Evaluation completed by Tiyanna Smith November 19th, 2024.
I was navigating through various beginner courses for networking, I ran across this online course of Networking Basics offered by Cisco Networking Academy. It offers a comprehensive, self paced online course designed for beginners interested in learning fundamental networking concepts. The course spans 22 hours of study material and includes 13 interactive labs, providing a hands on learning experience. With 17 modules in total, learners on average spend about 1.5 hours to complete each module. Upon course completion, learners are eligible to take a test for a free certification badge from Cisco, a respected credential that can enhance a resume and demonstrate proficiency in basic networking skills. I choose this course to evaluate because it embodies every principle of what one should expect from an e-learning course. I have evaluated and complied a drop down list of the 8 learning criteria key points I learned throughout my principles of e-learning course in brief detail by category below.
Functionality ⚙️
Scale: Accommodates a variety of learners from beginner to professional. Anyone who seek to enhance their skill level are welcome. Most sutible for those with an interest in technolgy and networking.
Ease of use: Free, online and self paced. The course utlizes a course outline throughout the entirety and each module displays a precentage of completion beside the topic your learning. It will leave check mark when a module is completed making it easy for user to keep track of their progress.
Support Availability: Support chat link listed at the bottom of the course as well as a provided resource tab with downloadable content labeled by topic.
Hypermediality: Course offers a interative experience created through various use of visual aids, videos and a full on downloable test program to practice learned material in for better understanding
Privacy, Data Protection & Rights 📜
Sign up/ Sign In: User friendly, Can setup and login with either a personal email or through google email directly. Most course's that you sign up for are free unless othewise stated at which point you would pay after account creation.
Data privacy: Terms & Conditions are given at the time of set up but learners should note it is mentioned there that "The program operates in accodrance with global privacy laws".
Archiving, saving, & exporting data: Cisco does not claim ownership of the content provided and therefore the data recieved is listed public for use and can be distributed as the learner prefers. It is highly recommends to not share any private data with them as it subject to be listed public as well.
Acessibility 💡
Standards: Allows diverse language option prefrence selection. In content videos have subtitle option. There is a magnifer class option on each module to enhance viewing to prefence and animated direction to navigate through content.
Participation: Self paced, each completed module if rewared with a check mark after taking brief knowledge check quiz.
Required Equipment: Varies by course but most common is a computer or mobile device. Highspeed internet and whatever course program is provided to you for download. In this course it was Cisco Packet Tracer.
Social Presence 💬
Collaboration: There is none required for the course. However they do offer a direct message chat where you can message others you may know taken the course an collab in that manner by direct messaging them by their email.
User Accountability: Cisco has made in known that any information obtained on their site is always made public therefore just be mindful what you discuss or upload to this site.
Diffusion: All tools provided are user friendly and are easy to navigate just like any other webite or app learners use once you understand the layout you get familiar with it.
Technical 💻
Intergration & Embedding: Commonly a standalone course but can be embedded in to core cirrciulum in schools and colleges as well as an additional training requirment for companies.
Desktop & Browser: Most Commonly used are Safari, Google Chrome, and Windows.
Additional Dowloads: Cisco Packet Tracer for windows/macos
Teaching Presence📝
Facilitation: Content is created for every learner no matter the skill level.
Customization: Content is unique to each course and written in concise manner that makes it easy to read. Can be used on multiple device to read content and the course caters to focus on the networking topic only.
Learning Analytics: Learners are able to assess there progress as the navigate the course and test their knowledge through knowledge checks constantly throughout the course.
Mobile Design 📱
Access: Content can be open on any smartphone device, ipad or tablet but is very limited.
Functionality: Mobile site is condensed to fit the display on mobile device but is limited to read only as some of the content requires additonal programs that are not accesible on mobile device.
Offline Access: None, content is accesible by internet only unless learner takes advantage of the downloadable content provided and prints it out.
Cognitive Presence🧠
Enhance cognitive task: Modules are broken down in sub topics and are fairly short compared to other related courses. Which makes the content easier to absorb in my opinion.
High order thinking: This course requires you to think outside of the text and put it in to real world utlization by trying the work in program Cisco packet tracer which increase your ability to incoprate what you learn and give real world experience.
Metacognitive Engagement: The continuous progress tracker keeps you on your toes as you naviagte through course you can are able to see where your strong points are and where you struggle on your own without and instructor but they do have the option to reach out the resource links and support team if futher clarifcation is needed through chat.
In conclusion of my evaluation on Cisco Course Academy. The course provided is affordable, user friendly, easy to navigate and highly interactive. It checks off almost every learning criteria required to be a successful e-learning course and can be used by any learner no matter what skill level that are starting at. I would reccommend it to other advid learners who are seeking to enhance their knowledge in networking as well as any other technology realm in which they are seeking to gain more knowledge in since Cisco Course Academy has a wide selection of courses to offer.