NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COLLEGE COURSE SYLLABUS

 

The North Central Texas College (NCTC) Course Syllabus provides the following as required by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB): (1) a brief description of the course including each major course requirement, assignment and examination; (2) the learning objectives for the course; (3) a general description of the subject matter of each lecture or discussion; and (4) any required or recommended readings.  Contact information for the instructor is also provided. The Course Syllabus also provides institutional information to indicate how this course supports NCTC’s purpose and mission. Information specific to a particular section of the course will be included in the Class Syllabus and distributed to enrolled students.

 

Course Title: Network+
Course Prefix & Number:    ITNW1358	Section Number:  480	Term Code: Spring 2017
Semester Credit Hours:       3	Lecture Hours:        32	Lab Hours:   32
Course Description (NCTC Catalog):   Assists individuals in preparing for the Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) Network+ certification exam and career as a network professional.
Course Prerequisite(s):
Course Type: o - Academic General Education Course (from Academic Course Guide Manual but not in NCTC Core) o- Academic NCTC Core Curriculum Course x - WECM Course

 

 

Name of Instructor:	William Hill
Campus/Office Location:	Gainesville Campus, Room 502C
Telephone Number:	940-668-3340
E-mail Address:	whill@nctc.edu

 

 

Name of Chair/Coordinator:	Judy Archer
Office Location:	Corinth Campus, Room 232
Telephone Number:	940-498-6292
E-mail Address:	jarcher@nctc.edu

 

REQUIRED OR RECOMMENDED COURSE MATERIALS

Required Textbook – Network+ Guide to Networks, 7^th Edition, by Jill West, Tamara Dean, Jean Andrews; Course Technology; ISBN: 9781305090941

 

COURSE REQUIREMENTS, EVALUATION METHODS, and GRADING CRITERIA

# of Graded Course Elements	Graded Course Elements	Percentage or Points Values
12	Homework	20% of grade
12	Labwork	40% of grade
12	Quizzes	20% of grade
4	Exams (lowest of the 4 exam grades will be dropped)	20% of grade

 

GRADING SCALE

 

	A	>=90%		D    >=60%
	B	>=80%		F    <60%
	C	>=70%

 

STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

WECM End-of-Course Outcomes: Identify and define terminology, hardware, and software components of computer networks; utilize equipment, protocols, and topologies to differentiate between various network systems; demonstrate skills in installing network hardware, software, and cable; troubleshoot network connectivity; configure network protocol; and install and configure network client software.

 

	At the successful completion of this course the student will be able to:
1	Identify and use network transmission media.
2	Explain the OSI model.
3	Describe methods of network design unique to TCP/IP networks, including subnetting, CIDR, and address translation.
4	Recognize the primary network topologies/protocols, identify their characteristics, and determine which would be most appropriate for a proposed network.
5	Identify the functions of a network operating system and distinguish between centralized, client/server, and peer-to-peer systems.
6	Distinguish between Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs) and identify the components used to expand a LAN into a WAN.
7	Explain security measures for network hardware and design, including firewalls, intrusion detection systems, and scanning tools.

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATTENDANCE POLICY

Regular and punctual attendance is expected of all students in all classes for which they have registered.  Absence does not relieve the student of the responsibility for making up required work.  Dropping a course is the student's responsibility, but you MAY be dropped for excessive absence.  See Attendance Regulations in the North Central Texas College Catalog. Attendance is taken in this class, and you are expected to prepare for and actively participate in the assignments and the class discussions on a weekly basis. I also expect you to check your email everyday on M-F. I do not check emails on the weekends from Friday at 5:00 pm to Monday morning at 9:00 am. 

 

Last Day to Withdraw: For the Spring 2017 first 8-week semester, the last day to withdraw from the course with a “W” is February 20, 2017. If a student decides to officially drop this course, then it is the student’s responsibility to submit the required forms to the registrar. Students who cease attending and who do not complete a drop slip prior February 20, 2017 will earn a grade of “F”.

