Java and packet Tracers on Tests - Problematic
Using Java to launch the packet tracers on chapter exams is very problematic. In violates best practices to allow java to access local resources on the local machine.
This scheme is also very sensitive to rapidly changing Java Versions. For my class, it worked for the first weeks of the semester, and then suddenly quit working because the java was out of date. I had no way of knowing this beforehand. (How can we know when sun updates java?)
Also, where my student tests, I have no administrative rights. It typically takes about a week to get my IT staff to update the java in the lab where we test and we deliver curriculum.
Packet tracer should just run in the browser for the tests, not try to launch it on the local machine.
Mike Kent
shared this idea
Hi Mike,
This was posted in the new NetSpace Communities from Product Manager, Thanh Le:
A Packet Tracer Media Object (PTMO) is a Packet Tracer activity that acts as an interactive media object for multiple choices (MC), drag-and-drop (DND) and fill-in-the-blanks (FIB) questions. Students will perform basic configuration, design and exploration tasks within the PT activities before answering the MC, DND, or FIB questions. We believe the PTMOs enhance students understanding and retention of the learning materials as they progress through the course. In addition, it will also enable students to familiarize and instructors to identify and resolve potential issues before students taking the Packet Tracer Skills Assessment.
First, we do empathize with your problems – most of them are related to Java performing frequent updates and interacting differently with each browser. Unfortunately, we do NOT have a quick term fix. In the long term, we are looking for solutions to be Java-independent that hopefully will greatly reduce – if not eliminate – all of these headaches.
In the meantime, we understand that students might have to click through multiple screens, and if they make a wrong selection – and in many cases, even if they make the right selection, Packet Tracer will not load. However, all of their information should be saved if they need to close the browser, restart the exam and allow Java to rerun and load the PT activities. We acknowledge that this is not an ideal situation, but can function as a stopgap workaround until we have a better solution.
We recommend using the SKIP function as a work-around if the Java problems persist.
After students select the exam, a Skip button will appear; and clicking the Skip button will prevent PT from initializing. The questions (that have PTMO embedded) will still display but students will not be able to launch the PT Activity. This means that information needed to answer the question will not be available but the question is still scored. Instructors can re-grade the students score in the Grades section of the course.
We appreciate if you can share your best practices and pointers.
Please visit the Communities in NetSpace.
Thank you!
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Patrick Quick commented
Agreed - and the JRE gives dire warnings about not being able to do this at all in future releases. It's a terrible security breach - from a company that promotes net security. There must be a better way. (the idea of including Packet Tracer questions is very good, and much better than the appalling 'simlets' used in certification exams)
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Brian Kappel commented
It is a HUGE problem. Have to go around and lower security on java just to maybe to get it to run. My suggestion until fixed is remove the packet tracers from the exam.