100% coursework consisting of the following parts assessing all 3 learning outcomes.

A Case Study (circa 1500 words) (weighted at 40%)
A Class test assessing skills (weighted at 30%)
A logbook which details the learning undertaken in the workplace (circa 500 words) (weighted at 30%)

Content will focus on:

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

Hardware,
- 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

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 2*1-hour tutorial sessions/week for 12 weeks..
Work-based Component
Students are encouraged to spend around 24 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.
2 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 two 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
(24*1, 1:20), (2*0.5,1:1), (1*1,1:1)

You will need access to these resources:

The VLE
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

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

1) DEMONSTRATE KNOWLEDGE AND BASIC UNDERSTANDING OF THE OSI MODEL, TCP/IP MODEL AND IP ADDRESSING WITH SUBNETTING. (Knowledge and Understanding)
2) DEMONSTRATE UNDERSTANDING OF THE FUNCTIONALITY AND CAPACITY OF A TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND HOW CHANGES TO THE CONFIGURATION WILL AFFECT THE SYSTEM'S OVERALL PERFORMANCE CAPABILITIES. (Learning)
3) EVALUATE ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS AND ROUTES INCLUDING TOKEN RING, FDDI, ETHERNET AND THE CREATION OF PHYSICAL AND LOGICAL NETWORK TOPOLOGIES TO SATISFY THE REQUIREMENTS OF A TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM AND PRESENT OBJECTIVE DATA TO CONTRIBUTE TO DECISION MAKING. (Learning)