Assessment of Learning Report

Computer Science
Networking
CPC

Fall 2012 – Spring 2014

Report prepared by:

Michael Fuszner, Professor

Department Chair
Computer Networking
 Assessment of Learning Report
Computer Networking
Fall 2012 – Spring 2014

I. Introduction and Background

St. CharlesCommunity CollegeMission Statement

St. CharlesCommunity College is an affordable, and accredited, accessible learning environment

providing life-changing opportunities for personal growth and professional success.

Computer Science Mission Statement

The Computer Science Program’s mission is to offer both academic and vocational computer
science programs that are responsive to the information technology needs of business and
industry, as well as responsive to the personal and professional objectives of our students. We
are committed to excellence in instruction and will recruit and retain a professional faculty
imbued with real world, cutting edge experience and expertise.

Course Prefixes

The CPC prefix is being used to exclusively define computer networking courses.

Overview of the Computer Networking Program

The Computer Science program has been divided into two broad areas:

 Computer Networking (which this report addresses)

o Cisco Networking Academy
o Microsoft Networking
o Computer Repair and Maintenance
o UNIX for Networking
o Network Security

 Computer Science
o Business Computing
o Computer Programming
o Database Management
o Multimedia & Web Design
o Telecommunications

CPC Assessment of Learning Report page 2 of 14 Fall 2012-Spring 2014

Computer Networking Degrees and Certificates

The following degrees and certificates are currently offered:

 Associate of Applied Science

o Networking
o Network Security
 Certificates of Achievement
o Networking

Associate of Applied Science Degree

Networking
Credit
Course Title Hours
General Education Requirements (25 credit hours)
Includes MAT 121: Intermediate Algebra

A+ Certification

CPC 107 A+ (Computer Repair & Maintenance) 5

Cisco Networking Academy

CPC 170 CCNA1 5

CPC 171 CCNA2 5

CPC 172 CCNA3 5

CPC 173 CCNA4 5

Microsoft
CPC 125 Windows Desktop Operating Systems 3

CPC 202 Windows Server and Active Directory 5

UNIX

CPC 180 Introduction to UNIX/Linux 3

CPC 260 UNIX/Linux Administration 3

Advanced Skills

CPC 290 Virtualization Technologies 3

CPC 299 New Technologies 3

Total Required Credit Hours 70

CPC Assessment of Learning Report page 3 of 14 Fall 2012-Spring 2014

 Associate of Applied Science Degree
Network Security
Credit
Course Title Hours

General Education Requirements (25 credit hours)

Includes MAT 121: Intermediate Algebra

A+ Certification

CPC 107 A+ (Computer Repair & Maintenance) 5

Cisco Networking Academy

CPC 170 CCNA1 5

CPC 171 CCNA2 5

CPC 172 CCNA3 5

CPC 173 CCNA4 5

CPC 245 CCNA Security 5

Security

CPC 160 Desktop Security 3

CPC 161 Computer Forensics 3

CPC 162 Certified Ethical Hacking 3

UNIX

CPC 180 Introduction to UNIX/Linux 3

CPC 260 UNIX/Linux Administration 3

Total Required Credit Hours 70

CPC Assessment of Learning Report page 4 of 14 Fall 2012-Spring 2014

 Certificate of Achievement
Networking
Credit
Course Title Hours
General Education Requirements (12 credit hours)

Core Requirements

CPC 107 A+ (Computer Repair & Maintenance) 5

CPC 125 Windows Desktop Operating Systems 3

CPC 160 Desktop Security 3

CPC 170 CCNA1 5

CPC 180 Introduction to UNIX/Linux 3

31
Total Required Credit Hours

CPC Assessment of Learning Report page 5 of 14 Fall 2012-Spring 2014

Program Goals and Objectives

The computer networking program is comprised of four overlapping areas with the goals and
objectives listed below:

