Network Assessment

Information from TKI

AS 91895 – Use advanced techniques to develop a network

4 credits

This achievement standard involves using advanced techniques to develop a network.

The assessment activity requires students to develop a network integrating hardware, software and peripherals. Examples of outcomes might be a media server using an old computer or a Raspberry Pi or a refined LAN Network connecting several old computers through a network switch.

The step up from Level 1 is the move to a network from a computer system and the requirement for students to identify diagnose and resolve errors or faults that are not given. They must use this evidence to develop and improve the quality of the network, explaining relevant implications and ensuring the outcome meets end user requirements.

This standard requires that students are familiar with the setup and configuration of networked systems and that they can configure a variety of settings. In a lot of situations, they will need some limited access to your school network and teachers should involve their network administrators in the process of scoping out the implementation of this assessment. This standard assesses their ability to know the how and why of what they are doing; not their ability to follow an internet tutorial.

A potential process for completing the requirements of this standard might be:

• record the development process undertaken of the stages of development clearly showing

  • the tools procedures and protocols and the improvements or refinements

  • appropriate testing procedures, diagnosing and troubleshooting to identify and resolve setup and configuration errors

• investigate and explain the parts and components and their purpose and function (both hardware and software) to be used for the network outcome.

• explain and address at least three relevant implications of the network and link these implications to the network outcome

• test the selected parts and components (both hardware and software) and identify and resolve setup and configuration errors to ensure that the network outcome:

  • functions as intended

  • is reliable

  • can update without extra configuration

  • is accurately constructed and meets end-user requirements

• implement information gained from your testing procedures, diagnosing and troubleshooting to inform further development and improve the quality of the network outcome

• justify the choice of parts and components (both hardware and software).

Evidence could include:

• early in development:

  • photographs of each stage of development with succinct annotations that explain the function of software and hardware and at a higher level explain the procedures and techniques used

  • testing of components or protocols

  • code samples where/if used (a full dump of code is not always required)

• later in development:

  • photographs of the functional network with succinct annotations showing how the outcome meets all end user specifications by testing

• towards the end of development:

  • photographs or video that show a functional, reliable network working in its intended environment. (It may be difficult for a student to show reliability with only in-class trialing and testing.)

Students are not required to submit all of the evidence in a written format. However, any evidence that they gather from other means needs to be recorded and documented in a meaningful way, such as checklists, interview notes, presentation recordings, development logs, screencasts, video footage etc.