Fundamentals of Java Programming Language  

Sun Microsystems has sponsored a Fundamentals of Java Programming Language curriculum, which will be offered as an optional course within the Cisco Networking Academy Program.

The new Fundamentals of Java Programming Language course will be available in the U.S. and selected international locations (in English) in July 2002.

The Fundamentals of Java Programming Language course provides a conceptual understanding of Object Oriented programming. The course also teaches students how to use the JAVA^TM language's object oriented technologies to solve business problems. Students will learn how to create classes, objects, and applications using the language. Topics also include the language fundamentals, the Java language API (application programming interface). Additionally, the course will address the demand for training and preparation for the Sun Certified Programmer for Java^TM 2 Platform.

Section 1: Types of Academies and Their Responsibilities

Q.1.1 Which Networking Academies will teach the Fundamentals of Java Programming Language course, and what will their responsibilities be?

A. There is a three-tiered model for training and support. Cisco Systems, Inc. will train the Cisco Academy Training Centers (CATCs), the CATCs will train the Regional Academies and the Regional Academies will train the Local Academy instructors who will educate the students. CATCs and Regional Academies (if approved by Cisco) will have the opportunity to specialize in whatever curricula best aligns with their internal resources, and meets the needs of their own educational community.

Q.1.2 What are the Local Academy requirements to teach the Fundamentals of Java Programming Language course?

A. Qualifications of Local Academy:

• Academy is located in the U.S.
• Currently offers Cisco Networking Academy Program's CCNA curriculum courses.
• Designated Fundamentals of Java Programming Language Instructors need to be Semester One certified (prior to May 19, 2001), or they will need to pass the Orientation course for new Academy instructors, which will teach the program's pedagogy, Best Practices and CNAMS.

Q.1.3 How does a Local Academy sign up to teach Fundamentals of Java Programming Language?

A. Currently, U.S. Local Academies and selected International sites who are interested in offering UNIX and/or Web Design, sign themselves up as a Local-SC Academy. However, since we are moving to a three-tiered model for sponsored courses, Academies who are interested in offering Fundamentals of Voice and Data Cabling will sign up as follows after April 10:

Local Academies interested in signing up for Fundamentals of Java Programming Language must establish a support relationship with a Regional Academy. If your current Regional Academy is not offering this course, you may have the option to go outside your Academy Tree. Different Theatres (geographic areas) around the world have different rules for training and support so you will have to check with a Regional Academy in your area to see if they are able to sign you up for curriculum support and training.

Meet Eligibility Requirements: Before a Local Academy is eligible to sign up to offer this optional course they must meet the requirements shown in the answer to Q.1.2.

If the Local Academy does meet the above stated criteria, the CCNA Main Contact may go into the public locator, and follow these steps:

1. Choose Program: SC
2. Choose State/Country that you would like to search within
3. Choose the Course that you would like to offer
4. Press the Locate button
5. You can tell which Academies on the results page offer instructor classes by the color-coding of the Academy Name
6. Send an email to inquire about possibly establishing a support relationship with an Academy that is offering instructor classes.
7. Once you have established this relationship (this is an off-line process), then the Regional Academy will add the Fundamentals of Voice and Data Cabling curriculum to your Academy. This will give you permission to download the course and allow your instructors to register to receive training.

As soon as the Regional has added the curriculum to your Academy, the instructors will be able to register for training by clicking on the "Personal Account" 'GO' button and then choosing "Register to Receive Sponsored Curriculum Training". Fundamentals of Java Programming Language and the new Orientation training courses currently offered will be available on the Class List page. This new Orientation is a required course for all new instructors to the Cisco Networking Academy Program.

Q.1.4 How can an educational institution or non-profit agency apply to be a Cisco Academy Training Center for Fundamentals of Java Programming Language?

A. We are currently going through an RFP process for Cisco Academy Training Centers (CATCs) who will offer Fundamentals of Java Programming Language.

Q.1.5 Who are the training centers and where are they located?

