Cisco Courses Overview

IT Essentials PC Hardware and Software:

The IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software curriculum provides an introduction to the computer hardware and software skills needed to help meet the growing demand for entry-level information and communication technology (ICT) professionals. The curriculum covers the fundamentals of PC technology, networking, and security, and also provides an introduction to advanced concepts.

Students who complete this course will be able to describe the internal components of a computer, assemble a computer system, install an operating system, and troubleshoot using system tools and diagnostic software. Hands-on labs and Virtual Laptop and Virtual Desktop learning tools help students develop critical thinking and complex problem-solving skills. Cisco Packet Tracer simulation-based learning activities promote the exploration of network and networking security concepts and allow students to experiment with network behavior.

IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software is a hands-on, career-oriented e-learning solution with an emphasis on practical experience to help students develop fundamental computer skills, along with essential career skills. The curriculum helps students prepare for entry-level ICT career opportunities and the CompTIA A+ certification, which helps students differentiate themselves in the marketplace to advance their careers. In addition, the course provides a learning pathway to the CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration curricula.

CCNA Discovery:

The Cisco CCNA Discovery curriculum provides general networking theory, practical experience, and opportunities for career exploration and soft-skills development. The curriculum teaches networking based on application, covering networking concepts within the context of network environments students may encounter in their daily lives – from small office and home office (SOHO) networking to more complex enterprise and theoretical networking models later in the curriculum.

CCNA Discovery is designed for students with basic PC skills and foundational math and problem solving skills. The curriculum offers an engaging learning experience for more visual and kinetic learners. Many interactive activities are embedded in all of the courses to break up the text and help reinforce student comprehension. In addition, a large number of labs encourage additional hands-on practice.

CCNA Discovery can be delivered as an independent curriculum or integrated into a broader course of study, such as technology or continuing education programs. The curriculum is appropriate for students at many education levels and types of institutions, including high schools, secondary schools, universities, colleges, career and technical schools, community organizations, and other non-traditional learning environments.

CCNA Discovery helps prepare students for entry-level career opportunities, continuing education, and globally-recognized Cisco CCENT and CCNA certifications

Course Overview

• CCNA Curricula Guide – this interactive guide provides a comprehensive overview of our CCNA curricula and will help you understand the similarities and differences between CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration.
• Chapter Demos - The following demos provide self-guided tours of chapters from each course. After launching a demo, you can navigate through the chapter topics using the index or the arrows, and explore the media-rich, interactive activities and labs to view the types of content available in each curriculum. Please Note: The chapter demos include embedded network simulation and visualization activities that use Packet Tracer, Cisco’s powerful network simulation software. Packet Tracer software is available only to Academy instructors and students free of charge, and must be previously installed on your computer.

CCNA Exploration:

The Cisco CCNA Exploration curriculum provides an integrated and comprehensive coverage of networking topics, from fundamentals to advanced applications and services, while providing opportunities for hands-on practical experience and soft-skills development. The curriculum teaches networking based on technology, covering networking concepts using a top-down, theoretical, and integrated approach – from network applications to the network protocols and services provided to those applications by the lower layers of the network.

CCNA Exploration is designed for students with advanced problem solving and analytical skills. The curriculum offers a comprehensive and theoretical learning experience for analytical students, and uses language that aligns well with engineering concepts. Interactive activities are embedded in the curriculum, along with detailed, theoretical content. Advanced labs build critical thinking and problem solving skills and encourage exploration and research.

CCNA Exploration can be delivered as an independent curriculum or integrated into a broader course of study, such as degree programs in IT, engineering, math, or science. While primarily designed for postsecondary institutions, CCNA Exploration is appropriate for students at many education levels if they have the required skills, and if the instructional approach complements their learning style and educational goals.

CCNA Exploration helps prepare students for entry-level career opportunities, continuing education, and globally-recognized Cisco CCNA certification.

Course Overview

• CCNA Curricula Guide – this interactive guide provides a comprehensive overview of our CCNA curricula and will help you understand the similarities and differences between CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration.
• Chapter Demos - The following demos provide self-guided tours of chapters from each course. After launching a demo, you can navigate through the chapter topics using the index or the arrows, and explore the media-rich, interactive activities and labs to view the types of content available in each curriculum. Please Note: The chapter demos include embedded network simulation and visualization activities that use Packet Tracer, Cisco’s powerful network simulation software. Packet Tracer software is available only to Academy instructors and students free of charge, and must be previously installed on your computer.

