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Session 2548

DEVELOPMENT OF AN ENTRY LEVEL COURSE IN LOCAL AREA NETWORKS Regina Nelson and Aldo Morales College of Engineering Penn State University at DuBois DuBois, PA 15801

Abstract

An introductory course in local area networks (LANs) for Penn State University at DuBois Campus has been designed. This course is tailored for first and second-year electrical and computer engineering students as well as for students in programs such as electrical engineering technology, management information systems, and business administration. Course topics include computer hardware basics, the hardware compatibility list, network cards and protocols, media, network operating system characteristics and network administration. The course is hands-on oriented with a one- hour lecture two-hour lab per week. The course has been very successful and it has been adapted for a five-day continuing education course.

I. Introduction

It is becoming evident that a good knowledge of networking is critical for success in many kinds of computer-based work. Understanding enough to be able to troubleshoot network problems could become a significant bargaining chip in the job market of the 21st century. Consequently, we have designed an introductory course in local area networks for Penn State University at DuBois Campus. This introductory course in networking is an appropriate selection not only for first- and second-year electrical and computer engineering students but also for students in programs such as electrical engineering technology, management information systems, and business administration. Today most students are comfortable with Windows-based software and have at least some familiarity with e-mail and Internet. With interest as the only pre-requisite, this course is designed to take students from this basic level of comfort and familiarity to a higher level, namely familiarity and comfort with networking concepts and the supporting computer hardware. Beginning with the basics of computer hardware and operating systems, the course builds step by step to the level of network administration. Concepts presented in the course incorporate familiar networking terms such as network protocols, network cards, the hardware compatibility list, and many others. Indeed, familiarity becomes the key to learning at each level. The hands-on lab activities provide an opportunity to test principles discussed in lecture, as well as to find new questions to be considered. By the end of the course students have been introduced to enough definitions and concepts to continue experiments or even expand knowledge of local area networks on the job. To design the course we researched similar courses on the WEB (please see web references at the end of the paper), the A+ certification courses, and

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Nelson, R., & Morales, A. (1999, June), Development Of An Entry Level Course In Local Area Networks Paper presented at 1999 Annual Conference, Charlotte, North Carolina. 10.18260/1-2--8138