11/28/2013 10:24:42 AM
The Cisco Networking Academy partnership is a thriving example of how College of the North Atlantic (CNA) continues to create opportunities for students. CNA is now the only fully accredited Cisco Instructor Training Centre and Academy Support Centre in Atlantic Canada.
“Cisco is a company that supplies networking equipment and offers training on their products worldwide to schools and educational institutions,” said Jackie Reid, an information technology instructor who delivers Cisco Academy curriculum at CNA and is one of the academy success leads.
Created by educators, for educators, Cisco Networking Academy offers curriculum at no cost to not-for-profit educational institutions such as CNA. The curriculum emphasizes critical thinking, problem solving, and collaboration as well as practical knowledge.
“The Cisco Networking Academy program teaches students relevant technology skills through standardized curriculum that can be integrated into our existing college programs. It also can be delivered by qualified instructors at the high school level.”
Reid says academy students don’t just read about networking, they build networks and complete hands-on exercises in specially equipped labs. Certified instructors use a variety of teaching and learning activities to help students master content, while multimedia address a variety of learning styles.
Keith Bussey, instructional coordinator for electrical, electronics and construction programs at CNA, is also an academy success lead. He feels this is a great opportunity for the college.
“Academy instructor training accomplishes two essential tasks. Firstly, it ensures that all instructors who teach Cisco Networking Academy courses are familiar with the academy curriculum, including learning materials, laboratory activities, and assessments. This guarantees that all students will have the same learning experience delivered by knowledgeable instructors,” said Bussey.
“Secondly, and perhaps more importantly, the instructor training provides an opportunity for instructor-trainers to identify common student issues, such as sub-netting, promoting best pedagogical practices, and familiarizing instructors with the vast resources and supports available to them through the Cisco Networking Academy.”
The academy prides itself on producing knowledgeable and skilled graduates, a philosophy shared by CNA, making this an ideal arrangement. Both of these roles allow the college to enter into fee-for-service partnerships with institutions around the world to provide instructor training and academy support.
“In its roles of Academy Support Centre and Instructor Training Centre, CNA has an opportunity to share its experience and best practices with institutions throughout Atlantic Canada and globally,” said Bussey. “This is a great opportunity to showcase our instructors’ dedication to teaching and learning as well being at the cutting edge of technology.”
Cisco Networking Academy’s presence at CNA is the result of a partnership between the School of Engineering Technology and Natural Resources and the School of Business and Information Technology. CNA has successfully implemented the Cisco Networking Academy curriculum in programs within both of these schools, starting with computer systems and networking in 2000 and telecommunications engineering technology in 2003, and have expanded to include other programs since then.
“It’s an international program that successfully prepares graduates for networking and IT related jobs in the public and private sectors, as well as for higher education in engineering, computer science, and related fields. It provides state-of-the-art test equipment for academy labs at discounted rates as well as certification and job placement opportunities for academy students,” added Reid.
“It’s a fantastic program that gives opportunities to actually learn valuable curriculum from certified instructors,” she said.
CNA has four active local academies which deliver the Cisco curriculum at the Prince Philip Drive, Ridge Road, Burin and Corner Brook campuses.
“The program provides students with the internet technology skills essential in a global economy, prepares students for the demands of the workplace, leads to continued education and learning, and prepares for industry standard certifications,” said Reid.
It also uses a blended learning model, which the college feels is necessary to remain flexible in program delivery.
“Each academy integrates high-quality, face-to-face teaching with hands-on lab exercises with Cisco providing a multimedia delivery of challenging curricula and embedded assessment over the internet. In addition, you can mix and match courses according to your needs.”
Mary Vaughan, the college’s dean of Business and Information Technology, feels employing highly skilled faculty, combined with keeping up with the most current technology led to CNA becoming the only Cisco Instructor Training Centre in Atlantic Canada.
“This recognition is a direct result of the high calibre, dedicated faculty we have teaching within these areas. We are extremely proud of their accomplishments and the recognition this brings to CNA,” said Vaughan.
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Media Contact:
Glenda McCarthy
Public Relations Specialist
College of the North Atlantic
709.643.6408
glenda.mccarthy@cna.nl.ca