Business and Industry - John Wood Community College

The Internet is emerging as a revolutionary force in our lives, redefining the way we communicate, work, shop, and play. Just as significant is its influence on the way we teach and learn. It is not only changing the type and amount of information available, but also the way ideas are delivered.

Today, education systems worldwide are having a difficult time keeping pace with the rapid evolution of information technology. Even in large industrialized nations, many classrooms lack Internet connections, leaving students ill-prepared for the opportunities and jobs generated by today's information-driven economy. And those educational institutions that have computers and Internet access often struggle to maintain and grow their information resources, hampered by limited budgets and a shortage of technical expertise.

The Cisco Networking Academy Program is a timely response to these challenges. It is a highly successful alliance between Cisco Systems, education, business, government, and community organizations around the world. The program has seen phenomenal growth since its launch in the fall of 1997 and now spans the entire United States and more than 40 countries.

The program centers on teaching students to design, build, and maintain computer networks. But the significance goes well beyond the central lesson plan. Using Web technologies, the JWCC Cisco Networking Academy Program prepares students for the 21st century workplace and simultaneously serves as a valuable model for successful e-learning. For educators and administrators, the program management tools provide build-in accountability, a theme of growing importance for educational institutions around the world.

Benefits of the John Wood Community College Cisco Networking Academy

More than a curriculum...It is an e-learning system that allows educational institutions to answer the growing need for accountability. The Cisco Networking Academy Program is an implementation of e-learning on a scale that local education systems can easily manage. Leveraging the Internet and Web technologies at the heart of its curriculum, the Cisco Networking Academy Management System also supports prescriptive learning, providing an individualized plan for each student.

Includes significant hands-on learning and skill set development. Laboratory exercises provide opportunity for hands-on experimentation to hone network troubleshooting skills as well as critical thinking and problem solving abilities.

Connects Academy Administrators and Instructors to 24 x 7 technical support. Academies receive the same technical support from Cisco that major corporations worldwide trust for their own networks. SMARTnet offers 24-hour-a-day access to engineers at the Cisco Technical Assistance Center who are specially trained in the Academy program and its laboratory exercises.

Enhances opportunities for students through coordinated sponsorship and internship programs. Businesses, local communities, and foundations have joined in support for the Academy mission. Sponsorship comes in many forms, including funds or equipment for Academies, instructor training, and internships. The internship program enables students who have completed a minimum of two semesters of study to gain experience in real-world IT environments.

Offers scholarships to encourage Academy graduates to pursue higher education in math, science, and other technical fields.

Accommodates different learning styles by employing multiple media to deliver content-text, audio, extensive graphics, and movies.

Provides a direct route to industry-standard certification. The JWCC Cisco Networking Academy Program qualifies students to pursue a number of industry-standard certifications, including the Cisco Certified Networking Associate (CCNA) and Computing Technology Industry Association (CompTIA) Network+TM certifications. CCNA is the first step in Cisco Career Certifications, which culminates with the Cisco Certified Internetworking Expert (CCIE) certification, the industry's most respected certification for networking professionals.