IntroductionToCurriculum
From LearniT
Contents |
Introduction to the Curriculum
"Networks to Knowledge" is a solutions-based, hands-on introduction to information technology written by and for teachers and students. The curriculum aims to address the practical problems that teachers and students face when they use information technology -- at home, on the road, and in the classroom.
The course is divided into three sections: networking, personal computing hardware and programming. Networking focuses on how to setup and operate home networks, and includes such topics as adding wireless access to the network and network security. Personal computing hardware addresses the basic need to keep one's computer working and secure. Programming is both an introduction to html as well as to basic computer programming concepts and coding.
As a whole, Networks to Knowledge surveys the most important information technology topics for teaching and learning. Successful completion of this curriculum will help teachers and students solve practical technical problems. Networks to Knowledge also gives students the foundational experience and information they will need to select paths of higher-level study in IT, including A+, Novell, Cisco, Net+, Oracle and Computer Science.
Introduction to the Collaborative Curriculum Writing Process
"Networks to Knowledge" represents a new way of writing curriculum. The problem with a field as dynamic as information technology is that it is virtually impossible for traditional textbooks to keep up with it. The technology literally changes and evolves on a monthly basis.
A second problem with the knowledge contained in this curriculum is that the information is dispersed over a broad number of people. For starters, students often are more experienced with and adept at the technology than the teachers who are supposed to be instructing them. Industry professionals, for their part, are in a better position then either teachers or students to understand where the technology is going.
For these two reasons, Nortel LearniT and the Arlington Public Schools have chosen a dynamic, online, collaborative approach to writing this curriculum. We brought together teachers, students, interns and industry professionals to create outlines, templates and begin fleshing out the course materials.
We used open source web servers (running Apache and mySQL) in conjunction with the "MediaWiki" software used by Wikipedia to post our work in realtime as we wrote. These technologies not only are free to download and run, but gave the curriclum writing team an online place to create and edit. The server automatically tracks all changes to the content.
As sections of the curriculum mature to a point of usefulness, they are exported and published to Nortel LearniT's educational website (www.nortellearnit.org). Nortel LearniT is particularly interested in making available hands-on activities and instructional video clips.
Even while pieces of the curriculum are distributed via Nortel LearniT's website, the curriculum writing process continues on the collaborative MediaWiki (the site you are on right now). In this way, we are able to capture the wisdom of diverse collaborators, as well as keep up with the ever-evolving nature of this exciting field.
Curriculum Structure
Networks to Knowledge consists of three UNITS (Missions): Networking, Computer Hardware and Programming.
Each Unit Has Multiple CHAPTERS (Goals). For example, the Chapters in the Unit "Networking" are:
- Setup Home Network
- Setup Network Services
- Going Wireless
- Using the Internet
- Computer and Network Security
Each Chapter, in turn, contains multiple LESSONS (Objectives). For example, the Lessons in the Chapter "Going Wireless" are:
- Add a Wi-Fi access point to your home network
- Laptops
- Cellphones
- PDA's, MED's, MP3's and the Like
- Mobile Accessories
NOTE: The structure of the curriculum into Units, Chapters and Lessons corresponds, in action language, to Missions, Goals and Objectives. For example, if the Mission is to "understand and utilize networking," a Goal might be to "Setup a Home Network", and an Objective toward that goal might be to "add a wireless access point".
Lesson Format
The Lesson is the core building block of Networks to Knowledge. Each Lesson can stand on its own, and therefore does not need to be taught with the other Lessons. But taken as a whole, the many Lessons in the Units and Chapters provide a powerful year-long foundation course in Information Technology.
You will notice that a horizontal menu bar is located under each Lesson, as follows:
This bar basically contains links to teacher stuff -- the background information, vocabulary and teacher notes that relate to the lesson. Most of this information is self-explanatory, and will be familiar to both teachers and students. Teachers should use the information at their discretion. Students also may want to delve into the information, particularly if they are doing the course on their own.
The last link is to the script for an introductory VIDEO about the lesson. The video is intended to be a three to five-minute overview of the lesson. The actual video clip is not kept here, but rather on Nortel LearniT's educational website.
Under each lesson title, you will find the headers "Outline", "Worksheets" and "Hands-On Activities". These are basically the parts of the Lesson to be done by students.
Because "Networks to Knowledge" is a solutions-based course, particular emphasis is placed upon the "Hands-On Activities". Both teachers and students may want to investigate these first to evaluate whether or not a lesson is meaningful and relevant.
This curriculum is driven by hands-on learning, so that students will not only gain a foundation of experience in information technology, but also will be able to solve real problems. We believe that hands-on learning is the best way to demystify information technology, as well as to tap its tremendous potential for teaching and learning.
