Innovative Learning Game Engages Students While Teaching Networking Skills

SAN JOSE, Calif., March 5, 2007 - Cisco® today announced the availability of  "The Subnetting Game," a new educational game designed to help make the highly technical topic of subnetting easier for students to learn. The game was developed in response to a recent survey by Cisco in which a majority of students responded that network addressing, and particularly subnetting, remains one of the most difficult skills to learn. "The Subnetting Game" is available to anyone who registers at the CCNA® Prep Center, a website dedicated to networking professionals working toward completion of the CCNA certification: http://www.cisco.com/go/prepcenter.

A foundational skill for networking professionals, subnetting is the process of dividing an organization's growing network into separate subnetworks to provide for better manageability, efficiency and security. These subnetworks can be distributed to separate departments throughout the organization for unique access points, resources and levels of security. 

The immersive game allows students to test their subnetting knowledge while developing the necessary skill sets through an entertaining challenge.  The game begins with a small network and a simple problem, then becomes increasingly difficult as the levels progress so that students with even a minimal knowledge of subnetting can utilize the learning tool. 

"Network addressing and subnetting are crucial skills for networking professionals to master," said Jerry Bush, program manager at Cisco. "With the new 'Subnetting Game,' students quickly increase their subnetting expertise while having fun. Most students find they are learning new skills without even realizing it."

About Cisco Career Certifications
The widely respected Cisco Career Certifications bring valuable, measurable rewards to network professionals, their managers and the organizations that employ them. Cisco offers three levels of general certification: Associate, Professional and Expert in various tracks such as Routing and Switching, Network Security and Service Provider. A variety of Cisco Specialist-focused certifications are also available to show knowledge in specific technologies, solutions or job roles. For Cisco Career Certifications information, visit: http://www.cisco.com/en/US/learning.

About Cisco Systems
 Cisco, (NASDAQ: CSCO), is the worldwide leader in networking that transforms how people connect, communicate and collaborate.  Information about Cisco can be found at http://www.cisco.com. For ongoing news, please go to http://newsroom.cisco.com.

# # #

Cisco, the Cisco logo, Cisco Systems, the Cisco Systems logo, and CCNA are registered trademarks of Cisco Systems, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks mentioned in this document are the property of their respective owners. The use of the word partner does not imply a partnership relationship between Cisco and any other company. This document is Cisco Public Information.