 

GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND TENTATIVE SCHEDULE

Topic	General Description of Subject Matter
An Introduction to Networking	How networks are used; controlling network access; networking hardware and physical topologies; the seven-layer OSI model; staying safe when working with networks and computers; troubleshooting network problems
How Computers Find Each Other on Networks	Overview of addressing on networks; how host names and domain names work; how ports and sockets work; how IP addresses are formatted and assigned; tools for troubleshooting IP address problems
How Data Is Transported Over Networks	The TCP/IP core protocols; routers and how they work; troubleshooting router issues
Structured Cabling and Network Elements	Network equipment in commercial buildings; managing power sources and the environment; NIC’s and Ethernet; troubleshooting network devices
Network Cabling	Transmission basics; twisted-pair cable; fiber-optic cable; troubleshooting cable problems
Wireless Networking	Characteristics of wireless transmissions; WiFi, WLAN (Wireless LAN) architecture; implementing a WLAN; 802.11 wireless network security; troubleshooting wireless LANs
Cloud Computing and Remote Access	Cloud computing; remote access; encryption techniques, protocols, and utilities; authentication protocols; troubleshooting cloud computing and remote access
Network Risk Management	Security assessment; security risks; effective security policies; security in network design; troubleshooting malware risks and infections
Unified Communications and Network Performance Management	Fundamentals of network management; monitoring and managing network traffic; unified communications technologies; QoS (Quality of Service) assurance; troubleshooting network integrity and availability
Network Segmentation and Virtualization	Segmentation and subnetting; virtualization; virtual network components; VLANs and trunking; troubleshooting VMs and VLANs
Wide Area Networks	WAN essentials; WAN topologies; PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network); T-Carriers; frame relay; DSL (Digital Subscriber Line); broadband cable; ATM (Asynchronous Transfer Mode); SONET (Synchronous Optical Network); MPLS (Multiprotocol Label Switching); metro Ethernet; Wireless WANs; troubleshooting WAN issues
Industrial and Enterprise Networking	Industrial networks; asset management and business documents; change management; physical security controls; troubleshooting and response policies

 

Spring 2017 Tentative Schedule for 8-week ITNW1358.480 – Network+

 

Please note that each chapter assigned below has 1 homework assignment, 1 quiz, and 1 lab assignment. So for the weeks that have 2 chapters assigned, you will have 2 homework assignments, 2 quizzes, and 2 lab assignments. This is a lot of work and you must stay on schedule if you hope to successfully complete this course. All labs will be done in class and due at the end of class. No late work will be accepted.

Week 1: 1/16—1/20 All homework and quizzes for Week 1 are due Sunday, 1/22/2017 at 10:00pm. Introduction and Syllabus and:
Chapter 1 – An Introduction to Networking (Tuesday)
Chapter 2 – How Computers Find Each Other on Networks (Thursday)

Week 2: 1/23—1/27  All homework and quizzes for Week 2 are due Sunday, 1/29/2017 at 10:00pm. Exam 1 (Ch. 1, 2, & 3) in the first hour on second class day of the week
Chapter 3 – How Data Is Transported Over Networks (Tuesday)
Chapter 4 – Structured Cabling and Network Elements (Thursday)

Week 3: 1/30—2/3 All homework and quizzes for Week 3 are due Sunday, 2/5/2017 at 10:00pm.
Chapter 5 – Network Cabling (Tuesday)
Chapter 6 – Wireless Networking (Thursday)

Week 4: 2/6—2/10 Exam 2 (Ch. 4, 5, & 6) in the first hour on first class day of the week
All homework and quizzes for Week 4 are due Sunday, 2/12/2017 at 10:00pm.
Chapter 7 – Cloud Computing and Remote Access (Tuesday)
Chapter 8 – Network Risk Management (Thursday)

Week 5: 2/13—2/17  Exam 3 (Ch. 7, 8, & 9) in the first hour on second class day of the week All homework and quizzes for Week 5 are due Sunday, 2/19/2017 at 10:00pm.
Chapter 9 – Unified Communications and Network Performance Management (Tuesday)
Chapter 10 – Network Segmentation and Virtualization (Thursday)

Week 6: 2/20—2/24 All homework and quizzes for Week 6 are due Sunday, 2/26/2017 at 10:00pm. Last day to withdraw with a grade of “W” is 2/20/2017 for 1^st 8-week course.
Chapter 11 – Wide Area Networks

Week 7: 2/27— 3/3 All homework and quizzes for Week 7 are due Sunday, 3/5/2017 at 10:00pm.
Chapter 12 – Industrial and Enterprise Networking

Week 8: 3/6—3/10
Final Exam (over chapters 10, 11, & 12) in first hour of class time on Tuesday.

