City of Dublin Education & Training Board Programme Module for Information Technology Administration leading to Level 6 QQI Version 3 1
Introduction This programme module may be delivered as a standalone module leading to certification in a QQI minor award. It may also be delivered as part of an overall validated programme leading to a Level 6 QQI Certificate. The teacher/tutor should familiarise themselves with the information contained in City of Dublin Education & Training Board s programme descriptor for the relevant validated programme prior to delivering this programme module. The programme module is structured as follows: 1. Title of Programme Module. QQI Component Title and Code 3. Duration in hours 4. Credit Value of QQI Component 5. Status 6. Special Requirements 7. Aim of the Programme Module 8. Objectives of the Programme Module 9. Learning Outcomes 10. Indicative Content 11. Assessment a. Assessment Technique(s) b. Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Technique(s) c. Guidelines for Assessment Activities 1. Grading 13. Learner Marking Sheet(s), including Assessment Criteria Integrated Delivery and Assessment The teacher/tutor is encouraged to integrate the delivery of content where an overlap between content of this programme module and one or more other programme modules is identified. This programme module will facilitate the learner to develop the academic and vocational language, literacy and numeracy skills relevant to the themes and content of the module. Likewise the teacher/tutor is encouraged to integrate assessment where there is an opportunity to facilitate a learner to produce one piece of assessment evidence which demonstrates the learning outcomes from more than one programme module. The integration of the delivery and assessment of level 6 Communications and level 6 Mathematics modules with that of other level 6 modules is specifically encouraged, as appropriate. Indicative Content The indicative content in Section 10 does not cover all teaching possibilities. The teacher/tutor is encouraged to be creative in devising and implementing other approaches, as appropriate. The use of examples is there to provide suggestions. The teacher/tutor is free to use other examples, as appropriate. The indicative content ensures all learning outcomes are addressed but it may not Version 3
follow the same sequence as that in which the learning outcomes are listed in Section 9. It is the teacher s/tutor s responsibility to ensure that all learning outcomes are included in the delivery of this programme module. Version 3 3
1. Title of Programme Module Information Technology Administration. Component Name and Code 3. Duration in Hours 150 Hours (typical learner effort, to include both directed and self directed learning) 4. Credit Value 15 Credits 5. Status This programme module may be compulsory or optional within the context of the validated programme. Please refer to the relevant programme descriptor, Section 9 Programme Structure 6. Special Requirements NONE 7. Aim of the Programme Module This programme module aims to equip the learner with the knowledge, skills and competences to specify, manage and upgrade a diverse computer network. 8. Objectives of the Programme Module Assist the learner to specify and create a robust client/server network Facilitate the learner in understanding the requirements for maintaining a network Enable the learner to identify, obstruct and overcome security threats to a network Assist the learner to recognise the need for backup and redundancy solutions to avoid data and productivity losses both as a result of equipment failure and to enable a disaster recovery plan Promote the understanding of the learner in applying coherent policies to users and devices on the network To assist the learner to develop the academic and vocational language, literacy and numeracy skills related to Information Technology Administration through the medium of the indicative content To enable the learner to exercise substantial personal autonomy and responsibility. Version 3 4
9. Learning Outcomes of Level 6 Learners will be able to: 1. Identify the roles of the personnel involved in managing and maintaining a computer network including the administrator, technician, engineer and architect. Specify criteria for the selection of server operating systems when given specific service and operational requirements 3. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance, relevance and significance of environmental factors as they affect server rooms and network devices 4. Identify and appraise different methods of disaster recovery and redundancy 5. Identify the policies and procedures that are essential for any computer network environment and explain how these might be implemented 6. Create and maintain user accounts and associated parameters including disk quotas, file permissions and network resource access 7. Locally implement and validate redundant data storage solutions 8. Implement, monitor and enforce coherent network security and access policies for both local and remote access scenarios and contribute to their establishment 9. Employ and validate a remote, offsite backup solution for disaster recovery purposes 10. Support the installation, operation and troubleshooting of shared network resources and manage them appropriately for different user needs 11. Use suitable tools to capture and analyse current system and network resource usage with a view to capacity planning for existing and future demand 1. Design a robust, fault tolerant computer network that ensures high availability of key network services and assets 13. Assess the impact of those policies and procedures that are essential for any computer network environment and establish plans that action same 14. Evaluate a server room for a small business, including hardware, location, environment, security, fault tolerance and usage policies Version 3 5
