In higher education institutions such as universities, media-based instruction, including online and on-demand formats, has become increasingly common. These new teaching methods allow students to attend classes at any time and from any location. In addition, it is essential that online learning content is accessible not only on PCs, but also on various devices such as tablets and smartphones. However, hands-on labs in IT-related courses, which have traditionally relied on physical PCs for practice, face challenges in transitioning to anytime, anywhere online learning.

To address this issue, this study developed a system that allows students to perform network-building exercises using Slack, a communication tool. Slack is a cloud-based platform that is available as an application for various devices and can be used anytime and anywhere with an Internet connection. In this system, functions such as starting an exercise or checking learning progress can be accessed by sending specific emoji corresponding to the desired function. Students can complete network-building exercises by simply sending network commands through Slack.

In addition, instructors can monitor student learning progress for each assignment through a web page integrated with Slack. They can also provide feedback and comments directly through the web interface, which students can view within Slack. An experiment with undergraduate students showed that the system achieved comparable learning outcomes to exercises conducted with physical PCs, and allowed for smooth execution of the exercises.

Using the system developed in this study, students can complete network-building exercises entirely within Slack, using PCs, tablets, smartphones, or any other device that supports Slack. This approach eliminates the need for physical PCs, making the exercises more accessible and flexible for students.

Keywords: Online learning, network learning, slack.