 

 

Student Rights & Responsibilities

NCTC Board policy FLB (Local) Student Rights and Responsibilities states that each student shall be charged with notice and knowledge of the contents and provisions of the rules and regulations concerning student conduct.  These rules and regulations are published in the Student Handbook published in conjunction with the College Catalog. All students shall obey the law, show respect for properly constituted authority, and observe correct standards of conduct. 

 

 

Scholastic Integrity

Scholastic dishonesty shall constitute a violation of college rules and regulations and is punishable as prescribed by Board policies. Scholastic dishonesty shall include, but not be limited to cheating on a test, plagiarism, and collusion.  See Student Handbook “Student Rights & Responsibilities:  Student Conduct [FLB (LOCAL)]” #20 on page 175.

 

 

Complaint Procedures

If the complaint involves a problem with an instructor, the student shall discuss the matter with the instructor before requesting a conference with the department chair… If the complaint involves a grade received, the student shall collect all tests, papers, daily assignments, class notes and other relevant material prior to the conference with the instructor in question.  (See Student Handbook > Discussion of Complaint)

 

 

ADA Statement

North Central Texas College is committed to providing equal access to educational opportunities to its students with disabilities by providing assistance through “reasonable accommodations”; and a variety of services and resources through the Special Populations Office. The College does not discriminate on the basis of disabilities in admission or access to its programs. Students are responsible for notifying the office of their need for assistance at least two weeks prior to the beginning of a semester. Students with documented disabilities such as mobility, hearing or visual impairments, learning, and/or psychological disorders are eligible for services. The Special Populations Office on the Gainesville Campus is located in the Counseling/Testing Center room ASC 108 (next door to the bookstore). For assistance, call 940/668-4216 ext. 344. 

 

Civil Rights
In compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (P.L.88-352), Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (P.L. 92-318). and the Age Discrimination Act of 1978 (P.L. 92-256), North Central Texas College does not discriminate against or exclude from participation in any of its programs or activities, either in the student body or the staff, any person on the grounds of sex, race, color, religion, age, handicap, national origin, or veteran status.

 

 

 

Web Page

Visit the North Central Texas College web page for information on registration, financial aid, counseling/advising, and cost of tuition and fees. You will also find information on the catalog and semester schedules as well as courses of study. You can keep up with what is happening on campus by checking the calendar of events and the sports news. The web has information on the library as well as links to other areas of interest. Check out our web page at http://www.nctc.edu

 

Additional content for this course may be found in your Canvas account. Please check there for updates and news.

 

STUDENT SUPPORT SERVICES

Disability Services (OSD)

The Office for Students with Disabilities (OSD) provides accommodations for students who have a documented disability.  A disability is anything that can interfere with learning, such as a learning disability, psychological challenge, physical illness or injury. Accommodations may include extra time on tests, tests in a distraction reduced environment, volunteer note taker in class, etc.

 

On the Corinth Campus, go to room 170 or call 940-498-6207. On the Gainesville Campus, go to room 110 in the Administration (100) Building or call 940-668-4209.  Students on the Bowie, Graham, Flower Mound, and online campuses should call 940-668-4209 to arrange for an intake appointment with OSD.

 

North Central Texas College is on record as being committed to both the spirit and letter of federal equal opportunity legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990, ADA Amendments Act of 2009, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112).

http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices/Disabilityservices.aspx

 

Support Services

Counseling and Testing staff offer a variety of services to current and prospective students, such as College 101, placement testing, academic advising and course registration, transfer assistance, and College Success seminars (Time Management, Study Skills, Test Anxiety, Choosing a Major, Learning Style Strategies, Career Exploration), and much more.  http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/CounselingTesting.aspx

 

 

Student Success offers academic coaching, tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, free 24/7 online tutoring through Grade Results and assist new students acclimate to college by providing computer lab services for prospective students.   First generation students can also participate in TRIO, which offers specialized support services.

http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/SupportServices.aspx

 

Financial Aid offers financial resources for students that qualify, visit the financial aid offices for more information.  http://www.nctc.edu/FInancialAidHome.aspx

EEOC Statement
North Central Texas College does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, or disability in the employment or the provision of services.

