PT Anywhere offers a network simulation environment via a web interface that can be accessed from any web browser or as a widget inside an interactive eBook. PT Anywhere is based on the Packet Tracer network simulator for Windows and Linux developed by the Cisco Networking Academy.
Rather than replicate Packet Tracer’s functionality in a web application, PT Anywhere provides its basic functionality from a minimalistic interface that can be adapted to different learning contexts and purposes. PT Anywhere is available as a widget that can be embedded inside an online course, a Learning Management System like Moodle, or an interactive eBook.
PT Anywhere has been jointly developed by the Open University and Cisco in the context of the projects FORGE and Open Networking Lab. Cisco recognises the potential of PT Anywhere as a novel learning tool, building on top of and extending both the capabilities and audience reach of the Packet Tracer software. Nuno Guarda, Head of Corporate Affairs for Cisco in the United Kingdom and Ireland, sees PT Anywhere as a “significant strategic development” and states that “while we currently reach over a million students using Packet Tracer, the potential for the iPad and possibly HTML5 brings a new and very exciting dimension.”
PT Anywhere has played a vital role in remote teaching and learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has been featured in the UK government’s Digital Skills Toolkit, which is offering essential digital skills to job seekers.
The open source code of PT Anywhere is available on Github. You can learn how to install it in your own server here.
Mikroyannidis, A., Gómez-Goiri, A., Smith, A. & Domingue, J. (2018) PT Anywhere: a mobile environment for practical learning of network engineering. Interactive Learning Environments, 1-15.
Rosewell, J., Kear, K., Jones, A., Smith, A., Donelan, H., Mikroyannidis, A., Peasgood, A., Sanders, C., Third, A., Wermelinger, M., Moss, N., Williams, J. & Connolly, T. (2018) Open Networking Lab: online practical learning of computer networking. The Online, Open and Flexible Higher Education Conference: Blended and online Learning: Changing the Educational Landscape. Aarhus University, Denmark.
Mikroyannidis, A., Kear, K., Smith, A., Jones, A., Rosewell, J., Donelan, H., Wermelinger, M., Sanders, C., Third, A. & Connolly, T. (2018) The Open Networking Lab: Hands-on Vocational Learning in Computer Networking. IEEE Frontiers in Education Conference (FIE). San Jose, California, USA, IEEE Education Society Publications.
Mikroyannidis, A., Collins, D., Tranoris, C., Denazis, S., Daanpareit, Gerwen, J.-V., Moerman, I., Jourjon, G., Fourmaux, O., Domingue, J. & Marquez-Barja, J. M. (2017) FORGE: An eLearning Framework for Remote Laboratory Experimentation on FIRE Testbed Infrastructure. IN SERRANO, M., ISARIS, N., SCHAFFERS, H., DOMINGUE, J., BONIFACE, M. & KORAKIS, T. (Eds.) Building the Future Internet through FIRE. River Publishers.
Mikroyannidis, A., Gomez-Goiri, A., Smith, A. & Domingue, J. (2017) Online Experimentation and Interactive Learning Resources for Teaching Network Engineering. IEEE Global Engineering Education Conference (EDUCON). Athens, Greece, IEEE Education Society Publications.
Domingue, J., Mikroyannidis, A., Gomez-Goiri, A., Smith, A., Pareit, D., Gerwen, J. V.-V., Tranoris, C., Lampropoulos, K., Jourjon, G., Fourmaux, O. & Rahman, M. Y. (2015) Forging Online Education through FIRE: iPad Edition. The Open University. ISBN: 978 1473020160.
Mikroyannidis, A., Gomez-Goiri, A., Domingue, J., Tranoris, C., Pareit, D., Gerwen, J. & Marquez-Barja, J. (2015) Deploying learning analytics for awareness and reflection in online scientific experimentation. IN KRAVCIK, M., MIKROYANNIDIS, A., PAMMER, V., PRILLA, M. & ULLMANN, T. D. (Eds.) 5th Workshop on Awareness and Reflection in Technology Enhanced Learning (ARTEL) at the 10th European Conference on Technology Enhanced Learning: Design for Teaching and Learning in a Networked World (EC-TEL 2015). Toledo, Spain, CEUR Workshop Proceedings, 105-111.
Mikroyannidis, A., Domingue, J., Third, A., Smith, A. & Guarda, N. (2015) Online Learning and Experimentation via Interactive Learning Resources. 3rd Experiment@International Conference (exp.at’15). Ponta Delgada, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal, IEEE Computer Society Publications.
Please note that PT Anywhere is no longer available to use as an online service. If you would like to download and install PT Anywhere, the open source code is available on Github and installation instructions are available here.
For any other questions about PT Anywhere, please contact Dr Alexander Mikroyannidis.
