This document provides an overview of the IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software v4.1 course from Cisco Networking Academy. The summary is as follows:
1. IT Essentials v4.1 is a computer hardware and software course that covers PC assembly, maintenance, networking, security and prepares students for A+ certification.
2. The course is divided into two parts - fundamentals and advanced topics. It includes new content on current hardware, Windows Vista/7, networking and security skills.
3. Hands-on labs and new Packet Tracer activities provide an interactive learning experience. Instructors can access training, and students can download the Packet Tracer software.
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We’ll begin with a high-level view of our CCNA curricula and the Networking Academy curricula portfolio Then we’ll talk about the CCNA curricula features and benefits, how the courses are similar and how they differ, and specific details of each curriculum. Additional topics include required instructor training, pre-requisites, curricula translation strategy, equipment required for the courses and a detailed look at the Cisco certifications that align with the curricula
We’ll begin by discussing the upcoming changes to the IT Essentials curricula Then we’ll talk about how these changes map and align to the certifications. We’ll also cover our approach to instructor training and explain the equipment required. The Scope and Sequence documents provide an outline of the chapters in the updated curriculum, and an equipment list is available to support the delivery of the new courses. Finally, we’ll present a demo of one of the stand-alone virtual learning tools
In August, Cisco announced the development of an update to the popular IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software course. This is referred to as v4.1. Version 4.1 will provide access to the knowledge and skills necessary for computer technicians and entry-level IT workers and will be available in March 2010. Version 4.1 will align with the new CompTIA A+ 700 series certification. Moreover, we will submit Version 4.1 to CompTIA to get approved as a “CompTIA Authorized Quality Curriculum”.
Windows 7 OS supplemental learning content is available in a separate downloadable PDF document posted on the instructor and student class home page
NOTE: this is a build slide Our current portfolio consists of 13 courses IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software —provides an overview of how the internal components of a computer work The course covers laptops and portable devices, assembling/disassembling PC components, wireless connectivity, security, safety and environmental issues associated with installing, configuring and troubleshooting and a PC. CCNA Discovery (4 courses) —provides an introduction to networking. It teaches networking based on application and helps students develop foundational routing, switching, and WAN knowledge and experience, which can be applied toward entry-level careers in networking for small and medium-sized businesses. CCNA Exploration (4 courses) —provides an introduction to networking. It teaches networking based on technology. It covers routing, switching, and WAN protocols and theory at deeper levels to help students succeed in networking-related degree programs and a range of professions. CCNA Security –helps students develop a comprehensive understanding of network security concepts, and gain the knowledge and skills needed to earn the Cisco CCNA Security certification and become entry-level security specialists. CCNP (3 courses) —the CCNP curriculum focuses on the advanced routing, secure wide area access, multilayer switching, and networking management skills required to implement and maintain converged enterprise networks. Cisco Packet Tracer — Provides a realistic simulation and visualization learning environment that supplements classroom equipment. Cisco Packet Tracer is a foundational teaching tool for CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration, withPacket Tracer activities embedded in the course content. Both curricula include embedded e-doing, which applies the principle that people learn best by interacting with computer-based activities. Interactive learning promotes the exploration of networking concepts and experimentation with tools such as Packet Tracer and Flash-based activities to help students develop a greater understanding of networking technologies. Packet Tracer activities are also available for IT Essentials and CCNA Security.
Version 4.1 will be a single course divided into two parts. The first part of the course (Fundamentals Chapters 1-10) will cover core competencies in the latest hardware and software technologies, including a greater emphasis on information security skills, safety and environmental issues, and soft skills.
Packet Tracer 5.3 has superseded PT 5.2 and is the only version of Packet Tracer that is currently available for download from Academy Connection.
Purchase enough separate components or complete computers to meet the minimum specifications as outlined. These Lab PCs will not be placed into a working environment. As such, they must only be capable of installing the required operating systems in a timely manner; they are not required to run at commercial speeds or perform processor-intensive applications such as complex graphics. It is acceptable to use older machines that are, for example, being taken out of use at your institution. Please keep the machines and components consistent, if possible, to help the students and instructor.
For the best student learning experience, we recommend a typical lab size of 12 to 15 students and a ratio of one Lab PC per student. A ratio of one Lab PC per two students is the minimum acceptable for the hands-on lab activities. Some of the lab activities require the student Lab PCs to be connected to a local network. Additionally, the computer lab should include two instructor workstations. One instructor workstation should be connected to the Internet in order to search for and download files. The other instructor workstation can be used for hands-on lab demonstrations. The student Lab PCs will be in various states of assembly and repair and are therefore not suitable for reading the curriculum.
