Proforma for Draft Learning Units (Faculty of Engineering)

Learning Unit Title: Communication Networks Duration – 80 hours

Learning Unit Purpose: To provide a learner with industry recognised skills in installing and implementing local area networks. The learner will
also acquire industry specific knowledge in modern wide area network technologies and protocols. The learning unit will
emphasis on network troubleshooting techniques. After the successful completion of the unit, the learner is expected to support
Local Area Network Systems.

Performance Indicators

• Explain the working principles of data transmission modes.

• Explain different multiplexing techniques.
• Explain OSI 7-layer model and the functionalities.
• Make LAN cables.
• Set up peer-to-peer and client-to-server LAN systems.
• Explain the working principles of circuit switching and packet switching network systems.
• Explain IP addressing scheme.
• Explain the working principles of various LAN and WAN protocols.

Competencies

Created on 7/29/2002 Page 1 of 4 Created by User Rosemary Deakin, Faculty of Engineering

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\CommunicationNetwork.doc
 Learning Experience Evidence of Learning Assessment Assessment Resources
Grading Due

Created on 7/29/2002 Page 2 of 4 Created by User Rosemary Deakin, Faculty of Engineering

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\CommunicationNetwork.doc
Participate in group tutorials to investigate Complete a checklist with questions based on the Student must Week 3 Laboratory with
into the following technical concepts: underpinning knowledge from the discussed areas. provide computers that are
- Modes of data transmission and their satisfactory connected to form a
functions; correct local area network with
- Multiplexing techniques and their answers to a Internet access.
advantages; minimal of
- OSI 7-layer model, its structure and 50% of the
functionalities; asked
- Circuit and packet switching networks; questions in
- Local area network topologies – bus, star the checklist
and ring; in order to
- Local area network components – achieve a
transmission media, network interface pass.
cards and hubs/switches.

Complete a LAN cable troubleshooting and Students are required to make network cables and Pass if Week 5 Consumables, tools and
testing task. demonstrate testing and fault diagnosing skills with performance equipments.
LAN cables. meets
checklist
criteria.

Complete a simulated project task to Classroom presentation to illustrate the performance Presentation Week 7 Packet switching
demonstrate WAN traffic by using a packet and working principles of packet switching networks. must meet simulator.
switching network simulator. minimum
standard as
defined by
competency
criteria
applied to
the task.

Complete a checklist with questions based on the

Participate in group tutorials to investigate underpinning knowledge from the discussed areas. Student must Week 10
into the following technical concepts: provide
- Various LAN Architectures – Ethernet satisfactory
(IEEE 802.3), Token Ring (IEEE 802.5), correct
Created on 7/29/2002 Page 3 of 4 Created by User Rosemary Deakin, Faculty of Engineering
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\CommunicationNetwork.doc
 FDDI; answers to a
- Media Access Control and Logical minimal of
Link Control layers and their 50% of the
functionalities; asked
- WAN technologies- ISDN, ADSL, and questions in
Frame Relay; the checklist
- Internet Protocol (IP), addressing scheme in order to
and header format; achieve a
- IP address classification – class A, B, C, D pass.

& E addresses, network and broadcast

addresses, subnet masks;
Submit a report to explain the procedures in setting
up: Report must Week 15 Network Operating
Complete a simulated project task by setting - a peer-to-peer LAN system; meet System user licence,
up a peer-to-peer LAN system and a LAN - a file and print server in a LAN system with minimum server and client
system with file and print server. multiple client machines; standard as machines.
- LAN user accounts with the appropriate right defined by
privilege. competency
criteria
applied to
the task.
Concepts / embedded knowledge and skills required in this unit

Created on 7/29/2002 Page 4 of 4 Created by User Rosemary Deakin, Faculty of Engineering

C:\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Desktop\CommunicationNetwork.doc