Employment opportunities which are available to workers with competencies in the Business Systems Networking (LAN/WAN) and Telecommunications Cluster include banking institutions, manufacturing companies, education institutions, government offices, insurance companies, retail and wholesale companies, accounting firms, hotel-motel firms, real estate firms, savings and loan institutions, medical offices, legal offices, transportation firms, advertising companies, and computer firms. Through entrepreneurship, other employment opportunities are also available.

The following are examples of occupations for which instruction may be provided at the secondary level.

Help Desk Support
Network Technician
Network Support Specialist

The following occupational listing shows examples of occupations that may require additional training in a specialized program at the post-secondary level.

Network Administrator
Systems Administrator
Network Systems Manager
Network Engineer
Network Architect

Workplace skills, as well as 1) skills used in work performance that are transferable across jobs and occupations and that are instrumental to job and classroom success, 2) skills used to manage life's transitions, and 3) skills employed in the resolution of interpersonal, information or task-related problems or problems related to behavior in cooperative group settings, should be included in this curriculum. Leadership skill development is an integral part of this program and is delivered through career and technical student organization (FBLA and/or BPA) activities. Individualized instruction and learning reinforcement are provided through cooperative career and technical education programs, as well as classroom instruction.

COURSE SEQUENCE

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY CONCEPTS

Length of course: 2 Semesters
Credits per semester: 0.5
Grade level: 9, 10

This orientation-level course will provide an overview of all aspects of business marketing and management, including the concepts, functions, and skills required for meeting the challenges of operating a business in a global economy. Students will be introduced to a wide range of topics and careers in fields such as accounting, financial services, information technology, marketing, and management.

Students will be introduced to accounting topics such as accounting principles and procedures, recording and reporting financial data, preparing budgets and financial reports, and using related software to complete basic accounting functions. Students will explore many facets of financial decision making including money management, budgeting techniques, savings and investment strategies, record keeping, economics and banking. Students will explore information technology related topics including computer programming, administrative support, computer network design, support and management, and web page development. Students will develop an understanding of promoting, pricing, selling, purchasing, and distributing various products and services. Students will also explore basic principles of managing people, equipment, products, and services.

Emphasis will be placed on using the computer while studying applications in these careers along with business communication, math, problem solving and thinking skills.

KEYBOARDING AND FORMATTING I

Length of course: 1 Semester
Credits per semester: 0.5
Grade level: 9, 10

Keyboarding and Formatting I is a course designed to develop basic skills in touch keyboarding techniques for entering alphabetic, numeric, and symbol information found on computers and terminals. In the 2nd and 9th weeks, major emphasis is placed on increasing speed, improving accuracy, and formatting documents. Students will learn to edit and format text and paragraphs, change fonts, create tables, work with headers and footers, create footnotes and endnotes, cut and paste text, and work with multiple windows. Keyboarding terminology, technique, proofreading, and correcting errors are also stressed. Students will format documents such as letters, memorandums, reports, and tables for personal, educational, and business uses.

COMPUTER CONCEPTS AND SOFTWARE APPLICATIONS

Length of course: 1 Semester
Credits per semester: 0.5
Grade level: 9, 10

Computer Concepts and Software Applications is an orientation-level course designed to develop awareness and understanding of application software and equipment used by employees to perform tasks in business, marketing and management. Students will apply problem-solving skills to hands-on, real-life situations using a variety of software applications, including financial modeling, word processing, spreadsheet, database management, desktop publishing, multimedia presentation and web development. Students will work individually and in groups to explore computer concepts, operating systems, helpdesk support, networks, telecommunications, and emerging technologies. The course will focus on problem analysis and ethical considerations that arise in using information processing equipment and gaining access to available databases.  The development of employability skills, as well as transition skills, will be included in the course. 

COMPUTER NETWORKING I

Length of course: 2 Semesters
Credits per semester: 0.5
Grade level: 11

Computer Networking I is a skill-level course designed to provide students with the skills needed to setup, configure, test, troubleshoot, maintain, and administer a data network using various network operating systems such as Novell, Windows, and Linux. Instruction will include network-planning decisions, such as choosing an appropriate network configuration; determining the necessary performance level; considering the differences among operating systems, and commending network interface cards and cabling. Students will also learn how to setup and manage file systems and resources, network topologies, protocols, and system utilities to efficiently run software applications on a network. Students will learn to use basic operating system commands, set-up user accounts and rights, and establish user security and permissions.

Length of course: 2 Semesters
Credits per semester: 0.5
Grade level: 12

Computer Networking II is a skill-level course for students who have completed Computer Networking I. Students will continue to learn skills to setup, configure, test, troubleshoot, maintain, and administer a data network using various network operating systems such as Novell, Windows, and Linux. Students will learn to use troubleshooting services; system monitoring utilities, and data backup and recovery systems. Instruction will include setting up and configuring various network services such as TCP/IP, DHCP, DNS, VPN, terminal services, e-mail, and web services. Students will learn techniques to secure and protect network servers and data. Students will also learn to use standard software tools to determine system vulnerabilities and correct these vulnerabilities by reconfiguring the operating system. Students will diagnose network problems using public domain network sniffers such as Ethereal. Instruction will include setting up and configuring a firewall, intrusion detection system, and encryption software for identifying and preventing potential network attacks.

COOPERATIVE OFFICE EDUCATION

Length of course: 2 Semester
Credits per semester: variable
Grade level: 12

Cooperative Office Education is a capstone course designed to assist students in the development of effective business skills and attitudes through practical, advanced instruction in school and on the job through cooperative education. Approximately half the school day is spent taking classes at school, and the other half in on-the-job training supervised by the designated training sponsor and coordinated by the teacher-coordinator. The related class at school is planned to develop skills and attitudes that are applied on the job. A training plan is developed jointly by the teacher-coordinator, training sponsor and student that identifies training to be provided. Training in the related class at school focuses upon the student's career and technical education, with additional assignments based upon areas where on-the-job performance indicates a need. Related instruction also includes workplace skills such as seeking and applying for employment, communicating on the job, maintaining professionalism, workplace ethics, etc.

Current generation equipment is utilized in this course to develop information management competencies required for employment in this cluster of careers. Instruction involves the use of simulations and computer-assisted instruction, as well as specific application software for database management, accounting, word processing, financial modeling, business graphics and communications between information processing systems.