For current ITE:PC v4.0 instructors, instructor training is not required. Training materials will be available in March 2009. New instructors will be required to successfully complete ITE PC v4.1 instructor training. The Instructor Fast Track option will be available for ITE PC v4.1 and will follow the current guidelines and requirements. New instructors with prior subject matter knowledge are eligible for this option. This prior knowledge is verified by one of the following: Specific industry certification Formal evidence of industry experience Formal evidence of teaching experience
The Virtual Laptop and Virtual Desktop are stand-alone tools designed to supplement classroom learning and provide an interactive “hands-on” experience in learning environments with limited physical equipment. Hands-on labs will remain an essential element of the course. The minimum system recommendations to run this beta version of the tool are Microsoft Windows 2000 with 512MB of memory. Final operating system and memory recommendations will be communicated once development and testing is complete. The Virtual Laptop demo of the tool’s introductory tutorial: Describe the three modes of the Virtual Laptop. Demo the removal and installation of laptop components in the Virtual Laptop. After presenting the slides, participate in a discussion of various teaching strategies to use with the Virtual Laptop.
Click on the next arrow to view the brief tutorial or click the Skip button to go directly to using Virtual Laptop.
The three modes of the Virtual Laptop Tool: Learn Mode walks you through the removal and installation of select components of the laptop. Test Mode allows you to remove and install select components without any assistance. Explore Mode gives you information about many features and components of the laptop.
The Learn Mode is made up of 4 layers. The first layer is the Underside Layer. In each layer, you see information about what components make up each layer. The Underside Layer represents the underside of the laptop and gives you access to the battery, RAM, and the hard disk drive. You can also see the docking connector, the battery release lever, the battery latch, speakers, and the Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity (COA) label.
Put a checkmark in the “Show Instructions” check box to see a step-by-step list of instructions to guide you in the installation of each component. These step-by-step instructions will appear in the left text window. If you do not select “Show Instructions” you will still receive some prompting in pop-up balloons and highlights.
The Antistatic Mat is located at the bottom of the main window in the Learn Mode and in the Test Mode. The mat contains all the components used to assemble the virtual laptop. Use the left and right navigation arrows to scroll through the components on the antistatic mat.
Some components need to be properly aligned before you can install them. Alignment of components is only required in the Learn Mode and in the Test Mode. When a component requires alignment, the alignment tool pops up automatically. Click the clockwise and counterclockwise buttons to turn the component until you believe it is properly aligned. The Install button looks like an arrow pointing down. Click the Install button to install the component. If the component is not properly aligned then the Install button will show a red X. If the component is aligned, then clicking the Install button will begin the animation of the installation of the component. Once a component is properly installed, it will be grayed out on the antistatic mat.
Once you have successfully installed each component within a particular layer, you receive acknowledgement that the layer is complete. You should then select the next layer in the Main Navigation menu.
The next layer is the Top and Sides Layer. The sides of the laptop have bays that allow you to install devices that increase the functionality of the laptop. You can install many different devices into the universal bay, including optical drives, hard disk drives, and extra batteries. You can install different types of cards into the PC card slots, including Ethernet, wireless Ethernet, modems, and memory card readers. To successfully complete this layer, you will remove and replace the optical drive and then remove and replace the PC card.
The next layer is the Docking Station Layer. Use the docking station to quickly connect and use devices that are normally connected to desktop computers, including a mouse, a full-sized keyboard, and an external monitor. You can charge the laptop battery when the laptop is docked to the docking station. The docking station also provides additional expansion ports, including USB ports, the PC Card slot and the ExpressCard slot. To successfully complete this layer, you will dock the laptop into the docking station.
The last layer is the External Cables Layer. External cables connect the docking station to the monitor, mouse, keyboard, USB devices, Ethernet, and AC power. To successfully complete this layer, you will connect the monitor cable, the keyboard cable, the mouse cable, the USB cable, the Ethernet cable, and the power cable to the docking station.
Test Mode allows you to remove and install select components without any assistance. The Test Mode provides all the components you will need to build your virtual laptop, but the components are not separated into the layers as they are in the Learn Mode. “Show Instructions” is not available in the Test Mode. Use this mode to test your ability to assemble a laptop computer. You must follow the layers of access however you will not receive any instructions. Once you have successfully completed a layer, you will automatically be forwarded to the next level of access. If you need to refer to instructions while in Test Mode, switch to Learn Mode. When you leave Test Mode and then go back to Test Mode, the tool does not keep track of where you left off in the Test Mode. You have to start the Test Mode at the beginning again.
Explore Mode gives you information about many features and components of the laptop. The Explore Mode provides seven different views of the desktop. Views 1 – 4 - There are 4 side views, View 5 - one overhead view of the closed laptop, View 6 - one underside view and View 7 - one view of the opened laptop. In Explore Mode, you can roll your mouse over the components to get more information. In some cases, you can click on the component to see a larger, 360 degree view. This section acts as a quick reference to the components in their installed state. Rollover a highlighted box to learn more and to see detailed views of the item.
Initially, the Learn More option may be easily confused with the Learn Mode. The “Learn More” option is available in all three modes (Learn, Test, and Explore) for many of the laptop components. When you click on “Learn More”, you see the component in a separate window with the slider tool below it. In the upper right corner of this window there may be several boxes that present different views of the component. The slider tool has a needle that you can control with you mouse. Move it back and forth to see a 360 degree view of the component. The boxes that show other views can also be selected from this window. These other views can also contain text information about the components.