 

Early Alert and NCTC Cares

The NCTC Early Alert program has been established to assist students who are at risk of failing or withdrawing from a course. Your instructor may refer you to this program if you are missing assignments, failing tests, excessively absent, or have personal circumstances impacting your academic performance. If submitted as an Early Alert you will be notified via your NCTC e-mail address and then contacted by a Counseling and Testing advisor or counselor to discuss possible strategies for completing your course successfully.

The NCTC CARES (Campus Assessment Response Evaluation Services) Team addresses behavior which may be disruptive, harmful or pose a threat to the health and safety of the NCTC community-such as stalking, harassment, physical or emotional abuse, violent or threatening behavior, or self-harm. As a student, you have the ability to report concerning behavior, which could impact your own safety or the safety of another NCTC student. Just click the NCTC CARES Team logo posted on MyNCTC, or send an e-mail to CARESTeam@nctc.edu.  As always, if you feel there is an immediate threat to your own safety or welfare (or to another student), please call 911 immediately.

Childcare Reimbursement Program
The Childcare Reimbursement Program provides support services for NCTC students pursuing a career in a technical field of study to help them complete their career plans. The program will reimburse technical declared students a percentage of their daycare expenses if the child is attending a licensed or registered daycare facility.  This is on a first come first serve basis, and is available to students on all 5 campuses. Please note, we do not have a childcare facility on any of our 5 campuses. This is a reimbursement program only.

Students who wish to become eligible for Childcare Assistance Program need to:

• Declare in a technical field of study
• Establish financial need
• Ex: Pell Grant recipient, Food Stamp recipient, W2, etc.
• Complete a Childcare Reimbursement Program Application and provide all necessary documentation.  The  Application can be found online at http://www.nctc.edu/StudentServices/Childcare.aspx

For more information, please contact Yvonne Sandmann on the Gainesville Campus at 940-668-4209 ext. 4321, or by email at ysandmann@nctc.edu.

 

 

Student Success Center

The Student Success Center is designed to help all students at NCTC develop tools to achieve their academic goals. The center links students to FREE tutoring, including a Writing Center, a Math Lab, and free online tutoring in the evening.  The program helps students acclimate to college by providing students free interactive workshops. For more information, please visit your nearest Student Success Center.

 

 

Other Pertinent Information

Dropping Courses:

If a student’s personal circumstances dictate that he or she needs to reduce his/her academic load, that student should confer with his/her advisor for assistance in adjusting the number of courses being taken.  A grade of “W” will be given to students who officially withdraw from a course, or “drop”, at least by Thursday of the 11th week of a Fall or Spring semester, or a proportional number of weeks prior to the end of a flex-entry course or summer session.  Any drops after this will be made with the approval of the instructor and the Department Chair.

It is the student’s responsibility to initiate the action necessary to drop courses under the conditions outlined above.  This requires the completion of a petition for course drop form available in the Registrar’s Office on any NCTC Campus or by going to the NCTC website at www.nctc.edu and clicking on Admissions and Registration.  Choose the forms on-line option and follow directions for submission of form.  This form must be submitted on or before the last day to drop with a “W” (see Academic Calendar in front of catalog for specific date) and it is not available until after the official date of record. Prior to the official date of record, a student should go to the Registrar’s Office and complete the required forms.

Students who register for courses are required to drop any courses they no longer wish to attend or a final grade will be assigned.  Instructors may drop students from courses for non-attendance by completing a petition for course drop.

 

Class Communications:

I also expect you to check your email everyday on M-F. I do not check emails on the weekends from Friday at 5:00 pm to Monday morning at 9:00 am.

 

 

 

Certificate Programs:

If you are planning to complete a certificate, you must take the competency exam prior to graduation. Contact Judy Archer at jarcher@nctc.edu within three weeks of graduation.

