What you will study

The full Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) curriculum consists of four parts, sometimes referred to as CCNA 1–4. This module covers CCNA 1–2.¹

Part 1: Introduction to Networks (CCNA 1)
This part will provide you with a strong theoretical and practical grounding in all aspects of networking, with a particular focus on local area networks (LANs). It will introduce you to the key networking hardware and software and give you your first insight into the importance of internet addressing.

Part 2: Routing and Switching Essentials (CCNA 2)
Routers and switches are used extensively in wide area and local area networks. Their basic function is to forward data packets across networks and between networks. Part 2 focuses on how you can configure routers to operate in computer networks as well as their switch counterpart.

Each part consists of a number of chapters. Most chapters have an online exam, and each of the two parts has an online final exam.

¹Module Cisco networking (CCNA) part 2 (TM357) covers CCNA 3–4.

You will learn

This module will:

• help you develop an understanding of how computer networks work, and the principles behind them
• help you develop the practical skills needed to configure network devices such as routers and switches
• provide you with an opportunity to go on and gain an industry-recognized qualification (CCENT/CCNA certification).

Vocational relevance

You’ll learn both theory and practical elements of network addressing and management, router configuration, switch management and securing a local area network.

In addition, this module will thoroughly prepare you for the industry-standard ICND1 examination.

You must make your own arrangements to sit ICND1 – there are exam centres all over the world

Residential school

The day school is a practical experience with Cisco Networking technologies and a Cisco assessment at the end. Your work during the day school will be linked to the end-of-module assessment. You must satisfactorily attend a day school to pass this course and gain the completion certificates from Cisco.

We’ll hold the day schools at specific venues on Saturdays (and some Sundays) near the end of the module. We’ll offer a choice of dates – usually over two different weekends at each venue.

The cost of day schools is included in the module fee, but you must make your own travel arrangements.

In exceptional circumstances, we can provide an Alternative Learning Experience (ALE). Exceptional circumstances include students who are registered disabled; the carer of a registered disabled person; members of HM Forces (or their dependents) serving abroad; or HM Government employees (or their dependents) working abroad. We will consider other applications for the ALE on an individual basis

Entry

There are no formal entry requirements to study this module.

However, as this is an OU level 2 module you’ll need a good knowledge of the subject area obtained through any of the following:

• OU level 1 study
• equivalent work at another university
• experience as an IT professional

Outside the UK

This module is available outside the UK; however, unless you must study this course as part of your OU qualification, do not choose it if you will be unable to travel to the day schools. Students resident outside the UK and the Republic of Ireland might prefer to study for Cisco certification at a local academy.

Synchronous tutorials and communications could be difficult to deliver to students outside the UK due to time differences. If you can’t attend the synchronous tutorials or make synchronous communications, you’ll have to use asynchronous alternative methods, such as watching recorded tutorials and emailing questions.

Preparatory work

Introduction to computing and information technology 1 (TM111) and Introduction to computing and information technology 2 (TM112) would be ideal preparation for this module.

When you register on TM257, we’ll send you details of a free course – Packet Tracer 101. This short (2-hour) course offers you:

• some familiarisation with the Packet Tracer network simulation software used on the module
• exposure to some basic networking principles and practices
• the opportunity to reflect on networking as a potential pathway and career choice; and the opportunity to consider the demands of the Cisco modules.

If you’re returning to study, you might find it helpful to look at our Skills for OU Study website and to read The Good Study Guide by Northedge, (The Open University, 2005).

Study materials

What’s included

• Access to the Cisco study materials, and additional supplementary material, via the module website
• One practical day-school

Computing requirements

A computing device with a browser and broadband internet access is required for this module. Any modern browser will be suitable for most computer activities. Functionality may be limited on mobile devices.

Any additional software will be provided or is generally freely available. However, some activities may have more specific requirements. For this reason, you will need to be able to install and run additional software on a device that meets the requirements below.

A desktop or laptop computer with either:

• Windows 7 or higher
• Mac OS X 10.7 or higher

The screen of the device must have a resolution of at least 1024 pixels horizontally and 768 pixels vertically.

To participate in our online-discussion area you will need both a microphone and speakers/headphones.

Our Skills for OU study website has further information including computing skills for study, computer security, acquiring a computer and Microsoft software offers for students.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You’ll have a named tutor who will support your studies and mark and comment on your assignment work; you can also seek academic advice and guidance from them. Your tutor will offer support through email, telephone and online forum discussions. Additionally, there will be face-to-face and online tutorials. We will advertise tutorials before the module starts; TM257 tutors will take them, but depending on the tutorial, not necessarily your own named tutor. We recommend you book online to attend these tutorials.

Assessment

You can find the assessment details for this module in the facts box above.

You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).

If you have a disability

The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone. The Accessibility Statement below outlines what studying this module involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.

Professional recognition

Those within the networking technician and engineering discipline consider Cisco certification professional recognition and personal accreditation. CCENT certification is an invaluable entry accreditation for the network engineering profession.

What you will study

Over the last few years the internet and the World Wide Web have provided the basis for the development of a range of strategic business solutions.

As web technologies have entered the mainstream of IT development a wide range of applications in sectors such as marketing, selling, purchasing, banking and publishing have been deployed, positioning the Web in the relationship between providers and users.

This module starts with a focus on the foundations of web applications, including protocols, standards and content handling. It builds on these by exploring application architectures, components and alternative application designs before considering how applications and content can be made more dynamic and mobile.

