Visualization Instruction on Computer Networking Courses

Computer networking plays an important role in computing science and other related areas. Due to the rapid development and abstract protocol theories, some difficulties and challenges exist in both the teaching and studying practices. We deeply study the course´s teaching procedure for undergraduates of information major in domestic universities, and propose a new instructing scheme, visualization instruction (VI), to improve students´ learning performance. To make the course´s contents and instructing means more directly and visually, we effectively utilize network simulation tools traditionally used for scientific researches. Furthermore, we also design effective studying materials. Some analyses with actual cases show that the VI scheme has obvious advantages and potentials.