A. U.S. Locations:
United States:

We are currently going through an RFP process for CATC-SCs who will be teaching Fundamentals of Java Programming Language in the U.S. We will post the list of these training centers as soon as it is available.

International locations: Selected international locations are currently in the RFP process for CATC-SCs. An international list of CATC-SCs will be posted on CNAMS as soon as selections are finalized.

Q.1.6 What Regional Academies are offering this curriculum?

A. We are currently in the selection process for Regional Academies who will be offering Fundamentals of Java Programming Language. We will post this information in the next 90 days.

Q.1.7 How do Cisco Local Academies offering Fundamentals of Java Programming Language receive support?

A.A Local Academy must establish a support relationship with a Regional Academy before they can offer this course. The Regional Academy will provide support in the areas of curriculum, operations, best teaching practices and pedagogy.

Also, Cisco has created a Virtual Help Desk (VHD) for curriculum, assessment and program support. In its initial offering the VHD will allow you to send in your queries to subject matter experts who will promptly reply within 36 hours. We will be adding other tools to this Virtual Help Desk over the next 12 months. Potential future tools on the VHD will be Searchable Knowledge Base, Collaboration server, Cyber Seminars, and Community Bulletin Boards. You may access this Virtual Help Desk through the Program Support "Go" Button on CNAMS. If Local Academies are in need of a quicker response they may still call the Help Desk at 1-888-327-1116 Domestic, or 1-480-558-2379 International. We are investigating fee schedules for this national support model.

Section 2: Curriculum


Q.2.1 What is the general Fundamentals of Java Programming Language course description?

A. The Fundamentals of Java Programming Language course provides a conceptual understanding of Object Oriented programming. The course also teaches students how to use the JAVA^TM language's object oriented technologies to solve business problems. Students will learn how to create classes, objects, and applications using the language. Topics also include the language fundamentals, the Java language API (application programming interface). Additionally, the course will address the demand for training and preparation for the Sun Certified Programmer for Java^TM 2 Platform.

Q.2.2 How many hours of instruction does the online curriculum include?

A. The curriculum contains one 70-hour block called a course. About half of this time is spent using the instructor-facilitated online multimedia material and the rest is spent on lab exercises. Because this course has a high volume of advanced technical content, some educational institutions may want to extend the class duration to two semesters.

Q.2.3 How is the online curriculum provided to the students?

A. The online portion of the curriculum resides on a Web server at the Local Academy. Students access the curriculum from their workstations over the classroom LAN. Students will also have access to view the curriculum during non-classroom time by logging in to the Student Community Server at http://students.netacad.net/ (U.S.) and http://students.netacad-intl.net/ (International).

Q.2.4 May I see a sample of the curriculum?

A. A demo chapter will be available in March 2002.

Q.2.5 Are there any prerequisites for enrolling students or for instructors?

A. Students do not have to be enrolled currently in the CCNA program to register for Fundamentals of Java Programming Language. The curriculum assumes a prior knowledge of computers including the use of application software such as word-processors, spreadsheets and/or database and a basic use of and understanding of the Internet. Prior familiarity with elementary programming concepts such as storing of data in variables and control logic is desirable but not required. CATC-SC instructors should possess a background in programming (preferably object oriented programming).

Q.2.6 What are students working towards?

A. This course will help prepare students for the certification exam for Sun Certified Programmer for Java^TM 2 Platform.

Q.2.7 What is the status of getting the Fundamentals of Java Programming Language curriculum approved by state or government education organizations?

A. Because this is the initial release of this particular curriculum, it has not yet had the opportunity to be approved by state or government education organizations. Also, each state and government has different requirements for curriculum approval. Cisco can provide scope and sequence documentation, learning objectives, and potential education contacts to aid any accreditation effort. Please work with your Area Academy Manager (AAM) to facilitate this process.

Q.2.8 Will this curriculum be available outside the U.S.?

A. A. It is anticipated that the curriculum will be available in the U.S. and selected international locations (in English) by July 2002.

