Cisco Networking Academy Program

IT Essentials Update
This is an overview to introduce the changes to the IT Essentials: PC
Hardware and Software v4.0 curricula.
English versions of this course will be available in the June-August 2007
timeframe.

IT Essentials Update Presentation Version 2.0

Topic:

Cisco Networking Academy Program IT Essentials Update

Appropriate for:

Internal teams
Academy audiences

Content valid:

Valid as of April 2007

Additional info:

1.
2.
3.
4.

New CCNA 307

Please tailor this presentation to effectively address your presentation

goals, audience, and time constraints.
Notes are provided in this presentation for key speaking points
Please refer to other curricula materials for additional information
Send any feedback to your theatre Networking Academy program contacts

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Cisco Networking
Academy Program
IT Essentials Update

Speaker Name
April 2007

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Contents
Changes
Certification Alignment
Equipment and Training
Scope and Sequence
Virtual Learning Tools

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Changes

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Overview
Name Change:
Old Name: IT Essentials I: PC Hardware and Software
New Name: IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software

Provide access to knowledge and skills necessary for

computer technicians and entry-level IT workers
IT Essentials PC v4.0:
Available in June 2007
Aligns with
New CompTIA A+ certification
Modules 1-3 of EUCIP IT Administrator certification
(Europe)

Submitted for approval as CompTIA Authorized

Quality Curriculum
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Course Design

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IT Essentials PC v4.0
Course Design Update

Sixteen (16) chapters

Five (5) new chapters on:

Laptops and Portable Devices
Security
Communication Skills

Should prepare students to take:

All exams associated with the new CompTIA A+ certification
Modules 1-3 of the EUCIP IT Administrator certification
(Europe)

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IT Essentials PC v4.0
One course divided into two (2) parts:
Part 1: Fundamentals

Part 2: Advanced

Core competencies in latest

hardware and software
technologies

More hands-on and lab-based

Chapters 1-10

Greater emphasis on:

information security skills

safety and environmental

issues

soft skills

Aligns with CompTIA A+

Essentials exam required for all
A+ candidates

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Chapters 11-16

Greater depth with more practical

application and troubleshooting
Covers all three CompTIA job
environment certification exams:
IT Technician (602)
Remote Support Technician (603)
Bench Technician (604)

Flexibility for instructors to teach based

on any or all of the certification exams

Certification

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Previous CompTIA A+ Certification

Based on 2003 objectives
Two exams:
A+ Core Hardware (exam 220-301)
A+ OS Technologies (exam 220-302)

Certification is for life

Current IT Essentials PC v3.1
course aligned to these
objectives

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Previous CompTIA A+ Certification Exams

CompTIA will retire these exams on June 30, 2007
Networking Academy program students will have
access to certification exam discount coupons
upon graduation from an IT Essentials PC class
They must complete both exams successfully by
June 30, 2007 in order to be A+ certified under the
previous exams
After that date, they will need to complete the 2006
certification exams path

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A+ Certification Exam Update

New, 2006 Objectives exam announced in June 2006

Different certification paths aimed at different job

markets

New topics on laptops, security, safety and

communication and professionalism

Two exams must still be passed to obtain certification:

1. A+ Essentials (220-601)
2. PLUS any of the three job-skills exams:
220-602 - IT Technician (Field Service Technician)
220-603 - Remote Support (Help Desk Technician)
220-604 - Depot Technician (Bench Technician)

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A+ Certification Exam Update

http://certification.comptia.org/a/New_A.aspx

Most
resembles
previous
301, 302
exams

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Certification Mapping
Will map to new CompTIA A+ exams and certified as
CompTIA Authorized Quality Curriculum
Authors, Technical Reviewers, & Assessment Writers
taking all four exams
EUCIP IT Administrator certification popular in Europe
http://www.eucip.org/ -> select Products / IT
Administrator
Modules 1-3 covered completely and most of Module 4

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Scope &
Sequence

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IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software