A+: Computer Repair and Maintenance

 Identify basic terms, concepts, and functions related to computer repair and maintenance
 Identify basic procedures for adding and removing field replaceable modules in computers
 Install and configure peripheral devices such as printers, modems, and external storage
devices
 Install and configure internal devices such as hard drives, sound cards, and network cards
 Identify and install RAM
 Identify the most popular types of motherboards
 Troubleshoot common symptoms and problems associated with computer malfunctions.
Identify basic concepts and procedures with selected current and legacy operating systems

Microsoft Networking

 Installing the currently most popular Windows Desktop and Server operating systems
 Implementing and conducting administration of resources
 Implementing, managing, and troubleshooting hardware devices and drivers
 Monitoring and optimizing system performance, reliability, and availability
 Optimizing and troubleshooting performance
 Implementing, managing, and troubleshooting network protocols and services
 Implementing, configuring, managing, and troubleshooting local security policy
 Managing, configuring, and troubleshooting storage use
 Configuring and troubleshooting Windows network connections
 Implementing and managing Active Directory
 Integrating the Domain Name System with Active Directory
 Implementing and Configuring Group Policy

Cisco Networking Academy

 Computer hardware and software, electricity, networking terminology, and protocols

 LANs and WANs, Open Systems Interconnection (OSI) model, Ethernet, and Internet
Protocol (IP) addressing
 Design and documentation of a basic network and structured cabling
 Network-to-network communications
 Router user interfaces, components and configurations
 Basics of IOS versions, naming and software backup
 TCP/IP Protocol Suite and IP addressing and subnetting
 Interior routing protocols—RIP, IGRP
 Switching and VLANs
 Spanning-Tree Protocol

CPC Assessment of Learning Report page 6 of 14 Fall 2012-Spring 2014

 Routing and Routing Protocols
 Access Control Lists (ACLs)
 Network documentation, security and troubleshooting
 WAN devices, encapsulation formats, and communication
 PPP components, session establishment, and authentication
 ISDN uses, services, and configuration
 Frame relay technology and configuration

UNIX for Networking

 Installing of selected distributions of Linux

 Using Linux utilities
 Understanding Linux file systems
 Working with Linux shells
 Administering Linux systems
 Writing basic scripts
 Networking Linux
 Setting up file and printer sharing, print servers, and Web servers

Network Security

 Designing a security strategy

 Protecting the network infrastructure
 Authentication, Authorization, Accounting (AAA)
 Securing layer 2 technologies
 Using access control lists
 IOS zone-based firewalls
 Cisco’s Adaptive Security Appliance (firewall)
 VPN technologies
 Intrusion Prevention and Intrusion Detection Systems
 Public Key Infrastructure
 Ethical hacking
 Computer forensics

Academic Assessment Plan

The computer networking program prepares students in two ways:

 General education course work to train students in reading, writing, analysis/critical thinking,
and decision-making.
 Program specific training in computer repair and maintenance, Microsoft networking, Cisco
networking thru the Cisco Networking Academy, Linux, virtualization, ethical hacking,
computer forensics, network security.

Therefore, the computer networking assessment plan consists of the following:

CPC Assessment of Learning Report page 7 of 14 Fall 2012-Spring 2014

 ACT WorkKeys to evaluate general education course work.
o Reading for Information
 Computerized multiple choice test that contains 33 problems to be
completed in 55 minutes. An acceptable student score is from level three
through seven, with seven being the highest. Students are reading passages
from actual workplace business documents and are expected to respond to
questions about the content of these documents. Reading skills and
analysis/decision-making skills are measured by their answers.
o Locating Information
 Computerized multiple choice test that contains 38 problems to be
completed in 55 minutes. An acceptable student score is from level three
thru six, with six being the highest. Students are observing workplace
documents containing graphics, forms, charts, tables, etc., and are
expected to glean information from these documents to answer questions
accurately and in a timely manner. These skills are needed by SCC
graduates every day in the workplace.

 An average of four final online assessments assigned as part of the Cisco Networking
Academy at the conclusion of each quarter of training.
o Final grade assessment scores may range from 0 to 100.
o Assessments occur in a proctored environment.
o The skills listed under Program Goals and Objectives above are evaluated.
o Assessments include multiple choice, multiple guess, drag and drop, Flash-
generated forms that go beyond traditional, computer-based testing, and a hands-
on, skills-based comprehensive assessment.