Q.2.9 Will this curriculum be available in other languages?

A. The current plan is that it will only be available in English. We are, however, exploring options regarding curriculum translation into other languages.

Q.2.10 What types of intellectual property controls are there on course materials?

A. The curriculum is copyrighted by Cisco Systems, Inc. Access to the curriculum should be provided only to students enrolled in Networking Academy classes and Information Systems (IS) personnel within the institution offering the program. Appropriate firewalls to protect this information from unauthorized access are required. Academies may not copy, directly or indirectly, Cisco published materials (including web pages), or any parts of the text, graphics, logos or trademarks from Cisco published materials, or engage in distribution of Cisco copyrighted material. Further, Academies are not allowed to develop courseware that is substantially similar to the one-semester online curriculum, nor are they allowed to state or imply that the curriculum is anything but Cisco property.

Section 3: Equipment and Software


Q.3.1 What type of hardware will we need to purchase to offer this program?

A. The following equipment requirements for Fundamentals of Java Programming Language curriculum are the same as the minimum requirements for the current configuration of the CCNA lab. Student to computer ratio for this course is 1:1.

Minimum Equipment Requirements:

• Instructor to have workstation running Windows 9X to view the curriculum.
• All students to have individual access to a workstation running Windows 9X to view the curriculum, with a Student-to-Computer ratio of 1:1.
• Workstations need to be at least 64 MB Intel machines with Pentium processor; workstations need to be networked.

Q.3.2 How much will the equipment cost?

A. See above. You may use the Java Cost Calculator to help determine your total cost to implement this course.

Q.3.3 What type of software will we need? How much will it cost?

A. Tentative software requirements for Hands-On Labs include:

• Java^TM 2 Platform, Standard Edition (download FREE from Sun - http://java.sun.com/j2se/). Note: the same Intel, Solaris or Linux computer systems used to view the curriculum can be used to install the Java development software.
• Java^TM 2 Platform, Standard Edition Documentation (download FREE from Sun - http://java.sun.com/j2se/).
• BlueJ java development tool. BlueJ is an integrated Java environment specifically designed for the teaching of java programming. BlueJ is a free download available at http://www.bluej.org. The current version of BlueJ is 1.5.1. It requires Java^TM 2 SDK v 1.3 or 1.3.1.

Section 4: Course Delivery

Q.4.1 Are the courses designed for any particular number of students?

A. It is required that there be one student to one computer. Therefore, the number of computers in your lab will help to determine the size of the class. The recommended maximum class size is 20 students.

Q.4.2 Are the students expected to print manuals from the Web, or do they purchase manuals separately?

A. Neither students nor instructors are expected to print this curriculum from the Web. The on-line materials, including the curriculum, instructor's guides, and other support documents, are presently meeting instructor and student needs. Cisco Press will be working on companion guides in English, similar to those used currently in the Academy program.

Q.4.3 Is there any limit on the number of classes an Academy can offer?

A. No.

Q.4.4 Can an Academy use part of a Cisco semester in an existing course it already offers, such as a concepts course?

A. No. The curriculum may be made part of a degree program or any larger certification program, but must be delivered in its entirety.

Q.4.5 Can an Academy use the Academy materials for training its administrative or IS staff?

A. This can't be the only use of the curriculum (that is, actual students of the institution must represent the majority of the students in any Academy class), however it is permissible for school staff to be included. Staff members familiar with the curriculum may then act as mentors to the students.

Q.4.6 Is there a minimum length of time to deliver the curriculum?

A. Yes, because the curriculum is designed for expanded delivery, high schools/secondary schools should normally deliver the curriculum in no less than one semester. Academies cannot deliver the course in less than 6 weeks (with no more than 12 hours per week). This does not include lab time or time spent on hands-on activities.

Q.4.7 How do Academies keep their grades and tests safe from students who are maintaining their networks?