Course Objectives
Define Information Technology (IT) and detail the components of the personal computer
Protect the student against accident and injury, equipment from damage, and the environment from
contamination
Perform a step by step assembly of a desktop computer tower
Explain the purpose of preventive maintenance and identify the elements of the troubleshooting process
Explain, install, navigate, perform preventive maintenance on, and begin troubleshooting an Operating
System, laptop and printer/scanner
Describe, install, perform preventive maintenance on, and begin troubleshooting a network
Describe, install, perform preventive maintenance on, and begin troubleshooting security
Describe and apply good communication skills and professional behavior while working with customers
Perform advanced installation, select components based on customer need, perform preventive
maintenance on, and perform advanced troubleshooting of a desktop computer tower
Upgrade, select components based on customer need, perform preventive maintenance on, and
perform advanced troubleshooting of an Operating System
Remove and replace select components of, perform preventive maintenance on, and describe
advanced troubleshooting of a laptop and printer/scanner
Upgrade, select components based on customer need, perform preventive maintenance on, and
perform advanced troubleshooting on a network
Upgrade, select components based on customer need, perform preventive maintenance on, and
perform advanced troubleshooting of security

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IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software

Course Outline

New CCNA 307

Ch

PC Hardware and Software

Fundamentals: Introduction to the Personal Computer

Fundamentals: Safe Lab Procedure and Tool Use

Fundamentals: Computer Assembly Step by Step

Fundamentals: Basics of Preventive Maintenance and Troubleshooting

Fundamentals: Operating Systems

Fundamentals: Laptops & Portable Devices

Fundamentals: Printers and Scanners

Fundamentals: Networks

Fundamentals: Security

10

Fundamentals: Communication Skills

11

Advanced: Personal Computers

12

Advanced: Operating Systems

13

Advanced: Laptops and Portable Devices

14

Advanced: Printers and Scanners

15

Advanced: Networks

16

Advanced: Security

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Equipment and
Training

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IT Essentials PC v4.0
Lab Equipment Changes
Changes due to:
Changed certification exam objectives
Increased focus on practical job skills and troubleshooting

Operating systems covered

Microsoft Windows XP Professional
Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional

Increased RAM
Wireless PCI adapter
Wireless router/switch

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Equipment Requirements
New/Changes
Hardware:
Two 128 MB memory modules (minimum) or two 256 MB
memory modules (recommended)

Software:
Microsoft Windows XP Professional (Media CD)

Additional Items/Resources:
One Linksys wireless router/switch or equivalent per two Lab
PCs, Linksys model WRT 300N preferred
One Wireless PCI network adapter (compatible with the above
wireless router/switch) for each Lab PC

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Typical Lab Layout

Lab size of 12-15 students for hands-on lab activities
Recommended: a ratio of 1 Lab PC per student

Some lab activities require the student Lab PCs to be

connected to a local network
2 instructor workstations
1 connected to Internet to search for and download files
Other instructor workstation used for hands-on lab
demonstrations

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Instructor Training
IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software v4.0
Optional but strongly recommended

Current
Instructor

Will be allowed to create and teach ITE PC v4.0 classes

immediately after the course is released in June
Training is required (in-person or blended)

New
Instructor

Instructor Fast Track option available to those with prior

subject matter knowledge
Follow current guidelines & requirements
Eligibility is verified by:
Specific industry certification
Formal evidence of industry experience
Formal evidence of teaching experience

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Virtual Learning
Tools

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Virtual Learning Tools

Designed to:
supplement classroom learning
provide a virtual hands-on experience where real
equipment is limited

Stand-alone tools:
Virtual Desktop
Virtual Laptop

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Virtual Laptop
Tutorial

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Objectives
Describe the three modes of the Virtual Laptop.
Remove and install laptop components in the
Virtual Laptop.
Participate in discussion of various teaching
strategies to use with the Virtual Laptop.

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Tutorial

Or click the Skip

button to go
directly to using
Virtual Laptop.

Click on the
arrow to view the
brief tutorial.
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The Three Modes

Step-by-step instructions
Learn Mode for removing and installing
components

Self-check for
understanding
Test Mode
Information about
many laptop features
Explore Mode and components
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Learn Mode: Underside Layer

Components in the
Underside Layer

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Learn Mode: Show Instructions

For step-by-step
instructions

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Antistatic Mat

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Aligning and Installing Components

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Completing a Layer in Learn Mode

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Learn Mode: Top & Sides Layer

PC Card

Optical Drive

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Learn Mode: Docking Station Layer

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Learn Mode: External Cables Layer

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Test Mode

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Explore Mode

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The Learn More Option

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Virtual Laptop
Demo

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Virtual Laptop Demo

The Virtual Laptop demo can be downloaded at:

<INSERT URL where this will be made available from
AC>

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