<br>Hi all. One question that has come to mind recently while going through VCAA, CSE, VITTA and other SD exams is how deeply we should be covering key knowledge like...<br>
<br>- SD U3O1 KK03 - a brief overview of the concept of the OSI model for network protocols<br>- SD U4O2 KK01- technical underpinnings of intranets, the Internet and virtual private networks<br>- SD U4O2 KK02- characteristics of wired and wireless networks<br clear="all">
<br>My kids have had no more exposure to the OSI than along the lines of,
"These are the OSI stages, and these a few of the main things that
happen in each stage. Data to be transmitted passes through these stages
like a car being methodically stripped down to its parts, shipped
overseas, and then reassembled again. This is what the physical layer
does." I don't expect them to memorise the protocols that operate at each level. <br>
<br>For wired/wireless communication, I don't go much beyond covering the relative strengths, weaknesses and capabilities of CAT, FOC, WiFi ("Code-named 802.11 with 4 different flavours"), microwave, and infrared.<br>
I don't drill down into fine technical detail. Do you do more on OSI and networking technology than this? I'd be keen to hear. <br><br>Some questions I have seen make me wonder: I feel that they are too deep and specific for the specified key knowledge, especially when only a "brief overview" is asked for, and the only named OSI level is the physical level.<br>
I don't want to criticise authors, but I have seen questions like...<br><br>- At what level of the OSI does HTTP operate?<br>-
Why would Telnet not be a good idea for secure remote access?<br>- Which of the 802.11 protocols are compatible with each other?<br>
- What's the difference between bridges, routers, switches etc with reference to the OSI model<br><br>I would find it hard to justify the time needed for such exhaustive coverage of these topics, and since the VCAA exams have not examined students in such technical
detail, I doubt it's really useful.<br><br>How far do you go covering the technicalities of the technologies?<br><br>-- <br>Mark Kelly<br>Manager of ICT, Reporting, IT Learning Area<br>
McKinnon Secondary College<br>McKinnon Rd McKinnon 3204, Victoria, Australia<br>Direct line / Voicemail: <a href="tel:%2B613%208520%209085" value="+61385209085" target="_blank">+613 8520 9085</a>, Fax <a href="tel:%2B613%209578%209253" value="+61395789253" target="_blank">+613 9578 9253</a><br>
<a href="mailto:kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au" target="_blank">kel@mckinnonsc.vic.edu.au</a> << use this, not Edumail please!<br>
VCE IT Lecture Notes: <a href="http://vceit.com" target="_blank">http://vceit.com</a><br>Moderator: IT Applications Edulist<br><br>--<br>The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn - Alvin Toffler.<br>
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