Lab SetupLocationThe lab location requires a network infrastructure, security, and climate control. A dedicated Cisco lab is ideal to give instructors more flexibility and more instructional time. Instructors can decorate the lab with motivational and instructional wall hangings, and students can access the lab more often to study. Most high schools, colleges and large training facilities have campus buildings suitable for labs and often share labs with other programs.Community-based Networking Academies have additional considerations for location to meet the needs of their clients.
Washington Heights Convenience-When a lab is located in the community, travel to and from class is not a burden. Visibility-Locating the lab in an area with a lot of foot traffic helps recruitment. People are curious about the activity and ask how to get involved. Security-Local security or law enforcement officials can offer advice on securing the equipment in the lab. In some areas, a storefront deters crime, because it is highly visible. In other areas, "out of sight, out of mind" or a low profile might work best. Shared space-Some organizations have existing computer labs that are not used full time. Scheduling in a shared lab between other programs saves money and helps with recruitment. "Communities in Schools is trying to set up Local Networking Academies in the housing authority with HUD (Housing and Urban Development), rather than have people come here to the college to be trained. I suggested they get their equipment ahead of time. We'd set it up where they would be teaching and I would come there to teach them at their location with their equipment. This way there would be more ownership. They would be comfortable."
Operational since the early 1990s Community Technology CentersDennis Quatrine Henry Ford Community College Regional Academy Detroit, MI  (CTCNet) is a national, non-profit membership organization of more than 450 independent community technology centers where people get free or low-cost access to computers and computer-related technology, such as the Internet, together with learning opportunities that encourage exploration and discovery. These centers are already in the community.
ComputersCisco provides recommended equipment specifications for computers used in the lab. Some Networking Academies use additional requirements to check sites for readiness."I have an assessment checklist which looks at their physical plant or room. I look at their existing network if they have one. I look at the capability of their server, the NIC card speed, the computer processing speed, memory and the room's electrical for potential expansion."
Greg Murray Communities in Schools Detroit, MI
Cisco EquipmentThe Networking Academy Kit or Bundle contains the required routers and switches. When installed on a rolling rack, they can be moved to different locations in a building and secured when not in use."We're a community college with 17,000 students in a building that was built for 10,000. People hoard space. When our Cisco enrollments were double the capacity of the room, we decided to open another class. The question of where and when was an issue. As soon as our Cisco students left their class another college class came in. It was good planning that our instructor put our server, routers and switches on one rack. We basically rolled our Cisco training to another lab on another floor. Since then we sell ourselves as the 21st Century version of that old cowboy gunslinger, Paladin, who went around the country fighting crime. 'Have rack, will travel.'"
Acte Maldonado, Dean Borough of Manhattan Community College New York, NY |
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