CPC Assessment of Learning Report page 8 of 14 Fall 2012-Spring 2014

 II. Data and Results

The following table includes students who completed the program in Fall 2012 thru Spring 2014.
Many computer networking students are seeking job skills to enhance their current career and not
on a degree track. They attend specific classes relevant to their career field. Also, many students
declared degrees when they first enrolled in a class at SCC but have not updated that
information. Students are not required but encouraged to take the WorkKeys exams, so
information is not available for all students. We discontinued using WorkKeys after Fall 2012.

Academic Assessment
Student Locating Reading for Online Final
ID Information Information Assessment
XXXXXX 43
XXXXXX 98
XXXXXX 82
XXXXXX 89
XXXXXX 55
XXXXXX 96
XXXXXX 72
XXXXXX 5 5 67
XXXXXX 86
XXXXXX 74
XXXXXX 98
XXXXXX 67
XXXXXX 69
XXXXXX 72
XXXXXX 87
XXXXXX 87
XXXXXX 84
XXXXXX 76
XXXXXX 94
XXXXXX 82
XXXXXX 71
XXXXXX 4 5 73
XXXXXX 80
XXXXXX 80
XXXXXX 92
XXXXXX 5 5 65
XXXXXX 93
XXXXXX 79
XXXXXX 52
XXXXXX 80
XXXXXX 87
XXXXXX 4 5 82

CPC Assessment of Learning Report page 9 of 14 Fall 2012-Spring 2014

XXXXXX 40
XXXXXX 62
XXXXXX 85
XXXXXX 4 5 47
XXXXXX 74
XXXXXX 59
XXXXXX 51
XXXXXX 3 4 44
XXXXXX 90
XXXXXX 35
XXXXXX 64
XXXXXX 78
XXXXXX 77
XXXXXX 88
XXXXXX 72
XXXXXX 5 7 93
XXXXXX 73
XXXXXX 53
XXXXXX 5 6 96
XXXXXX 5 7 94
XXXXXX 4 4 71
XXXXXX 4 6 72
XXXXXX 5 6 67
XXXXXX 77
XXXXXX 71
XXXXXX 77
XXXXXX 63
XXXXXX 91
XXXXXX 87
XXXXXX 72
XXXXXX 90
XXXXXX 60
XXXXXX 90
XXXXXX 86
XXXXXX 88
XXXXXX 54
XXXXXX 60
XXXXXX 70
XXXXXX 94
XXXXXX 81
XXXXXX 90
XXXXXX 58
XXXXXX 84
XXXXXX 60
XXXXXX 62
XXXXXX 53
Averages 4.25 5 74

CPC Assessment of Learning Report page 10 of 14 Fall 2012-Spring 2014

 III. Data Analysis and Interpretation

Students scored very well on the ACT WorkKeys assessments. All students scored above the
minimum requirement. These are encouraging results since students within the computer
networking program must be able to document their networks, create charts and graphs, analyze
data, and so forth.

Final Grade Assessments for those completing CCNA1 through CCNA4 were very strong with
an average score of 74. We cannot compare this to previous years, since our assessment tool has
changed. A passing score would be a 60 or above. Scores ranged from 35 to 98. A total of 65
students out of 78 passed (83%).

The following chart shows the number of students that completed CCNA1 thru CCNA4.
Students begin with CCNA1 and progress through the sequence in order by finishing with
CCNA4. The retention rate stabilizes in the second half of the training. Students consider the
curriculum challenging.

 103 students completed CCNA1

 94 students completed CCNA2 (8.7% drop rate)
 80 students completed CCNA3 (14.9%% drop rate)
 79 students completed CCNA4 (1.3% drop rate)

77% of our students completed the four-course sequence. This is a significant improvement. A
large number of our students rely on tuition reimbursement programs through their employer. As
a result, our enrollments depend heavily on the state of the economy which affects training

CPC Assessment of Learning Report page 11 of 14 Fall 2012-Spring 2014

budgets at many companies. The typical retention rate nationwide among Cisco Networking
Academies is around 50%, so our retention rate is much better.

