MODULE: COMPUTER NETWORKS

ASSIGNMENT TITLE: PRIMARY SCHOOL COMPUTER NETWORK

March 2012
Important Notes: Please refer to the Assignment Presentation Requirements for advice on how to set out your assignment. These can be found on the NCC Education Campus. Scroll down the left hand side of the screen until you reach Personal Support. Click on this, and then on Policies and Advice. You will find the Assignment Presentation Requirements under the Advice section. You must familiarise yourself with the NCC Education Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism Policy and ensure that you acknowledge all the sources which you use in your work. The policy is available on Campus. Follow the instructions above, but click on Policies rather than Advice. You must complete the Statement and Confirmation of Own Work. The form is available on the Policies section of Campus. Scroll down the left hand side until you reach Personal Support. Click on this and then click on Policies and Advice. Please make a note of the recommended word count. You could lose marks if you write 10% more or less than this. You must submit a paper copy and digital copy (on disk or similarly acceptable medium). Media containing viruses, or media which cannot be run directly, will result in a fail grade being awarded for this module. All electronic media will be checked for plagiarism. Marker's comments:

Moderator's comments:

Mark:

Moderated Mark:

Final Mark:

Computer Networks

HW

March 2012

Final

NCC Education 2012

Introduction
The assignment allows the candidate to demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of computer networks. This assignment is based on the development of a computer network for a primary school. The network will provide access for teachers in each classroom, a number of computers in the teachers staff room, a computer for the head teacher, a computer for the school secretary, a computer linked to a large screen in the school hall, plus one computer laboratory for use by the children. You are NOT required to design a complete network, only the detail specifically covered by the task list shown below.

The Scenario
A primary school has classes for children aged 5 to 11 years old. There are seven year groups with one class of children for each year group. Each class contains a maximum of 30 children. The school is located in one single storey building and all classrooms and offices are located on one long central corridor. The school is installing a computer network for use by staff and children. Each class is taught by one teacher and has its own dedicated classroom. Each classroom requires one computer, for teacher use only, linked to the school network and the internet. The classroom computer will be used for teaching via an interactive whiteboard and also link to the schools electronic register system. The school will have one computer laboratory that can be used by one whole class of children at any time plus one teacher and one teaching assistant. This laboratory will be networked to the school intranet and provide access to the internet but with sufficient safeguards that take into account the age of the children using the network. The school will also provide one networked computer for the head-teacher in their own office, one networked computer for the school secretary in their own office plus three networked computers for teacher use in the teachers staff room. There will be one networked computer in the main hall which will be used with a large screen when presenting information to the whole school and outside visitors such as parents. Your role is to write a report outlining the options for the school in setting up their computer network including the required safeguards for children with access to the Internet. The detail of your report is given in the tasks below, but in general, you should provide a range of options and make recommendations as to which you think is the best option.

Computer Networks

HW

March 2012

Final

NCC Education 2012

Task 1 30 Marks
Investigate network cabling options available in your country for single building networks such as the school. Pay particular attention to: a) The media used. b) The connectors used. c) The cost of cabling and installation. d) The data transfer rates that will be required. Provide recommendations for the cabling and connectors to purchase including reasons for this recommendation. Provide a diagram showing the network topology for the school a neat and labelled sketch is acceptable.

Task 2 20 Marks
The school requires all network hardware to be provided as part of the installation. The school will require email and printing facilities as part of the network. Research the network hardware available to create the network using the media and topology you have recommended in Task 1. Describe the advantages and disadvantages of using specific individual items of hardware, details of the protocols used, and provide a recommendation of the hardware that should be purchased including numbers of each item and prices.

Task 3 25 Marks
Investigate the security issues relating to the school network including: a) The security issues that are specific to a school environment with young children. b) Protection from viruses, trojan horses, etc Provide recommendations as to the security measures that should be implemented to reduce and remove threats to the system.

Task 4 15 Marks
Write a test plan with instructions of how you would test all aspects of the network to ensure it is fully operational before formally handing it over to the school.

Task 5 10 Marks
Combine Tasks 1 to 4 into a word-processed report that is structured as follows: Table of Contents. Introduction. Main Body (Tasks 1 to 4). Conclusion. List of References (each reference must be cited in the main body of the report).

Submission Requirements
The word-processed report must be 1250 words in length (+/- 250). Familiarise yourself with the NCC Education Academic Dishonesty and Plagiarism Policy and ensure that you acknowledge all the sources which you use in your work. All references and citations must use the Harvard Style. Media containing viruses, or media which cannot be run directly, will result in a fail grade being awarded for this module.
HW March 2012 Final NCC Education 2012

Computer Networks