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 | Cisco Global Learning Network Overview |  | |
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Scalable, e-learning infrastructure efficiently delivers
rich, interactive media and enhanced assessment to hundreds
of thousands of Cisco Networking Academy Program students
around the world.
Redefining E-Learning
Network efficiencies, interactivity, multimedia, personalization,
and an appreciation of multiple learning styles have all
come together in the Cisco Global Learning Network (GLN).
This standards-based, end-to-end network-enhanced learning
infrastructure supports highly scalable, flexible, advanced
e-learning.
The GLN integrates e-learning applications for authoring,
management, and assessment with rich media content, delivery,
and a network infrastructure. Implemented as the e-learning
environment for the international Cisco Networking Academy
Program beginning in the summer of 2001, the GLN brought
many important new capabilities. These include global scalability,
lack of extensive integration needed for implementation,
a distributed architecture with sophisticated caching to
avoid latency, the ability to deliver rich media and interactive
components seamlessly, a clearly defined pedagogical hierarchy
for authoring, personalized feedback, and the use of Web-based
open standards.
The Cisco Networking Academy Program is a worldwide effort
designed to teach Internet technology skills to youth and
adults. The Networking Academy program is also helping to
transform education as the world's largest e-learning laboratory.
Cisco has expanded the program to include optional, partner-sponsored
courses by IT leaders in the Fundamentals of UNIX, sponsored
by Sun Microsystems, the Fundamentals of Web Design, sponsored
by Adobe Systems, the Fundamentals of Voice and Data Cabling,
sponsored by Panduit, and IT Essentials sponsored by Hewlett-Packard.
All courses are delivered through the Cisco Networking Academy
Program.
Elements of a New E-Learning Paradigm
A multi-layered technology solution, the GLN is far beyond
other online or computer-assisted learning models. It delivers
several key benefits that make the e-learning experience
in the Networking Academy program more effective, including
personalized feedback, enhanced assessment, rich media,
More Info, and an integrated and scalable network architecture.
Personalized Feedback - Courses
developed and delivered using the GLN give learners personalized
feedback as dynamically generated Web pages, which teachers
can also use to gauge each learner's progress and level
of mastery. Pre-assessments and post-assessments, following
each course and module, give the learner a chance to understand
every aspect of course content before moving on.
Enhanced Assessment - Teachers
can tailor presentations and assignments based on pre-assessment
results. In some curricula, students receive Proficiency
Reports that characterize their test performance in terms
of different levels of proficiency such as Novice, Partially
Proficient, Proficient, and Advanced. These translate
for students the meaning of their numerical scores.
Rich Media -The courses deliver
content in auditory, visual, tactile, numeric, and text
formats to best accommodate individual learning styles.
A typical Web page may display a combination of text,
audio or video tracks, graphics, and numerical representations.
More Info - For some Cisco
Networking Academy Program curriculum, this optional feature
appears at the bottom of the course page. It offers e-learners
additional information and resources (i.e., URLs to Web
sites, documents, videos, animations) to bolster understanding,
as needed.
Integrated and Scalable Network
Architecture - Cisco Networking Academy Program courses
delivered using GLN require advanced network architecture
and caching strategies to support the smooth delivery
of rich media and personalized feedback. The GLN was designed
with Internet middleware that is TCP/IP-based and has
standard application program interfaces (APIs) to handle
the delivery of course content and the pre- and post-assessments.
The GLN integrates the main elements of an e-learning
solution-content, applications and services, and network
infrastructure-into a single architecture. Instead of
relying on delivery via centralized network resources,
the GLN relies on content caching strategies within the
local area network (LAN) of each user organization. Implementation
of the More Info component of the GLN at the LAN is best
accomplished with a locally installed content engine,
which efficiently distributes rich media to up to thirty
simultaneous users per content engine. High performance
delivery of bandwidth-intensive content is achieved by
distributing content as close to the end user as possible.
Continually Evolving
E-Learning
Aside from its multimedia content, assessment features,
and efficient and scalable infrastructure, the GLN includes
powerful tools to help instructors manage and evaluate online
learners. Third-party course management applications can
also be integrated into the GLN to support the distribution
of learner IDs, user names, passwords, course schedules,
assignments, course communications, and grades.
More effective learning is the ultimate goal of the GLN.
Beginning as a vehicle for technical education, it is a
model for transforming course design and delivery at large
for millions both in the industrialized world and in less
developed regions.
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