Integrating a Laboratory Experience into the Undergraduate Communication & Computer Network Administration (CCNA) Program

圣安布罗斯大学是全国少数几所在学士学位课程中采用综合方法进行计算机网络教育的学校之一。合格的网络管理员的数量已经落后于需求;网络管理是全国增长最快的职业之一，也是最新的就业机会之一。Ambrose准备合格的网络管理人员具有强大，一致和综合的教育。 跨学科通信和计算机网络管理（CCNA）计划正在从最近在其他机构开始的几个计划改编。 这个项目是建立在麻省理工学院的新的本科通信要求，瓦拉瓦拉学院的新的灵活的网络系统管理计划，和德雷克塞尔大学的本科信息系统计划。 圣安布罗斯的发展计划为学生提供了坚实的技术背景以及与同事和技术用户有效合作的“人际技能”。 CCNA毕业生将获得网络技术的理论和实践经验，沿着通信理论和解决问题，决策，团队建设，写作和演讲的实践。CCNA计划是与区域行业领导者合作规划的，专门为满足加速学位完成计划和传统本科生的在职成年人的需求而设计。该提案的目标有三个方面：（1）配备两个网络实验室，学生在其中获得实践经验，（2）更好地将通信纳入网络课程，以及（3）开发一个跨学科的课程，研究技术和通信之间的关系。新实验室允许学生将课堂上学到的计算机和通信理论应用于“现实世界”的开放式网络问题，以磨练他们的技术知识和解决问题的能力，团队建设和沟通技巧。

Saint Ambrose University is one of a few schools nationally to take an integrated approach to computer network education in a baccalaureate degree program. Already, the number of qualified network administrators is lagging behind demand; network management is one of the fastest growing occupations nationwide and among the top new job opportunities. St. Ambrose prepares qualified network managers with a strong, consistent, and integrated education. The interdisciplinary communication and computer network administration (CCNA) program is being adapted from several programs that have been started recently in other institutions. This project is building on MIT's new undergraduate Communication Requirement, Walla Walla College's new flexible Network & Systems Administration Program, and Drexel University's undergraduate Information Systems program. The developing program at Saint Ambrose offers students both a solid technical background as well as the "people skills" to work effectively with co-workers and technology users. CCNA graduates will have acquired theoretical and hands-on experience with networking technology along with communication theory and practice in problem-solving, decision-making, teambuilding, writing, and making presentations. The CCNA program was planned in collaboration with regional industry leaders and designed specifically to meet the needs of working adults in the accelerated degree completion program and the traditional undergraduates. The objectives of this proposal are three-fold: (1) to equip two networking laboratories in which students gain practical experience, (2) to better integrate communication into the networking curriculum, and (3) to develop an interdisciplinary course that examines the relationship between technology and communication. The new laboratories allow students to apply the computer and communication theories learned in the classroom to "real-world," open-ended networking problems to hone their technical knowledge and their problem-solving, team-building and communication skills.