The module is made up of four blocks and a project.

Block 1 Foundations of web technology

The first block covers the basic technologies on which the Web is founded. Aspects covered include: historic development of the Web; ‘architecture’ and basic client-server architecture; protocols such as HTTP; content markup (HTML, CSS, XML) and issues of accessibility and usability; standards and standardisation organisations (W3C, Internet working group); and security (firewalls, HTTPS, certificates).

This block of the module covers all of the basic foundations on which the remainder of the module builds.

Block 2 Web architectures

After examining the different approaches to web application architecture, Block 2 focuses on how the components of the client-server architecture can deliver dynamic content to web pages.

This block covers web application architectures, including cloud technology; server and client side components (web browsers, databases) and programming languages (JavaScript, PHP, and SQL).

While this block considers a range of programming languages and their roles in developing applications, it does not teach programming and you are expected to have already acquired these skills.

This block includes both JavaScript and PHP programming activities. All the code required to produce a simple web application is provided and explained, but you should be prepared to utilize and adapt the examples in simple ways.

Block 3 Mobile content

Block 3 examines the trend toward more portable content and content customization and also explores mobile content and applications. It considers aspects such as Web 2, content streaming (RSS), content manipulation (DOM, XSLT, etc.) and approaches to delivering content to mobile devices. You will also undertake the development of a mobile application using specialized mobile content and applications software.

Block 4 Developing applications

The final block explores how applications are planned, designed and developed by IT professionals, examining project planning, application design, development environments, and tools as well as application deployment and maintenance.

Project

At the end of the module, you will carry out a substantial project applying the skills and techniques from each block.

Vocational relevance

The module helps develop important skills which are particularly relevant to the workplace, such as written communication skills, information literacy, independent learning and critical analysis.

In an IT context, the module will provide practitioners with relevant experience, skills, and insight into a range of important aspects, such as the source and appropriate use of standards, appreciation of the application lifecycle from design to decommissioning, and the range of current approaches to web application design and implementation.

Entry

There are no formal entry requirements to study this module.

However, as this is an OU level 2 module you’ll need a good knowledge of the subject area obtained through any of the following:

• OU level 1 study
• equivalent work at another university
• experience as an IT professional

You must be familiar with basic programming concepts(conditionals, loops, functions, arrays, etc.) and writing small programs in a language such as Java, Python, PHP or JavaScript.

Preparatory work

The programming skills developed in Introduction to computing and information technology 1 (TM111) and Introduction to computing and IT 2 (TM222), or Object-oriented Java programming (M250), would be ideal preparation, especially if you’re not familiar with basic programming.

TT284 covers a range of web technologies at a depth appropriate for an OU level 2 module. We’ll expect you to engage with the whole networked learning environment: online module materials, tutorials, module forums and practical activities on the server.

You must be prepared to spend significant amounts of time online each week. The stop-start nature of the work could make it difficult for you to measure how much time you’re actually devoting to the module. Also, students work at different rates, and some students need longer than others to get up to speed.

Attitude is extremely important – you’ll inevitably discover some dead ends and these can be demoralizing unless you cope with them constructively. Have an open mind: if one approach isn’t working, try another; if you think you’re on the wrong track, contact your tutor or post to the forums.

If you’re returning to study, you might find it helpful to look at our Skills for OU Study website and to read The Good Study Guide by Northedge, (The Open University, 2005).

Study materials

What’s included

This module is presented fully online within The Open University’s virtual learning environment (VLE), which gives access to the study materials in electronic format, online forums and other online resources. There are no printed texts: all the study materials will be available online from the website.

You may wish to use a headset, with a microphone and earphones, to talk to your tutor and other students online during some of the module activities.

You will need

In order to successfully run the module software, we recommend that you have a minimum of 1GB of memory (RAM) on the computer that you will use for your studies.

If you have an Apple Mac or Linux computer – please note that for Block 4 and the end-of-module assessment (EMA) of this module you can only use it by running Windows on it using Boot Camp or a similar dual-boot system.

Computing requirements

A computing device with a browser and broadband internet access is required for this module. Any modern browser will be suitable for most computer activities. Functionality may be limited on mobile devices.

Any additional software will be provided, or is generally freely available. However, some activities may have more specific requirements. For this reason, you will need to be able to install and run additional software on a device that meets the requirements below.

A desktop or laptop computer with either:

• Windows 7 or higher
• macOS 10.7 or higher

The screen of the device must have a resolution of at least 1024 pixels horizontally and 768 pixels vertically.

To participate in our online-discussion area you will need both a microphone and speakers/headphones.

Our Skills for OU study website has further information including computing skills for study, computer security, acquiring a computer and Microsoft software offers for students.

Teaching and assessment

Support from your tutor

You will have a tutor who will help you with the study material and mark and comment on your written work, and whom you can ask for advice and guidance. We may also be able to offer group tutorials or day schools that you are encouraged, but not obliged, to attend. Where your tutorials are held will depend on the distribution of students taking the module.

Contact us if you want to know more about study with The Open University before you register.

Assessment

The assessment details for this module can be found in the facts box above.

You must use the online eTMA system to submit your tutor-marked assignments (TMAs).

The end-of-module assessment (EMA) is an individual project.

If you have a disability

The OU strives to make all aspects of study accessible to everyone. The Accessibility Statement below outlines what studying this module involves. You should use this information to inform your study preparations and any discussions with us about how we can meet your needs.