forum

i. Pick one topic from this class that most interested you. State the topic and your reasons for the choice.

ii. Your initial post should be at least 250 words 

Week 1 - Topic: Introduction to Networking

In this portion of Lesson 1 you will learn about networking basics and network protocols.

Learning Objective(s): Successful students will be able to:

•       Identify and describe the functions of servers, workstations and hosts

•       Identify major network operating systems and their respective clients

•       Discuss packets and describe packet creation, and explain the OSI reference model

•       Compare, contrast and describe the functions of network protocols, including TCP/IP

Required Reading(s): Lesson 1 of the textbook – pages 1-3 to 1-30

Supplemental Readings:

TCP/IP Basics: http://www.wown.com/j_helmig/tcpip.htm

Here’s a fun look at the OSI Model: http://www.lewistech.com/rlewis/Resources/jamesX.aspx

Assignment(s):

a)     Answer online Week 1 Forum Questions: (1%)

                i.         Answer Introductory Forum Question

                                      i.     Provide a brief bio (job, time at AMU, educational goals, time zone, plus a phone contact, etc.).

                                     ii.     Answer the questions regarding the Syllabus confirmation.

                                    iii.     Make sure your post is at least 250 words.

                                    iv.     Respond to at least 2 students with 100 words or more.

               ii.         Answer online Week 1 Forum Question Topic 1

                                      i.     Acknowledge you have read the syllabus

              iii.         Answer online Week 1 Forum Question Topic 2

                                      i.     Provide information regarding your home network and thoughts on wireless networking

                                     ii.     Make sure your post is at least 250 words

                                    iii.     Respond to at least 2 students with 100 words or more

b)     Complete Lesson 1 Pre-Assessment Questions (PAQ 1) in the Tests & Quizzes area: (1%)

Week 2 - Topic: Introduction to Networking - continued

In this portion of Lesson 1 you will learn about LANs and WANs.

Learning Objective(s): Successful students will be able to:

•       Describe the basics of LANs and WANs

•       Identify and describe the function of NAPs

•       Describe transmission media and types, including cabling, asynchronous and synchronous, simplex, half duplex, full duplex, baseband and broadband

•       Identify network architectures, and describe basic network topologies and carrier systems

Required Reading(s): Lesson 1 of the textbook – pages 1-30 to 1-63

Assignment(s):

a)     Answer online Week 2 Forum Questions: (2%)

                i.         Answer online Week 2 Forum Question Topic 1

                                      i.     Does your company use both LAN and WAN technologies?

                                     ii.     To your knowledge, is your network an Ethernet, token ring, fast Ethernet, 100VG-AnyLAN or gigabit Ethernet?

                                    iii.     Could any of the technologies you learned in this lesson improve your current network’s performance?

                                    iv.     Make sure your post is at least 250 words

                                     v.     Respond to at least 2 students with 100 words or more

               ii.         Answer online Week 2 Forum Question Topic 2

                                      i.     Research cloud computing and post your opinions

                                     ii.     Make sure your post is at least 250 words

                                    iii.     Respond to at least 2 students with 100 words or more

b)     Assignment 1: (4%)

                i.         Complete Lesson 1 Review Questions

               ii.         Complete Labs 1-1, 1-2, and 1-3

              iii.         Put both in a Word document and post the document to the assignments area for Assignment 1

c)     Quiz 1: Complete Quiz 1 (5%)

Week 3 - Topic: TCP/IP Suite and Internet Addressing

This lesson will discuss the Internet architecture, common protocols used on the Internet, and Request for Comments (RFC) documents that define and reference Internet protocols. It will also cover IP addressing, addressing rules, reserved addresses and subnet masks. Finally, the lesson will conclude with a discussion of diagnostic tools used to troubleshoot TCO/IP networks.

Learning Objective(s): Successful students will be able to:

•       Define and describe the Internet architecture model and various Internet protocols

•       Describe the purpose of RFCs

•       Explain the routing process

•       Compare and contrast RIP with OSPF

•       Describe port numbers and their functions

•       Explain IP addressing, address classes, default subnet masks and the use of private IP addresses

•       Define the TCP/IP properties needed to configure a typical workstation

•       Describe various diagnostic tools for troubleshooting TCP/IP networks

Required Reading(s): Lesson 2 of the textbook – pages 2-3 to 2-40

Supplemental Readings:

IPAddressing: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/164015

Assignment(s):

a)     Answer online Week 3 Forum Questions: (2%)

                i.         Answer online Week 3 Forum Question Topic 1

                                      i.     How do you think the term “Request for Comments” originated?

                                     ii.     Investigate by locating, downloading and reading RFC 1000. Discuss your findings here.

                                    iii.     Would you like to join the Internet Society and become a part of the standardization process?

                                    iv.     Make sure your post is at least 250 words

                                     v.     Respond to at least 2 students with 100 words or more.

               ii.         Answer online Week 3 Forum Question Topic 2

                                      i.     How often do you look to the Internet for news and reference for IT?