A. The Networking Academy tests are stored on the Academy Assessment Server (AAS) and activated by the Academy instructor for only a specific period of time. Also, it is assumed that any secure data within the school is kept on a computer that has security maintained on it, such as user ID and password protection.

Q.4.8 Do students in the classroom have access to the Internet?

A. In order for students to complete the online exams using the Academy Assessment System, they will need to be connected to the Internet during the exam.

Section 5: Instructor Training

Q.5.1 How are CATC instructors trained for Fundamentals of Java Programming?

A. Cisco will train Cisco Academy Training CATC instructors on on Fundamentals of Java Programming in Phoenix during the Month of May 2002.

Q.5.2 Where are the Regional instructors trained?

A. All Regional Academies must establish a support relationship with a CATC-SC offering this curriculum before they can download the curriculum or register to receive training. Regional Academies in the U.S. may attend training at any CATC-SC offering this curriculum. Regional Academies located outside the U.S. may attend training at the designated CATC in their area. Stay tuned for an announcement on CNAMS listing updates on CATCs offering this course. Regional Academies will be able to sign up for training for the Fundamentals of Java Programming Language on approximately April 10, 2002.

Q.5.3 How are Local Academy instructors trained?

A. Instructors at Local Academies offering the Fundamentals of Java Programming Language may register to receive training at any Regional Academy visible to them when they register to receive training on CNAMS. However, before they register for training, they must establish a support relationship with a Regional Academy for this curriculum.

Q.5.3 How long does instructor training last?

A. Instructor training is anticipated to be 8 days

Q.5.5 When will tainings are being offered?

Local Academy Training

Course Name	When Available	Environment
New Instructor Orientation	July 8-19	100% Remote
Fundamentals of Java Programming Language	TBD	Remote/In person combination

The minimum number of days (8-hour days), or hours if remote environment, required for each semester are as follows:

Orientation - 3 days in-person, 24-hour remote environment, or a combination of 16 hours remote/1 day in-person (combination environment could vary)*

Fundamentals of Java Programming Language- anticipated to be 6 days in-person

Q.5.6 What is the cost for the Fundamentals of Java Programming Language training?

A. Training will be done by the Regional Academy and charged on a cost recovery basis (currently $115/day, although this could change). Regional Academies have different support/training packages available. All travel expenses will be the responsibility of the Local Academy.

Section 6: Certification, Assessment, and Employability

Q.6.1 What is the name of the Sun certification that students who complete the one semester course and pass the certification exam may earn?

A. Sun Certified Programmer for Java^TM 2 Platform.

Q.6.2 Are Fundamentals of Java Programming Language students assessed as they progress through the curriculum?

A. Yes. Cisco has developed a state-of-the-art assessment system to provide students, instructors, administrators, and Cisco personnel with detailed data on student progress. Cisco uses the assessment data to apply continuous improvement practices to the program and curriculum.

Q.6.3 How employable will the graduates of the Fundamentals of Java Programming Language program be?

A. We believe that they will be quite employable. Upon completion of this course, students will have an understanding of:

• The history and current use of object oriented programming and the Java language to solve business problems.
• Object, class, instance, member data/fields, member attributes/methods, and local variables.
• The Java Environment and use of the Java Development kit for the creation and execution of java programs from java source files.
• Apply java language keywords, and syntax to create statements for declaring and storing java data types.
• Understand the result of operations and decision-making on java data types, using any operator or method.
• Create statements for data operations, decision-making, class definition, object constructors, method definitions and method invocation.
• Use the online documentation for the Java^TM 2 Platform Platform, API Specification.
• Implement the Javadoc features in their source files to document their classes.
• Write code that implements OO principles and design patterns of encapsulation, composition and inheritance.
• Write code to invoke overridden or overloaded methods and parental or overloaded constructors, and be able to describe the effect of invoking these methods.
• Design and construct instances of any concrete class including normal top-level classes, inner classes, static inner classes, and anonymous inner classes.
• Write code to define, instantiate classes of the java.lang, java.util, java.awt, java.io packages.