Tanenbaum, A.S, Modern Operating Systems, Prentice Hall, 2001, ISBN: 0130926418

White, R and Downs, T (2004) How Computers work 7th Edition, Que Publishing, ISBN: 0-7897-3033-2

(or later edition)

Communications and Networking: An Introduction, John Cowley, 2007, Springer, ISBN: 1-84628-488-0

Network Fundamentals, Dye et al, 2011 Cisco Press, ISBN-10: 1587133482

The module content may be delivered in a series of tutorial sessions. Non-contact time will be used for independent research and workplace-based learning. An example delivery schedule would be 48 hours of tutorial sessions.

Work-based Component
Students are encouraged to spend around 50 hours over the course of the module seeking re-enforcement of academic learning through practical experience in an ICT work environment. This will include investigation of how aspects of the taught material apply to the workplace through the use of worksheets and will inform the coursework assignment. Students will have access to a workplace based mentor While it is difficult to be prescriptive, Mentors will usually devote around 6 hours to their mentees during the course of this module either on a one to one basis or in groups if possible. The time will be used to support the mentees in their completion of set tasks.

4 hours of Academic Tutor Contact time will be used for formative and summative reviews. Where necessary, reviews may be conducted virtually using appropriate tools. There will be four formative reviews lasting 30 minutes and a summative review lasting 1 hour.. Employer Feedback Forms will be completed by the work-based mentor and Self assessment forms will be completed by the student. These will inform the reviews.

A PORTFOLIO weighted at 50%, Learning Outcomes 1-3.
A portfolio of exercises some theory based and some requiring reflection of use and applicability of theoretical concepts in the work environment of the learner (circa 3000 words)

A CASE STUDY length 3000 WORDS weighted at 50%, Learning outcomes 4-6
This case study will examine a networking requirements and design of a solution.

Content will focus on:

ICT Systens
Differences between systems, software and enterprise solutions.
Different conceptual views of a system.

Hardware,
Operating system building blocks
System functions and characteristics
Memory management and protection
Memory types - static and dynamic:
Processor types:
Busses: Disk Drives, Removable Media:
I/O techniques - Serial / Parallel: Peripherals - Mice, Keyboards, Printers, Modems, Scanners
Basic Networking - Topologies, Protocols, Wireless:
Multimedia Aspects - Sound, MIDI, FM Synthesis, MP3, Video, VR, 3D Graphics.

Networks,
The OSI model (layers 1-7)
Network design and documentation
Ethernet routing and switching
Introduction to WANs and routers, architecture, CLI and configuration
TCP/IP, Routing in WANs, Network Troubleshooting

You will need access to these resources:

The VLE
An ICT Workplace environment. Possibly suitable Networking equipment in the workplace. A Work-Based Learning Agreement will be completed for this module to ensure that the student will have access to the required resources in the workplace.

The Internet
Word Processing software for use in the coursework .
Staffordshire University has subscriptions to electronic book services such as Safari Tech Books, Ebrary and Netlibrary. There are titles in each of the collections that will support students studying this module. Staffordshire University has subscriptions to IEEExplore, ACM Digital Library, Elsevier Science Direct and Infotrac Computer Database all offering full text electronic access to journals and conference proceedings.

If no access to workplace networking kit, then access to network laboratories or simulation software.

None.