on systematic and sequential approach in software development, is adapted to design and implement effective learning structure. This study uses qualitative research design with data collection through observation, interview, and documentation. Data analysis was conducted using content analysis method to evaluate the effectiveness of Waterfall-based learning model implementation. The results show that the implementation of Waterfall method facilitates structured planning, systematic development of learning materials, and continuous evaluation, which overall contribute to the improvement of learning quality. The developed learning model encourages students' active participation and improves the understanding of key concepts in Computer Networking. This research confirms that the Waterfall method can be effectively used outside the context of software development, particularly in improving the quality of learning in the academic field.

Data security is a process in maintaining and securing information packages in exchanging data in the digital world. The purpose of this study is to produce a method for securing online data transactions. The method used is a literature review by comparing several data security methods that already exist in online learning. The results achieved are a method or method that can be used in online learning for computer network courses. The implication is that the Computer Network course given online will have an online data security system in the teaching and learning process.