ENHANCING NETWORKING EDUCATION THROUGH SWITCHING E COMMAND MOBILE APPLICATION

Abstract

The advancement of mobile technology has changed the practices of education, especially in technical education such as computer networking. This paper describes the creation of Switching E Command App, an offline mobile application designed to help a networking student learn and practice switching commands. The app was created using Rapid Application Development (RAD) and organizes the instructional content into well-defined lecture notes, categorized command reference, interactive practice, and self assessment within a simple user interface. An exploratory study with 40 students over two weeks showed good effects, where students reported easy access to the content, increased understanding of the networking commands, and increased confidence in the lab and in the assessment formats. Moreover, students found the offline option greatly valuable in states where there is no or limited internet connectivity. Also valuable was the with in-the-moment feedback the quiz offered, while helping form a connection between theory and practice. Current limitations include only behaviour supports
Android devices and only covers the topic of switching. Future extensions may include routing, subnetting, LMS integration. Overall, this project clearly contributes to mobile learning in technical education by allowing for independent study, bridging for the connectivity gaps, and increasing engagement.