Syllabus for ITS-140
INTRODUCTION TO NETWORKING
Introduction to Networking provides essential knowledge and techniques for securely installing, configuring, maintaining, and troubleshooting a computer network. Students first become familiar with the basics of networking. With the fundamentals in place, the course covers installing interface cards, managing static and dynamic IP addressing, setting up a wired or wireless network, configuring network security, managing network traffic, and configuring remote access to a network. Students learn how to maintain network security throughout these processes.
After completing this course, students should be able to:
CO1 Explain basic networking concepts such as network topologies, the Open Systems Interconnection model (OSI model), network protocols, cables and connectors, network devices, and Ethernet architecture.
CO2 Examine IP addressing and IP services such as Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) and the Domain Name System (DNS).
CO3 Apply basic management of routing and switching.
CO4 Configure firewalls and customize networks.
CO5 Set up wired and wireless networks.
CO6 Implement elements of network security.
CO7 Apply network management concepts.
CO8 Implement network optimization concepts.
The following TestOut course will serve as your virtual textbook for the course:
TestOut provides interactive online courses that help you prepare for various certification exams. In completing your coursework, you will be using parts of the TestOut course as an interactive textbook with chapters, sections, practice questions, simulated labs, and more, to aid in learning about topics in cybersecurity.
Access to these TestOut resources is provided in the TestOut Course Materials section of your course site. When you click the TestOut Network Pro link for the first time, you will need to enter your product code. Use the instructions found in the same section of the course to purchase access. Once you have made your payment and entered the product code, you will have access through the same TestOut Course link.
You will also find links to other resources, such as articles and websites, listed in individual modules. These resources are required reading for the modules.
Introduction to Networking is a three-credit, online course consisting of six modules. Within modules students will interact with the TestOut material, complete labs, participate in discussion forums, and complete modular practice activities. Students will be required to compose and submit a network design paper at the end of the semester. Students will also take a practice certification exam that will help them prepare for the certification exam in this topic area. Modules include an overview, topics, learning objectives, study materials, and activities. Module titles are listed below.
For your formal work in the course, you are required to participate in online discussion forums, complete lab assignments, complete modular practice activities, take a practice certification exam, and complete a final project. See below for details.
Consult the Course Calendar for due dates.
One or more of your course activities may utilize a tool designed to promote original work and evaluate your submissions for plagiarism. More information about this tool is available in About SafeAssign.
You are required to complete six discussion forums. The discussion forums are on a variety of topics associated with the course modules.
You are required to complete 21 TestOut Lab Activities. Each module includes at least two lab activities.
A lab activity has two parts:
Submit the individual lab reports and your reflection within the lab activity assignment link.
Please note: You may repeat a lab as many times as you like (to obtain the highest grade) before submitting your results, but once you have submitted a lab report you may not resubmit it for credit.
Each of the six modules of the course includes a practice activity; this activity covers key topics from the module. The questions in these activities are similar to the practice questions you’ll find at the at the end of each chapter section. Therefore, it is recommended that you try the section-end Practice Questions before attempting the module practice activity. Module practice activities can be taken multiple times, and the result of your most recent attempt appears in the gradebook.
There is no proctored exam for the Introduction to Networking course. You are required to take the Network+ Certification Practice Exam. A direct link to the exam can be found in the course site.
For more detailed information, please refer to Module 6 of the course.
The intent of this activity is for you to gauge your level of preparedness for CompTIA Network+ Certification Exam.
You are required to write a research paper in APA style of between 2000 and 2750 words (8 to 10 pages) discussing network design across businesses. The paper will compare network designs and describe which network topologies work best for which types of businesses.
You will need to apply your knowledge of network technologies to discuss network design issues; you should also consider the interplay between security and system usability and the importance of minimizing the effects of security mechanisms on users.
For detailed information about the project, see the Final Project area of the course site.