10. Indicative Content This section provides suggestions for programme content but is not intended to be prescriptive. The programme module can be delivered through classroom based learning activities, group discussions, one-to-one tutorials, field trips, case studies, role play and other suitable activities, as appropriate. Section 1 : Client/Server Network Design Identify the roles of the personnel involved in managing and maintaining a computer network including the: LO1 o administrator o technician o engineer o architect Specify criteria for the selection of server operating systems when given specific service and operational requirements for example:lo o cost o hardware o software o infrastructure o upgrades o network size complexity numbers of users and devices o longevity of operating system and oem support provided o security o application support Evaluate a server room for a small business, including hardware, location, environment, security, fault tolerance and usage policies & demonstrate an understanding of the importance, relevance and significance of environmental factors as they affect server rooms and network devices such as:lo 3, 14 o size o power supply requirements o network media including factors such speed Version 3 6
cost interference distance o o o o cooling and damp resistance physical Security cable runs flexibility for expansion Design a robust, fault tolerant computer network that ensures high availability of key network services and assets such as:lo 1 o hardware redundancy storage power supplies o server roles, for instance: domain controller dhcp dns o access to Internet o user access to files Identify the policies and procedures that are essential for any computer network environment and explain how these might be implemented. Assess the impact of those policies and procedures and establish plans that action same such as: LO 5, 13 o permissions access to network access to servers access to data software installation on both servers and clients o anti-malware/virus detection solutions o equipment inventories o network map Section : Client/Server Network Maintenance Version 3 7
Create and maintain user accounts and associated parameters including disk quotas, file permissions and network resource access including: LO6 o passwords o permissions o file access o device access o Internet access Use suitable tools to capture and analyse current system and network resource usage with a view to capacity planning for existing and future demand, for example: LO11 o network packet analysis o network port probing o bandwidth analysis Support the installation, operation and troubleshooting of shared network resources and manage them appropriately for different user needs such as:lo10 o home folders o public folders o restricted Access folders o read Only o drop boxes o devices such as printers o media streaming o Internet access o database access Section 3: Client/Server Network Security and Policies Implement, monitor and enforce coherent network security and access policies for both local and remote access scenarios and contribute to their establishment including: LO8 o domain access for users and devices including: username and password policies file/folder access permissions and security share permissions granular permissions Version 3 8
o o application access such as: web database mail remote access including: VPN radius server remote desktop Section 4: Client/Server Network Backup & Recovery Identify and appraise different methods of disaster recovery and redundancy, for example: o data backup such as: LO4 offsite (cloud, different building) onsite (external drives - NAS, USB ) o server imaging virtual machine dedicated server o hardware redundancy o UPS Employ and validate a remote, offsite backup solution for disaster recovery purposes: LO9 o data storage and recovery o server software imaging Locally implement and validate redundant data storage solutions, for example: LO7 o server RAID array o External Drives such as: NAS USB iscsi DFS Version 3 9
11. Assessment 11a. Assessment Techniques Skills Demonstration 60% (Practical) Exam (Theory) 40% 11b. Mapping of Learning Outcomes to Assessment Techniques In order to ensure that the learner is facilitated to demonstrate the achievement of all learning outcomes from the component specification; each learning outcome is mapped to an assessment technique(s). This mapping should not restrict an assessor from taking an integrated approach to assessment. Learning Outcome 1. Identify the roles of the personnel involved in managing and maintaining a computer network including the administrator, technician, engineer and architect. Specify criteria for the selection of server operating systems when given specific service and operational requirements 3. Demonstrate an understanding of the importance, relevance and significance of environmental factors as they affect server rooms and network devices 4. Identify and appraise different methods of disaster recovery and redundancy 5. Identify the policies and procedures that are essential for any computer network environment and explain how these might be implemented 6. Create and maintain user accounts and associated parameters including disk quotas, file permissions and network resource access Assessment Technique Exam Skill Demonstration Exam Exam Exam Skills Demonstration 7. Locally implement and validate redundant data storage solutions Skills Demonstration 8. Implement, monitor and enforce coherent network security and access policies for both local and remote access scenarios and contribute to their establishment Skills Demonstration 9. Employ and validate a remote, offsite backup solution for disaster recovery purposes 10. Support the installation, operation and troubleshooting of shared network resources and manage them appropriately for different user needs Skills Demonstration Skills Demonstration 11. Use suitable tools to capture and analyse current system and Skills Version 3 10
