Using Visual Educational Tools f or the Teaching and Learning of EIGRP
Jesús Expósito, Valentina Trujillo, Eric Gamess · 2010
The complex and abstract theory of routing protocols can be clarified by doing some laboratories in testbeds. However, it is not always possible to setup an entire testbed containing multiple computers, switches and routers to strengthen student skills for time and cost reasons. Using GUI-based applications is an alternative way to improve the understanding of the complex algorithms involved in routing protocols, because graphics, images and animations can be easily transformed into knowledge. With a visual didactic approach, students can understand how routing protocols really work in a more intuitive and friendly way than using traditional approaches. In this paper, we focused on the teaching and learning of EIGRP, an advanced distance-vector routing protocol developed by Cisco Systems, using visual educational tools. To do so, we present well-known computational tools (Packet Tracer, Dynamips/GNS3 and OPNET IT Guru) and a new application that we developed (Easy-EIGRP), and discuss how they can be used to strengthen the teaching and learning of EIGRP.