Your grade in the course will be determined as follows:
All activities will receive a numerical grade of 0–100. You will receive a score of 0 for any work not submitted. Your final grade in the course will be a letter grade. Letter grade equivalents for numerical grades are as follows:
A | = | 93–100 | C+ | = | 78–79 | |
A– | = | 90–92 | C | = | 73–77 | |
B+ | = | 88–89 | C– | = | 70–72 | |
B | = | 83–87 | D | = | 60–69 | |
B– | = | 80–82 | F | = | Below 60 |
To receive credit for the course, you must earn a letter grade of C or better (for an area of study course) or D or better (for a course not in your area of study), based on the weighted average of all assigned course work (e.g., exams, assignments, discussion postings).
To succeed in this course, take the following first steps:
Consider the following study tips for success:
Thomas Edison State University is committed to maintaining academic quality, excellence, and honesty. The University expects all members of its community to share the commitment to academic integrity, an essential component of a quality academic experience.
Students at Thomas Edison State University are expected to exhibit the highest level of academic citizenship. In particular, students are expected to read and follow all policies, procedures, and program information guidelines contained in publications; pursue their learning goals with honesty and integrity; demonstrate that they are progressing satisfactorily and in a timely fashion by meeting course deadlines and following outlined procedures; observe a code of mutual respect in dealing with mentors, staff, and other students; behave in a manner consistent with the standards and codes of the profession in which they are practicing; keep official records updated regarding changes in name, address, telephone number, or e-mail address; and meet financial obligations in a timely manner. Students not practicing good academic citizenship may be subject to disciplinary action including suspension, dismissal, or financial holds on records.
All members of the University community are responsible for reviewing the Academic Code of Conduct Policy in the University Catalog and online at www.tesu.edu.
Thomas Edison State University expects all of its students to approach their education with academic integrity—the pursuit of scholarly activity free from fraud and deception. All mentors and administrative staff members at the University insist on strict standards of academic honesty in all courses. Academic dishonesty undermines this objective. Academic dishonesty can take the following forms:
Thomas Edison State University is committed to helping students understand the seriousness of plagiarism, which is defined as using the work and ideas of others without proper citation. The University takes a strong stance against plagiarism, and students found to be plagiarizing are subject to discipline under the academic code of conduct policy.
If you copy phrases, sentences, paragraphs, or whole documents word-for-word—or if you paraphrase by changing a word here and there—without identifying the author, or without identifying it as a direct quote, then you are plagiarizing. Please keep in mind that this type of identification applies to Internet sources as well as to print-based sources. Copying and pasting from the Internet, without using quotation marks and without acknowledging sources, constitutes plagiarism. (For information about how to cite Internet sources, see Online Student Handbook > Academic Standards > Citing Sources.)
Accidentally copying the words and ideas of another writer does not excuse the charge of plagiarism. It is easy to jot down notes and ideas from many sources and then write your own paper without knowing which words are your own and which are someone else’s. It is more difficult to keep track of each and every source. However, the conscientious writer who wishes to avoid plagiarizing never fails to keep careful track of sources.
Always be aware that if you write without acknowledging the sources of your ideas, you run the risk of being charged with plagiarism.
Clearly, plagiarism, no matter the degree of intent to deceive, defeats the purpose of education. If you plagiarize deliberately, you are not educating yourself, and you are wasting your time on courses meant to improve your skills. If you plagiarize through carelessness, you are deceiving yourself.
For examples of unintentional plagiarism, advice on when to quote and when to paraphrase, and information about writing assistance, click the links provided below.
Examples of Unintentional Plagiarism
When to Quote and When to Paraphrase
Writing Assistance at Smarthinking
Acts of both intentional and unintentional plagiarism violate the Academic Code of Conduct.
If an incident of plagiarism is an isolated minor oversight or an obvious result of ignorance of proper citation requirements, the mentor may handle the matter as a learning exercise. Appropriate consequences may include the completion of tutorials, assignment rewrites, or any other reasonable learning tool in addition to a lower grade for the assignment or course. The mentor will notify the student and appropriate dean of the consequence by e-mail.
If the plagiarism appears intentional and/or is more than an isolated incident, the mentor will refer the matter to the appropriate dean, who will gather information about the violation(s) from the mentor and student, as necessary. The dean will review the matter and notify the student in writing of the specifics of the charge and the sanction to be imposed.
Possible sanctions include:
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