network resource usage with a view to capacity planning for existing and future demand 1. Design a robust, fault tolerant computer network that ensures high availability of key network services and assets 13. Assess the impact of those policies and procedures that are essential for any computer network environment and establish plans that action same 14. Evaluate a server room for a small business, including hardware, location, environment, security, fault tolerance and usage policies Demonstration Skills Demonstration Exam Exam Version 3 11
11c. Guidelines for Assessment Activities The assessor is required to devise assessment briefs and marking schemes for the skills demonstrations/examination papers, marking schemes and outline solutions for the examination. In devising the assessment briefs/examination papers, care should be taken to ensure that the learner is given the opportunity to show evidence of achievement of ALL the learning outcomes. Assessment briefs may be designed to allow the learner to make use of a wide range of media in presenting assessment evidence, as appropriate. Quality assured procedures must be in place to ensure the reliability of learner evidence. Skills Demonstration 60% The skills demonstration should be split into small sections and should be a total of approximately 6 to 8 hours duration The assessor should devise three separate briefs for skill demonstrations, which will allow the learner to demonstrate their knowledge and competence to cover the following: LOs, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 1 Skills Demonstration 1: ( Hours 30 Minutes) 0 marks In completing this skills demonstration the learner will demonstrate knowledge and competence in LO, 7, 1: The assessor will devise a brief requiring the learner to: Design a fault tolerant client/server network The learner must demonstrate an understanding of the critera required for a client/server network design Include redundant data solutions Skills Demonstration : ( Hours) 5 marks In completing this skills demonstration the learner will demonstrate knowledge and competence in LO 6, 8, 10: The assessor will design a brief which will require the learner to: Create and maintain user accounts Implement network security and access policies Install shared network resources Skills Demonstration 3: (1 Hour 30 Minutes) 15 marks In completing this skills demonstration the learner will demonstrate knowledge and competence in LO 9, 11 The assessor will design a brief which will require the learner to: Use suitable tools to capture and analyse existing network demand and plan for future expansion Create a remote, offsite backup solution for disaster recovery purposes Evidence for this assessment technique may take the form of written, oral, graphic, audio, visual or digital evidence, or any combination of these. Any audio, video or digital evidence must be provided in a suitable format. Version 3 1
Examination 40% The examination will be theory based and will last hours in duration The assessor should devise an examination that allows the learner to demonstrate their competence and knowledge of the relevant learning outcomes and the theory behind them. LOs 1, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14 Section A 10 short questions, answer all questions. 0 marks Section B Answer structured questions out of a possible. Each question is worth 10 marks Structured questions are divided into a number of related parts and generally require the learner to demonstrate more in-depth knowledge and understanding of a topic. Evidence for this assessment technique may take the form of written, oral, graphic, audio, visual or digital evidence, or any combination of these. Any audio, video or digital evidence must be provided in a suitable format. All instructions for the learner must be clearly outlined in an examination paper 1. Grading Distinction: 80% - 100% Merit: 65% - 79% Pass: 50% - 64% Unsuccessful: 0% - 49% At levels 4, 5 and 6 major and minor awards will be graded. The grade achieved for the major award will be determined by the grades achieved in the minor awards. Version 3 13
Information Technology Administration 6N0735 Learner Marking Sheet 1 Skills Demonstration 60% Learner s Name: Learner s PPSN: Assessment Criteria Skills Demonstration 1 : (LOs, 7, 1) Maximum Mark Learner Mark Criteria required for a server selection Design a computer network Implement redundant data solutions 5 10 5 Subtotal 0 Skills Demonstration : (LOs 6, 8, 10) Create and maintain user accounts Establish and monitor network security and access policies Install and troubleshoot shared network resources for different users 10 10 5 Subtotal 5 Skills Demonstration 3 : (LO 9, 11) Analyse existing network demand and plan for future expansion Create a remote, offsite backup solution 5 10 Subtotal 15 Total Mark 60 Assessor s Signature: Date: External Authenticator s Signature: Date: Version 3 14
Information Technology Administration 6N0735 Learner Marking Sheet Exam (Theory) 40% Learner s Name: Learner s PPSN: Assessment Criteria Section A: Short Answer Questions 10 short answer questions, answer all ( marks each) Question No.:* Maximum Mark Learner Mark Section B: Structured Questions, answer all (10 marks each) structured questions, answer all Subtotal 0 Question No.:* 10 10 Subtotal 0 Total Mark 40 Assessor s Signature: Date: External Authenticator s Signature: Date: Version 3 15