A system and method for providing network training to students operating communication nodes at locations remote from a classroom laboratory equipped with operational servers, routers, and other computer networking devices used to implement an IT network. The networking devices in the classroom laboratory are configured into a first operating state and placed in first operational modes. A training host generates and transmits a graphical user interface, such as a Web page, to the remote nodes, which have a display and display application (e.g., a browser). The graphical user interface displays the computer networking devices in the classroom laboratory using icons or other graphical representations of the devices illustrating how the devices are communicatively linked. Each remote node is operable to select a graphical representation of a networking device. In response, an application executes to provide a direct communication connection with the device in the classroom laboratory corresponding to the selected graphical representation and the control interface of the selected device is transmitted to the requesting remote node. The remote node communicates directly with the selected device via its control interface to monitor the device's state information and to enter commands that cause the state information to be changed, thereby remotely operating the networking devices in the classroom laboratory.