IV. Discussion of Data with IT Advisory Council

and Program Faculty

IT Advisory Council Discussions

Soft skills that are considered important by our IT Advisory Council. Critical thinking skills,
customer service skills, and social skills are highlighted. IT workers must be able to write a
coherent email message, know how to translate technical into non-technical language when
speaking with customers, how to build a relationship with other employees and customers, and
how to manage crises. These have been addressed within our classes in the following ways:

 The curriculum already contains Case Studies that require extensive documentation,
troubleshooting skills, and project management in order to complete within the timeframe
required.
 Students are required to work and communicate in team settings in many of our classes.
 Case Study projects are frequently completed in a team or group setting.
 The lab environment frequently requires working together in groups either formally or
informally.

IT Advisory Council members were asked what skill sets are most in demand in their IT
department. These are some of the responses:

 Virtualization is a huge skill set to have

 Ability to document properly with case notes
 Troubleshooting skills
 Know how to respond to customer incidents

IT Advisory Council members offered the following recommendations:

 Create a role playing scenario at the end of class – have someone explain how they
solved that day’s assignment and their peers would ask questions related to that
assignment
 Students need to learn how to support hand-held devices
 Students need to learn to write case notes in order to properly document and manage
knowledge – whether related to a customer case or as a result of troubleshooting
 Help desk technologies need to be taught
 Students need to learn to troubleshoot and program Android and IOS apps

CPC Assessment of Learning Report page 12 of 14 Fall 2012-Spring 2014

Council members suggested job shadowing, internships, and classroom visits by advisory
members as a way to show the importance of soft skills to students.

The council provided these additional suggestions:

 Companies will not be moving to Windows 8 for quite some time yet
 Programming languages that SCC should be teaching include Java, Javascript, Python,
and SQL and other object-oriented languages
 Cisco is the IOS to teach – Juniper is not used very much
 Certifications are not important for programmers but may be more important for
networking

Council members were also asked how companies are handling security, data security, and
information security in general:

 Students need Active Directory skills and security awareness training.

 Businesses need either biometric security for laptops or a program like SOPHOS.
 Laptop security – a big issue.
 Passwords need to be longer and include numbers, letters and symbols.
 Network skills are very important and for users to understand social engineering.
 Students need to learn about web site security, cloud computing, and storage area
networks

V. Implication for Improvements or Changes

The following implications for improvement or changes have been noted:

 Students need to continue to develop their soft skills thru team projects and working together.
 Students need to continue to develop their abilities to document information.
 Troubleshooting skills need to continue to be a focus in training.
 A larger database is necessary to add validity to the results of the assessment process. Most
of our students are taking specific classes rather than targeting a degree. We are now
assessing all computer networking students and not just those seeking a degree.
 Hybrid classes may better meet the needs of some working adult learners.
 Certifications and degrees are both important to employers.
 It is now more important than ever that students achieve job skills that will make them ready
on day one at a new job.
 Students need to understand the business side of networking.

CPC Assessment of Learning Report page 13 of 14 Fall 2012-Spring 2014

 VI. Action Steps
The following action steps are planned:

 Classes and a degree that focuses on network and cyber security should be developed.
 Group or team activities are being emphasized.
 Case studies requiring documentation that includes writing skills, organizational skills,
creation of tables, charts, and graphics are included in the curriculum.
 All students, whether degree-seeking or not, will be included in the assessment process for
future reports and evaluation.
 Many marketing and promotional events will be conducted to promote the program. These
will include newspaper advertisements, on-line advertising, press releases, internal promotion
and cross-promotion among classes.
 Students who do not already possess a college degree will be encouraged to work towards an
AAS degree in addition to earning certifications.
 Hands-on skills are being emphasized within classes to give students the skills they need
when starting a job.

CPC Assessment of Learning Report page 14 of 14 Fall 2012-Spring 2014