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Study information

Digital Technology Infrastructure - 2024 entry

MODULE TITLEDigital Technology Infrastructure CREDIT VALUE15
MODULE CODEECM1423DA MODULE CONVENERMr Alexander Richardson-Hall (Coordinator)
DURATION: TERM 1 2 3
DURATION: WEEKS 11 0 0
Number of Students Taking Module (anticipated) 100
DESCRIPTION - summary of the module content

***DEGREE APPRENTICESHIP STUDENTS ONLY***

This module provides an introduction to basic computer system organisation and network infrastructure with an overall focus on the services and capabilities that network infrastructure solutions enable in an organisational context.  You will gain the knowledge and skills that they need for the planning, design, implementation and management of computer networks and understanding of the network infrastructure capabilities and limitations.

AIMS - intentions of the module
The aim of this module is to ensure that you gain a good understanding of the technology infrastructure used in business and government organisations. In particular, you will be able to demonstrate the following competences:
  • Can plan, design and manage computer networks with an overall focus on the services and capabilities that network infrastructure solutions enable in an organisational context.
  • Identifies network security risks and their resolution.
 
INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES (ILOs) (see assessment section below for how ILOs will be assessed)

On successful completion of this module you should be able to:

Module Specific Skills and Knowledge

1. Plan a computer system network based upon estimated business data traffic needs that will meet the future business needs

2. Analyse business and technical requirements and select appropriate network technologies and topologies as part of the network design

3. Identifying network security risks and their remediation

4. Give an overview of computer architecture and functions, CPU, memory, instructions, instruction cycle, I/O, interrupts, peripheral devices, instructions and memory architecture.

5. Explain how software is run and how operating system services create an interaction between hardware and software.

6. Describe the fundamental building blocks (e.g. routers, switches, hubs, storage, transmission) and typical architectures (e.g. server/client, hub/spoke) of computers networks and the Internet

Discipline Specific Skills and Knowledge

7. Explain what is meant by data and protocol and how they relate to each other.

8. Describe a data format and a simple protocol in current use.

9. Describe failure modes in protocols, for example reasons why a protocol may ‘hang’ and the effect on a protocol of data communication errors.

10 Describe the main features of a selected subset of network protocols in widespread use on the Internet and their purpose and relationship to each other, including the physical and data link layer  (e.g. https, HTTP, SMTP, SNMP, TCP, IP, etc.)

11. Explain some of main factors that affect network performance (e.g. the relationship between bandwidth, number of users, nature of traffic, contention) and propose ways to improve performance (e.g. application of traffic shaping, changes to architecture to avoid bottlenecks, network policy that prohibit streaming protocols).

12. Discuss issues that may arise in the day to day operation of networks.

13. Explain sustainable development approaches as applied to digital and technology solutions such as green computing.

Personal and Key Transferable / Employment Skills and Knowledge

14. Communicate orally and in writing

15. Solve problems creatively

16. Think analytically and critically

17. Organise your own work

18. Work to a deadline

19. Collaborate and negotiate

20. Conduct independent research

SYLLABUS PLAN - summary of the structure and academic content of the module

Computer architecture, components and functions (3 weeks)

•          CPU, memory, peripheral devices

•          Memory architecture

•          Instructions, instruction cycle, I/O, interrupts

•          Representation of data; decimal, binary, hexadecimal

 

Software (3 weeks)

•          Interaction between hardware and software

•          Operating systems and services

•          Application software

 

Networks (3 weeks)

•          Components and functions

           o          Routers, switches, hubs, transmission

           o          Firewalls, load balancers, intrusion detection/prevention systems

           o          Network storage

•          Architectures

           o          Server/client, hub/spoke, multi-tiered, etc.

•          Data, formats and protocols

           o          Physical and data link layer protocols

                       - HTTP/HTTPS, SMTP, SNMP, TCP, IP, etc.

           o          Failure modes and data communication errors

•          Issues in day to day operation of networks; troubleshooting

 

Network performance (1 week)

•          Factors affecting performance

           o          Latency; bandwidth, number of users, nature of traffic, contention, server/client hardware, etc.

•          Improving network performance

           o          Traffic shaping, changes to architecture to avoid bottlenecks, network policy

 

Network planning and design (1 week)

•          Analysing business and technical requirements

•          Network technology and topology selection

•          Identifying network security risks and their remediation

 

Enterprise technology (1 week)

•          Data centres

•          Computing as a service; cloud services

•          Virtualisation

•          Ensuring continuity

LEARNING AND TEACHING
LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS (given in hours of study time)
Scheduled Learning & Teaching Activities 22 Guided Independent Study 128 Placement / Study Abroad 0
DETAILS OF LEARNING ACTIVITIES AND TEACHING METHODS
Category Hours of study time Description
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 18 Online learning activity, including virtual workshops, synchronous and asynchronous virtual lectures and other e-learning.
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 2 Lectures
Scheduled learning and teaching activities 2 Group workshops
Guided independent study 128 Coursework, exam preparation and self-study

 

ASSESSMENT
FORMATIVE ASSESSMENT - for feedback and development purposes; does not count towards module grade
Form of Assessment Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Contribution to class discussion N/A 1-20 Verbal

 

SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT (% of credit)
Coursework 50 Written Exams 50 Practical Exams 0
DETAILS OF SUMMATIVE ASSESSMENT
Form of Assessment % of Credit Size of Assessment (e.g. duration/length) ILOs Assessed Feedback Method
Infrastructure planning and design exercise 50 10-minute narrated presentation recording 1-20 Written
Written exam 50 1.5 hours 1-20 Written

 

DETAILS OF RE-ASSESSMENT (where required by referral or deferral)
Original Form of Assessment Form of Re-assessment ILOs Re-assessed Time Scale for Re-assessment
Infrastructure planning and design exercise (50%) Infrastructure planning and design exercise 1-20 Completed over summer with a deadline in August
Written exam (50%) Written exam (1.5 hours) 1-20 Referral/deferral period

 

RE-ASSESSMENT NOTES

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be deferred in the assessment. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you may be required to sit a referral. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of referral will be capped at 40%.

RESOURCES
INDICATIVE LEARNING RESOURCES - The following list is offered as an indication of the type & level of
information that you are expected to consult. Further guidance will be provided by the Module Convener

ELE: https://ele.exeter.ac.uk/

 

Reading list for this module:

Type Author Title Edition Publisher Year ISBN
Set Behrouz A. Forouzan Data Communications and Networking 5th McGraw Hill Education 2012 13: 978-007337622
Set Douglas Comer Essentials of Computer Architecture 5th Chapman and Hall/CRC 2017 ASIN-B01MZH168Z
CREDIT VALUE 15 ECTS VALUE 7.5
PRE-REQUISITE MODULES None
CO-REQUISITE MODULES None
NQF LEVEL (FHEQ) 4 AVAILABLE AS DISTANCE LEARNING No
ORIGIN DATE Tuesday 10th July 2018 LAST REVISION DATE Tuesday 12th September 2023
KEY WORDS SEARCH Digital, technology, infrastructure

Please note that all modules are subject to change, please get in touch if you have any questions about this module.