                                     ii.     Make sure your post is at least 250 words

                                    iii.     Respond to at least 2 students with 100 words or more.

b)     Complete Lesson 2 Pre-Assessment Questions in the Tests & Quizzes area: (1%)

c)     Assignment 2: (4%)

                i.         Complete Lesson 2 Review Questions

               ii.         Complete Labs 2-1, 2-2, and 2-3

              iii.         Put both in a Word document and post the document to the assignments area for Assignment 2

d)     Quiz 2: Complete Quiz 2 (5%)

Week 4 - Topic: Internetworking Servers

This lesson will discuss the network services provided through the TCP/IP Internet protocol.

Learning Objective(s): Successful students will be able to:

•       Identify and describe the functions and features of various internetworking servers

•       Describe how each type of internetworking server use TCP/IP suite protocols

•       Describe access-security features of an HTTP server

•       Define MIME, and explain how MIME types are used by HTTP and mail servers, the functions of DNS

•       Define “daemon” and identify the functions of the Internet-related daemons

Required Reading(s): Lesson 3 of the textbook – pages 3-3 to 3-40

Assignment(s):

a)     Answer online Week 4 Forum Questions: (2%)

                i.         Answer online Week 4 Forum Question Topic 1

                                      i.     Which particular software products are used at your company?

                                     ii.     Two popular Web servers are Apache and Microsoft IIS. Research both Web server products on the Internet to determine the best product for your company. Consider the Web server providing interoperability within the company’s existing infrastructure. Discuss your findings here.

                                    iii.     In the case where you already have a Web server, would it be difficult to migrate the current Web server to a new Web server?

                                    iv.     Make sure your post is at least 250 words.

                                     v.     Respond to at least 2 students with 100 words or more.

               ii.         Answer online Week 4 Forum Question Topic 2

                                      i.     What are some of the most important technological innovations of the past year?

                                     ii.     Make sure your post is at least 250 words.

                                    iii.     Respond to at least 2 students with 100 words or more.

b)     Complete Lesson 3 Pre-Assessment Questions in the Tests & Quizzes area: (1%)

c)     Assignment 3: (4%)

                i.         Complete Lesson 3 Review Questions

               ii.         Complete Labs 3-1 and 3-2

              iii.         Put both in a Word document and post the document to the assignments area for Assignment 3

d)     Quiz 3: Complete Quiz 3 (5%)

Week 5 - Topic: Hardware and Operating System Maintenance

This lesson will investigate failure points, troubleshooting techniques and tools, and perform periodic preventive maintenance (PM) in order to avoid failures, and other procedures that typically include device cleaning, general maintenance, and testing.

Learning Objective(s): Successful students will be able to:

•       Identify the characteristics of motherboards, common IRQ, I/O address and DMA settings

•       Identify IDE/ATA, EIDE/ATA-2, SATA and SCSI traits, NICs and common peripheral ports

•       Identify the characteristics of CD-ROMs and DVDs

•       Describe the characteristics of file system types, describe the uses of file system management tools

•       Identify and suggest corrective measures for operating system boot problems and application failures

•       Identify methods to remotely manage and troubleshoot workstations

Required Reading(s): Lesson 4 of the textbook – pages 4-3 to 4-50

Assignment(s):

a)     Answer online Week 5 Forum Questions: (2%)

                i.         Answer online Week 5 Forum Question Topic 1

                                      i.     Attempt to restart your computer in Safe mode (press the F8 key during the reboot process). When your desktop displays, note the differences in the Desktop between Normal mode and Safe mode. What are these differences?

                                     ii.     Display the Settings tab of the Display Properties dialog box (right-click the desktop and click Properties). What is your screen resolution?

                                    iii.     Open Windows Explorer and attempt to access a network drive. What happens?

After you have completed your analysis please make sure to restart your PC back with Normal mode.

                                    iv.     Make sure your post is at least 250 words

                                     v.     Respond to at least 2 students with 100 words or more.

               ii.         Answer online Week 5 Forum Question Topic 2

                                      i.     Do you see Windows 7 as a better alternative to Windows Vista, and do you still use XP?

                                     ii.     Make sure your post is at least 250 words

                                    iii.     Respond to at least 2 students with 100 words or more.

b)     Complete Lesson 4 Pre-Assessment Questions in the Tests & Quizzes area: (1%)

c)     Assignment 4: (4%)

                i.         Complete Lesson 4 Review Questions

               ii.         Complete Labs 4-1, 4-2, and 4-3

              iii.         Put both in a Word document and post the document to the assignments area for Assignment 4

d)     Quiz 4: Complete Quiz 4 (5%)

Week 6 - Topic: Network Security and Personal Privacy Protection

This lesson will present the importance of network security; explore network attack types and how to avoid them, viruses and worms and how to protect against them, and authentication and encryption The final section of this class discusses Personal Privacy Protection.