CCNA Security:

The Cisco CCNA Security curriculum provides a next step for individuals who want to enhance their CCNA-level skill set and help meet the growing demand for network security professionals. The curriculum provides an introduction to the core security concepts and skills needed for the installation, troubleshooting, and monitoring of network devices to maintain the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data and devices. CCNA Security helps prepare students for entry-level security career opportunities and the globally recognized Cisco CCNA Security certification.This course is a hands-on, career-oriented e-learning solution with an emphasis on practical experience to help students develop specialized security skills, along with critical thinking and complex problem solving skills. CCNA Security is a blended curriculum with both online and classroom learning. Students who enroll in CCNA Security are expected to have CCNA-level networking concepts knowledge and skills, along with basic PC and Internet navigation skills.

While there are no required course prerequisites, students are encouraged to complete the CCNA Discovery or CCNA Exploration curricula to acquire the fundamental CCNA-level routing and switching skills needed for success in this course. CCNA Security provides a next step for CCNA Discovery or CCNA Exploration students who want to expand their CCNA-level skill set to prepare for a career in network security.

CCNP:

The Cisco CCNP curriculum is designed for students seeking career oriented, enterprise-level networking skills. CCNP helps students develop the skills needed to succeed in ICT-related degree and diploma programs and prepare for the Cisco CCNP certification. It provides a theoretically rich, hands-on learning experience covering advanced routing, switching, and troubleshooting skills. CCNP provides a next step for CCNA Discovery or CCNA Exploration students who want to build on their CCNA-level skill set to further a career in computer networking.

CCNP equips students with the knowledge and skills needed to plan, implement, secure, maintain, and troubleshoot converged enterprise networks. The CCNP curriculum was designed to reflect the job skills and responsibilities that are associated with professional-level job roles such as network engineer, systems engineer, network support engineer, network administrator, network consultant , and system integrator.

The CCNP curriculum consists of three courses: CCNP ROUTE: Implementing IP Routing, CCNP SWITCH: Implementing IP Switching, and CCNP TSHOOT: Maintaining and Troubleshooting IP Networks.

Cisco Packet Tracer:

Cisco Packet Tracer is a powerful network simulation program that allows students to experiment with network behavior and ask “what if” questions. As an integral part of the Networking Academy comprehensive learning experience, Packet Tracer provides simulation, visualization, authoring, assessment, and collaboration capabilities and facilitates the teaching and learning of complex technology concepts.

Packet Tracer supplements physical equipment in the classroom by allowing students to create a network with an almost unlimited number of devices, encouraging practice, discovery, and troubleshooting. The simulation-based learning environment helps students develop 21st century skills such as decision making, creative and critical thinking, and problem solving.

Packet Tracer complements the Networking Academy curricula, allowing instructors to easily teach and demonstrate complex technical concepts and networking systems design. The software is available free of charge to all Networking Academy instructors, students, and alumni.

CCNA Curricula Overview:

Studies around the world show a growing demand for information and communication technology (ICT) professionals and a critical shortage of qualified candidates to fill the positions. Innovations such as social networking, cloud computing, e-commerce, web conferencing, and desktop virtualization are changing the way we live, work, play, and learn, and these capabilities are all powered by networks. The Cisco Networking Academy CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration courses provide the experience needed to help meet the global demand for qualified ICT candidates to design, install, and manage these networks.

CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration are designed to meet the diverse needs of different types of students by using different methodologies to teach the same core concepts. The curricula target different student segments based on academic experience, skills, and goals, and accommodate a variety of educational approaches and learning styles to help all students succeed. similarities and differences between CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration. As you navigate the tool, you can make selections to generate a recommendation for the curriculum that best fits your needs.

The CCNA Curricula Guide includes examples of interactive activities, labs, videos, and games from both curricula to help you fully experience the courses instead of just reading about them. It also links to additional resources you can explore for more information. Please help us improve the guide by providing