CNIT 201E - Network Fundamentals - Syllabus
Half Semester, Hybrid Section, Spring 2012
Section 831, CRN 32666

Instructors

Miao-Chuan (Mercy) Ho & Sufyaan Mateen: http://fog.ccsf.edu/~mcho e-mail: mmercyho@gmail.com (for emailing to both mercy & Sufyaan)

Office
Sufyaan Mateen: Cloud 216, Office Hrs - usually the 1/2 hour after class, Mercy Ho: C203A, Office hour - Tues at 2:00 or by appt (best by email) with either instructor . 
Times
This is a hybrid class.  It meets Online about 50% of the time.   On some Saturdays we meet in-person in Cloud 218,  9am-1pm.  This is also a short-term class.  Lastly, it is an accelerated class.   Basically we cover 3 units of material in 1/2 semester.  For detailed list of topics, see the Class Schedule.
Text & Materials
The course content will be available mostly online.    There is a optional, but highly recommended textbook that parallels and extends the online lessons (if you prefer to read online, then you do not need the book).  Some interactive material is only online, so you will need access both the book and online material.   CCSF will provide any additional handouts,  access to software, tools and materials that are needed for the class.

Labs are done from a Lab Manual or online instructions that you can download or print.   You submit filled out lab pages or screenshots of results as we do the labs as Text, HTML, Word, or PDF documents.

Optional Text (also available online a few pages at a time):
Network Fundamentals, CCNA Exploration Companion Guide
ISBN: 1587132087 / ISBN 13: 9781587132087   (2007)

Course
Description
Lec-2, conf-1 -PREREQUISITE: CNIT 100 or equivalent
Networking, network terminology and protocols, network standards, local-area networks (LANs), wide-area networks (WANs), Open System Interconnection (OSI) models, cabling, cabling tools, routers, router programming, Ethernet, Internet Protocol (IP) addressing, network standards and personal safety.  This is the first course of the Cisco Networking Academy series.
Methods
This class is a Hybrid class.  This means that some of the time we meet in-person and some of the time we meet online.   There are 11 chapters that students will be expected to read outside of class.  Class meetings will be a combination of lectures, discussion, small group exercises and some hands-on practice to solidify and deepen the course material.    During the weeks when there is no in-person meeting, the lecture and discussions will be online. 
       To help us do this, we use two course management tools:  Insight (running the Moodle Open Source software) and the Cisco Networking Academy website.
       Insight (http://www.ccsf.edu) is general Learning Management Software that we will use primarily to communicate online between face-to-face meetings.  You need to check it each week for assignments, to ask & answer questions, etc. (Insight can also deliver lessons, assignments, and exams online, but for us these are provided by the online Cisco Curriculum.)  
       The Cisco Networking Academy website (http://cisco.netacad.net) delivers the content, labs, and exams that we will use in this class.   It also contains the lab manual in PDF form that you will print and use for your assignments.   It does not have enough ways to communicate with students between classes.
       
So we use both Insight and Cisco Academy tools in this class.  

Other major tools: 
      PacketTracer,  a Cisco network simulation program, is an excellent learning tool for the course.  
     
CCSF Cisco Lab in Cloud 218.  Provides hands-on, in-class experience.   There is another Cisco Lab in Science 37 that has open lab hours Mon-Thu afternoons.
 




Final Exam
The final exam will cover all material for the semester. It consists of the Cisco Online Exam and a skill-based component.   See class calendar for dates.
Grading
Your grade will be based on participation & success in written & hands-on projects as shown in Lab work, Online Chapter Exams, and success in Online and Practical Final Exams.  

Lab Manual

30%
Online Chapter exams 30%
Online Final Exam 20%
Practical Final Exams 20%
Total 100%



Class

Attendance & Other Policies
Attendance:  Your attendance & participation in the class is important to us but we will not take attendance each class.  Your basic participation is measured by coming to class & logging into Insight each week.  With the accelerated format, we usually cover two chapters each week.  Any student who has not logged into Insight or come to class for two or more weeks without prior arrangement may be dropped by the instructor.   However, under normal circumstances, we do NOT usually drop students from the class rolls. It is the student’s responsibility to file the paperwork needed to drop or withdraw from this class by the deadlines. 

The CCSF Computer Policy Guidelines apply.   Basically, be respectful in your communication with others and of the computers and special equipment you will have access to.   In general, if a situation arises where you are uncertain about the ethics involved, talk to us.

Online exams.   Chapter exams are given online starting with Chapter Two.  (Cisco calls them assessments.)  Due to copyright issues, it is not allowed to copy the Cisco online exams in any form.  The exams will provide feedback on the areas where you need improvement.   You get up to 3 tries at each chapter exam.   The online Final Exam is given in class.  You need to complete the Practical Exam, Online Final Exam, and complete an online feedback form to be able to graduate to the next class.

CCSF Software Poicy:  Software in use in the lab and printed resource materials are copyrighted with all rights reserved except when explicitly described as public domain. Under copyright laws, these items may not be copied, photocopied, reproduced or reduced to any electronic medium, in whole or in part. Any violation or attempt to violate copyright laws may result in disciplinary action.

Add/Drop Deadlines:  This is a short-term class.  The add/drop deadlines are different than for full semester classes.  Last day to drop with a refund is 1/19.  Last day to drop without a W is 1/31.  Last day to drop with a W is 3/01.

Communication Policies.   In our online communication we need to be respectful of each other and follow the guidelines of Internet Etiquette.   My rule of thumb on this is to be sure to re-read a message before you post it.  Text-based communication is so easily misunderstood, it is useful to be review  how you word a message before you post it.   Ask if you would be comfortable saying what you are writing to someone face-to-face.    In terms of amount of discussion, my rules of thumb are:  If you are someone who contributes frequently, then after you answer some questions, please "count to 10" before answering others.  This is so that others get a chance to participate.   We all process information at different speeds at different times.   If you are someone who is normally quiet, then please speak up and take a chance.  I would like to hear your voices too.