How would you like to be able to study for an upcoming exam anytime/anywhere? For the last couple of years, I have been hearing about anytime/anywhere learning. The idea is that knowledge should not be confined to the classroom. I couldn’t agree more. Of course, learning has never been confined to the classroom. Life is constant learning. But what we are talking about here is learning that traditionally has been thought of as classroom learning starting to step outside into the hallways, roadways and sky ways. We have seen this in many forms such as audio books, Computer Based Training (CBT) and web-based training. One of the latest entries is M-learning. M-learning revolves around the idea of using portable computing devices.

Recently, Cisco entered the M-learning arena with M-learning modules that load on an Ipod Touch or IPhone. Currently, they offer 18 modules, each about 30 minutes long and cover CCENT and CCNA level material. These are being marketed as a product that supplements the exciting certified Cisco training and not a replacement for it. They are priced at 4.99 each and are downloadable from the Itunes store. Once downloaded, the content is viewable offline and expires. If these are successful, I am sure we will see the content extend to other certifications.

So, for just under $100.00 you get around nine hours of supplemental CCNA content. The next time you are sitting in the airport just wishing you could study for the CCNA, you are going to kick yourself if you haven’t downloaded one of these modules. Or, maybe you will just play a game of Bejeweled.

Once you truly understand it, you will never really lose it. However, if you are learning it in preparation for a certification such as CCNA, you not only need to be able to do decimal to binary conversion, you need to be able to do it fast. The number one reason I hear people say they failed their CCNA is because it took them too long to do the subnetting. Since subnetting requires you to convert decimal to binary, you need to be able to do it quickly. The only way to improve your speed is to practice.

I know sitting down at the table with a list of 100 decimal numbers and converting them to binary each night doesn’t sound like a lot of fun. How about we make a game out of it. Well, we don’t have to because Cisco already did. It’s called the Binary Game. Currently, you can play it online at Cisco’s Learning Network. You will need a CCO account to access this page, so you might have to sign up if you don’t already have one. There are also plans to make it a game for the iPhone and Ipod Touch.

The game is kind of like Tetris meets flash cards. Rows of binary numbers appear, and you need to clear the rows before the screen fills up. It starts with a single row and slowly adds additional rows. The longer you are able to keep the screen from filling, the faster the rows start to appear. At the end of each row is a box. If the box is empty you need to enter the decimal number that is displayed in the binary row. If the box has a number in it, you need to set the binary number so that it is equal to the decimal number shown. The concept is pretty simple and somewhat engaging. I’m not saying it will drag you away from Call of Duty, but if you have to study binary, this beats anything I have run across so far.