In the Cisco Global Learning Network, interactive features are a key element of successful e-learning. Developers working on the Cisco Networking Academy Program have integrated simulations into the curriculum that provide students with an exciting, virtual, hands-on experience. There are three different types of interactive features: Router eSIM, E-Labs, and Photo Zooms.

Router eSIM is a feature designed to supplement lab work by giving students the opportunity to practice router commands without actually being connected to a router. Much of the success of the Networking Academy program has been attributed to its hands-on nature. Students are required to work through more than 200 labs. Most of these labs include extensive router configuration. The eSIM feature allows students an opportunity for additional virtual practice to increase the effectiveness of hands-on lab time.

Using Flash, the Curriculum Development Team built eSIM to emulate the five-router topology that drives the Networking Academy program labs. The simulator reacts like the routers in the labs and students can do most of the labs using this feature. Router eSIM is more than just a simulator, however. It is a teaching tool that provides a ready reference to the five-router lab topology. At a click, a student can call up the topology for a quick refresher and then return to the simulated terminal environment.

The Cisco Terminal Simulator is the interface for Router eSIM. It looks much like the familiar Hyper Terminal that students see in the lab. Students can enter configuration commands and work configuration problems as they would with an actual router. If a mistake is made, the same error message encountered while working on an actual router is displayed.

eSIM may be used to study for assessments and to prepare for the CCNA certification exam.

E-Labs are a powerful instructional tool to help students master Cisco IOS. When a new Cisco IOS command is introduced within the text and graphics of the curriculum, students can immediately explore and practice the command using the Flash "syntax activities". E-Labs also has a "lab activity feature" that lets students practice the labs as many times as they wish before they complete them in-person. This virtual preparation further ensures that students are well prepared for the actual labs and maximize their time once there.

The Photo Zooms feature allows students to familiarize themselves with various networking devices by viewing them from different perspectives before reaching the labs. They can view the external ports on the back of the device, front, sides, underside, and inside. Points of importance are highlighted with numbers and when the student clicks on the number an explanation appears in the green shaded area. This added familiarity using Photo Zooms lets students begin their labs with greater confidence and makes their hands-on time more efficient.

Photo Zooms will appear in future assessment items and some interactive labs. The feature is applicable to a wide variety of learning applications involving complex objects or processes. The Photo Zoom feature is programmed in Flash.