The NetSpace Skills Competition Intensifies

Thanks to enhanced visual richness and more challenging questions, our NetSpace Skills Competition players can have even more fun while improving their technical skills. 

Cisco Networking Academy Photo Exhibit Unveiled During Nobel Week

On December 7, an art exhibit comprised of 25 fine photos of Networking Academy students from around the world was showcased at the Clarion Hotel in Stockholm for Nobel Week.

Over the past decade, more than 7000 Arkansans have graduated from information-technology courses through the Cisco Networking Academy. On November 19, 2007, Governor Mike Beebe helped commemorate the state’s 10-year partnership with Cisco that has led to the creation of 44 academies in two-year colleges, universities, and high schools.

Mark Your Calendars Now!

Mark you calendars now to attend one of the U.S. Academy Conference 2008 events. Dates and locations are listed below.

This summer, in response to feedback from academies, we were pleased to announce the pilot of a new Cisco Networking Academy Maintenance service.

The pilot for the Cisco Networking Academy Maintenance service began in August 2007 and will extend through August 2008. Although the pilot extends through August 2008, sign-up and registration will end on February 29, 2008.

Learn more about the pilot in this newsletter and stay tuned for a more detailed announcement in the upcoming weeks.

• Celebrating 10 Years: Recognition Winners, Competitions, and Videos
• U.S. Cisco Networking Academy 10th Anniversary Salute Web Site Launches
• Security Certificate Pop-Up on Academy Connection Login

• Curriculum Release and Bug Reporting Processes

Cisco Networking Academy is pleased to announce general availability of the English versions of the following courses:

CCNA Discovery

• Introducing Routing and Switching in the Enterprise
• Designing and Supporting Computer Networks

CCNA Exploration

• LAN Switching and Wireless
• Accessing the WAN

The CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration curricula are now complete and all course materials are available for immediate use on Academy Connection.

Cisco Networking Academy is pleased to announce that revised versions of previously released CCNA Discovery 4.0 and CCNA Exploration 4.0 courses are now available for immediate use on Academy Connection. Maintenance releases are available for the following courses:

CCNA Discovery

• Networking for Home and Small Business
• Working at a Small-to-Medium Business or ISP

CCNA Exploration

• Network Fundamentals
• Routing Protocols and Concepts

Learn the answers to the following questions:

• Now that courses 3 and 4 of CCNA 4.0 have launched in English, what are a few elements I might want to be aware of?
• What are the CCNA version 3.1 end-of-life milestones and dates (English version)
• What about academy students accessing retired exams?
• Will you make the IT Essentials PC lab source Word documents available?
• I’ve heard registration for the no-cost U.S./Canada NetAcad Maintenance Pilot expires soon. Can we get an extension?

Now that all four courses for both CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration have launched, it’s time to plan for teaching these new, dynamic courses at your academy. Here’s a snapshot of where we are today with academy adoption of the new curricula.

Do you still have questions about the new CCNA Discovery and CCNA Exploration curricula? Join one of the scheduled Webinars to learn more!

Cisco Networking Academy Resource Center was created to increase your access to the newest academy resources.

The website is continuously evolving to meet your needs. The most recent materials to be added include the following:

The first of the Cisco Press Learning Guides, Companion Guides, and Labs and Study Guides have been published for the new CCNA Exploration and CCNA Discovery curricula.

Cisco Networking Academyis working to ensure a continued flow of skilled workers, said Gene Longo, senior manager of the Networking Academy in North America.

Greenville Tech's Academy has trained 200 to 250 students in five years, Krawczyk said. Students generally go through the one-year academy as part of their two-year associate's degree in computer networking. About 4500 South Carolina students have gone through the Networking Academy curriculum at various locations in the past 10 years.

Read the full article

The SkillsUSA National Internetworking Competition was held in Kansas City, Missouri, this past summer. Students across the United States competed for the opportunity to participate in this event.

·          Community College Times: Cisco Wants More Partnerships in Education

·          Hattiesburgamerican.com: Mississippi Graduate Honored by Cisco

·          TechBridge Facilitates Partnership with Cisco to Change Lives: Local Students Given Scholarships to Cisco Networking Academy

·          CIO Insight: Getting Women Back Into IT

·          IT World Canada: Salary Survey Reveals a Strong Market, and the Upside of the Skills Shortage

·          Network World: IT Jobs Top Online Jobs Postings, says Beyond.com

·          Network World: Starting Salaries for IT Pros to jump in 2008

·          Certification Magazine: Industry Leaders Establish Information Technology Certification Council

The quarterly newsletter informs readers of alumni benefits, Career Connection opportunities, and resources that Cisco provides for career development in and beyond the classroom.

In this issue:

·         Packet Tracer 4.1: How Can Packet Tracer Make Learning Easier for Students and Alumni?

·         New Curriculum and Exam Extension Q & A

·         Alumni Success: Washington native Laura Lewkowski was awarded a 2007 Cisco Networking Academy 4R Award and has already earned seven industry certifications

·         Career Connection: Interview with Cisco Channel Account Manager Megan Riley

·         Cisco Partner Focus: Interview with Rebecca Sweeney, Human Resources Director of Nexus Integrated Services, Inc.

Growing up with two older brothers, one of whom works as an engineer, Sara always wanted to “be like them.” In 2002, while attending high school, she began taking courses in the Networking Academy through a vocational technology program at BOCES where her mother worked. Sara was one of only a few females to take the course, and she says she formed friendships with her classmates that continue to be strong today.

Learn more

In October, T.H.E. Journal devoted a feature article to how schools and organizations across the United States are teaching STEM subjects through project-based learning.