The United States currently needs 350,000 computer networking professionals and an additional 1.3 million by the year 2005. Many adults, including displaced military personnel, recent GED recipients, and those with disabilities or special needs, want to begin or advance careers in networking. However, most of these adults do not have adequate access to training due to high cost and limited availability.

In order to meet this need, Arizona State University (ASU) and Cisco Systems have developed online networking and information technology curriculum materials that include graphics, video, hands-on virtual labs, and simulations. The nationwide integrated training program, the e-Learning Network, is providing 100,000 adult learners with low cost, anytime, anywhere, quality networking instruction and preparing adult learners for two existing industry certification examinations: the Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) and the Cisco Certified Networking Professional (CCNP). As of October 2002, the online CCNA and CCNP curricula have been completed and disseminated through the Cisco Networking Academies in high schools, community colleges, and other vendors. Cisco Press has published textbooks and lab companions for both of these curricula.

Additionally, ASU has completed ten modules in the online Information Technology Fundamentals (ITF) curriculum which are available through the ASU e-Learning Network website. The ITF curriculum is intended to prepare learners for the CCNA courses as well as provide computer literacy for a wider population. People from all over the world are using the ITF curriculum.

Both formative and summative evaluations of the networking courses are taking place, conducted by Rockman et al. with the assistance of Cisco Systems and ten pilot sites around the country.

ONLINE REFERENCES: 

ASU Technology Based Learning and Research
   http://tblr.ed.asu.edu  

CCNA and CCNP curriculum
   http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/779/edu/academy/overview/curriculum/  

Cisco E-Learning
   http://www.cisco.com/warp/public/10/wwtraining/elearning  

Cisco Networking Academy
   http://cisco.netacad.net  

Cisco Press
   http://www.ciscopress.com  

Cisco Systems
   http://www.cisco.com  

Information Technology Fundamentals curriculum
   http://elearning.asu.edu/itf  

The e-Learning Network
   http://elearning.asu.edu  

Gary Bitter
Project Director

Arizona State University
College of Education
Technology Based Learning
  and Research
Tempe, AZ 85287-0908
Tel: 480-965-4960
Fax: 480-965-8887

Paul Skiera
Project Co-Director

Arizona State University
College of Education
Technology Based Learning
  and Research
P.O. Box 870908
Tempe, AZ 85287-0908
Tel: 480-965-8001
Fax: 480-965-8887