Learning Objective(s): Successful students will be able to:

• Identify typical attacks on clients and procedures to counter each attack type.
• Recognize and avoid social engineering attacks.
• Distinguish among symmetric, asymmetric and hash encryption.
• Define authentication principles, including password resetting, password aging.
• Describe Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) and the purposes of remote access protocols, including Point-to-Point Tunneling Protocol (PPTP), Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP).
• Distinguish among the following security zones: DMZ (including dual-homed and triple-homed firewalls), VLAN, intranet, extranet.
• Define fundamental PKI concepts.
• Identify the purpose of an uninterruptible power supply (UPS), and list common concerns and configuration parameters.
• Define phishing and pharming, and identify ways to avoid becoming a victim.
• Identify ways to avoid anti-social activity, including online stalking and cyberbullying.
• List symptoms and ramifications of spending too much time on the Internet and on gaming.
• Use encryption technology to secure communications (e.g., e-mail encryption, password generators, password managers

Required Reading(s): Lesson 5 of the textbook – pages 5-3 to 5-43

Assignment(s):

a)     Answer online Week 6 Forum Questions: (2%)

                i.         Answer online Week 6 Forum Question Topic 1

                                      i.     Explore cyber bullying and why it is an important topic for today’s teens and children

                                     ii.     State steps you can take to prevent cyber bullying and educate your kids about it

                                    iii.     Make sure your post is at least 250 words.

                                    iv.     Respond to at least 2 students with 100 words or more.

               ii.         Answer online Week 6 Forum Question Topic 2

                                      i.     What are some examples of online addition that you may encounter and how could you help a person addicted to being online?

                                     ii.     Make sure your post is at least 250 words.

                                    iii.     Respond to at least 2 students with 100 words or more.

b)     Complete Lesson 5 Pre-Assessment Questions in the Tests & Quizzes area: (1%)

c)     Assignment 5: (4%)

                i.         Complete Lesson 5 Review Questions

               ii.         Complete Activities 5-1, and 5-2

              iii.         Put both in a Word document and post the document to the assignments area for Assignment 5

d)     Quiz 5: Complete Quiz 5 (5%)

Week 7 - Topics: Project Paper and Presentation

Assignment(s):

a)     Answer online Week 7 Forum Questions: (2%)

                i.         Answer online Week 7 Forum Question Topic 1

                                      i.     Research a few of the proposed changes to SMTP and DNS that are designed to reduce or eliminate SPAM.

                                     ii.     Make sure your post is 250 words

                                    iii.     Respond to at least 2 students with 100 words or more.

               ii.         Answer online Week 7 Forum Question Topic 2

                                      i.     Webcam proctoring for online students…what are your thoughts on this?

                                     ii.     Make sure your post is 250 words

                                    iii.     Respond to at least 2 students with 100 words or more.

b)     Complete and submit the class Project Paper and Presentation – see details below (15%)

Project Paper and Presentation: (Post them under Week 7 Assignment area as a Microsoft Word document (10%) and a Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation (5%). You must include at least ten references.

Details of the Project:

Research and select a current trend in the area of telecommunications. Prepare a 10-15 page paper in Microsoft Word (counts as 10% of the final grade) AMU approved APA format (see writing expectations in the Policies section) (350 words per page). At a minimum include the following:

·       Detailed description of the area researched

·       Technology involved in the area

·       Future trends in the area

·       Example companies involved in the area

·       Regulatory issues surrounding the area

·       Global implications for the area

·       References (minimum of 10)

       i.         Prepare a 10-12 slide Microsoft PowerPoint highlighting the content from the paper. (Counts as 5% of the final grade)

      ii.         You are only required to submit a final paper and presentation. However, during the previous six weeks, you will be assembling the research paper and presentation. Feel free to post questions or portions of the paper for review at any time as an email to your professor.

     iii.         You may use resources from the APUS Online Library, any library, government library, or any peer-reviewed reference (Wikipedia and any other publicly-reviewed source is not accepted). The paper must by at least 10 pages double-spaced, 1” margin all around, black12 point fonts (Times New Roman, Arial, or Courier) with correct citations of all utilized references/sources, (pictures, graphics, etc are extra - allowed but extra for the minimum page count). The title page and references are also required but don’t count in the minimum page count. The PowerPoint of 10-12 slides is a summary of this paper. No new topics, ideas or concepts are introduced in the PowerPoint that is not included in the paper. A minimum of 10 references are needed. The paper will be subjected to checking against plagiarism.

    iv.         The required number of pages do not include title or references pages – although these must be includes

Week 8 - Topics: Course Case Study

Assignment(s):

a)     Answer online Week 8 Forum Question: (2%)

                i.         Pick one topic from this class that most interested you. State the topic and your reasons for the choice.

               ii.         Make sure your post is 250 words

              iii.         Respond to at least 2 students with 100 words or more.

b)     Complete the Week 8 Case Study  (20%)