 

Tobacco-Free Campus
NCTC restricts the use of all tobacco products including cigarettes, cigars, pipes and smokeless tobacco on campus property. NCTC is aware that tobacco use influences underage students which cumulates unsightly tobacco litter and interferes with assuring clean air for all who come to NCTC. NCTC recognizes the health hazards of tobacco use and of exposure to second hand smoke. Information on a tobacco cessation program is available for students, faculty, staff who wish to stop using tobacco products. We would like to "thank you" for your help in making our campuses Tobacco-Free. For questions or concerns please contact the Office of the Dean of Student Services at 940.498.6445.

Notice
While we provide the locations to download the software for this class, it’s your responsibility to install the software on your computer, and ensure it is executing properly. NCTC is not and cannot be responsible for installing any of the software programs and the proper operation of your computer.

 

 

Unit Competencies

 

1. Identify media used in network communications, distinguish among them, and determine how to use them to connect servers and clients in a network.

            Performance Objectives:

            The student will:

• Define all media used in a network.
• Compare and contrast functionality of components.
• Demonstrate connectivity.

Assessment:

Lab/Homework assignments

Quiz for each chapter

Exam covering textbook chapters.

 

1. Recognize the primary network architectures, identify their major characteristics, and determine which would be most appropriate for a proposed network.

            Performance Objectives:

            The student will:

• Identify and explain network topologies.
• Compare and contrast physical and logical topologies.

Assessment:

Lab/Homework assignments

Quiz for each chapter

Exam covering textbook chapters.

 

III. Determine how to implement and support the major networking components, including the server, operating system, and clients.

            Performance Objectives:

            The student will:

• Identify major networking components.
• Describe networking Operating Systems.

Assessment:

Lab/Homework assignments

Quiz for each chapter

Exam covering textbook chapters.

 

1. Distinguish between Local Area Networks (LANs) and Wide Area Networks (WANs) and identify the components used to expand a LAN into a WAN Select quality PCs and constituent components based on performance and cost.

            Performance Objectives:

            The student will:

• Identify LAN and WAN components.
• Compare and contrast components in LAN / WAN topologies.

Assessment:

Lab/Homework assignments

Quiz for each chapter

Exam covering textbook chapters.

 

1. Determine how to implement connectivity devices in the larger LAN/WAN environment.

            Performance Objectives:

            The student will:

• Define WAN connectivity devices.
• Compare devices with LAN equivalents.

Assessment:

Lab/Homework assignments

Quiz for each chapter

Exam covering textbook chapters.

 

 

Workforce Education Program Elements (SCANS Skills)

 

The Secretary’s Commission on Achieving Necessary Skills (SCANS) conducted extensive research and interviews and determined that “workplace know-how” consists of two elements:  foundations skills and workplace competencies.  Upon successful completion of the courses in this program, students will have demonstrated the following competencies: 

 

• Foundation Skills

 

• Basic Skills: A worker must (i) read, (ii)write, (iii) perform arithmetic and mathematical operations, (iv) listen, and (v) speak effectively.

 

• Thinking Skills: A worker must (i) think creatively, (ii) make decisions, (iii) solve problems, (iv) visualize, (v) know how to learn, and (vi) reason effectively.

 

• Personal Qualities: A worker must display (i) responsibility, (ii) self-esteem, (iii) sociability, (iv) self-management, (v) integrity, and (vi) honesty.

 

 

• Workplace Competencies

 

• Resources: A worker must identify, organize, plan, and allocate resources effectively.  This includes (i) time, (ii) money, (iii) material and facilities, and (iv) human resources.

 

• Interpersonal Skills: A worker must work with others effectively to (i) participate as a member of a team, (ii) teach others new skills, (iii) serve clients/customers, (iv) exercise leadership, (v) negotiate, and (vi) work with diversity.

 

• Information: A worker must be able to (i) acquire and use information, (ii) organize and maintain information, (iii) interpret and communicate information and (iv) use computers to process information.

 

• Systems: A worker must understand complex interrelationships as in (i) understanding systems, (ii) monitor and correct performance, and (iii) improve and design systems.

 

• Technology: A worker must be able to work with a variety of technologies, e.g. (i) select technology, (ii) apply technology, and (iii) maintain and troubleshoot equipment.