IST 220 is an introductory course to networking and telecommunications and their applications in the information age. It is a required core course for both the two-year and four-year IST degrees, and is a critical part of the curriculum. The prerequisite for this course is IST 110 (Introduction to Information Sciences and Technology). The course will cover the following topics:

• Overview of networking and telecommunications
• Communications media
• Data transmission
• Local and wide area networking (LAN / WAN) applications, hardware, and software
• The OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) models
• Industry standards, topologies, and protocols
• Internetworking devices and applications
• Networks management
• Networks security and recovery
• The selection of telecommunications and networking systems

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The objectives of this course are two-fold: (1) to provide students with a basic understanding of networking and telecommunications, and (2) to develop students’ ability in applying networking and telecommunication knowledge to specific applications and situations, especially in Internet, Intranet, and e-commerce.

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• David Stamper, Business Data Communications, 5^th edition, Addison-Wesley, ISBN 0-8053-7732-8, 1999.

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• Four hands-on exercises will be assigned and graded. The first and fourth exercises are geared toward understanding current networking / communication technologies and trends. The second and third exercises relate to web-base technologies / e-commerce. All exercises need to be professionally prepared and written.

• To help students understand the materials, some problems from the textbook will be assigned; But they will not be graded, nor will they be collected.

• TwoCLOSED book examinations will be given. The first examination will be given in class and is scheduled on February 26 (Monday). The final examination will follow the University’s final examination schedule (April 30 - May 4). There will be NO make up examination unless an official excuse (document) is submitted and pre-approved by the instructor.

• A term project is required for the course. The project will be TEAM-BASED. Details of the project will be announced in class later. The term project is due by April 27 (Friday).

• Question and class participation are encouraged and will be taken into consideration in the final grade.

• Students with disabilities. It is Penn State's policy to not discriminate against qualified students with documented disabilities. If you have a disability-related need for modifyingyour exam or test environment, notify your instructor during the first week of classes so that your needs can be accommodated. You will be asked to present documentation from the Office of Disability Services (located in 105 Boucke Building) that describes the nature of your disability and the recommended remedy. You may refer to the Nondiscrimination Policy in the Student Guide to University Policies and Rules. The School of Information Sciences and Technology (IST) welcomes persons with disabilities to all of its classes, programs, and events. If you need accommodations, or have questions about access to buildings where IST activities are held, please contact the Dean's Office (814) 865-3528 in advance of your participation or visit. If you need assistance during a class, program, or event, please contact any member of our staff or faculty in charge.

• Academic Integrity. In accordance with the Penn State University Senate legislation Senate Policy 49-20 on Academic Integrity, the School of Information Sciences and Technology reinforces that policy by reiterating that academic integrity is the pursuit of scholarly activity in an open, honest and responsible manner. Academic integrity is a basic guiding principle for all academic activity at the University, and all members of the University community are expected to act in accordance with this principle. Consistent with this expectation, the University Code of Conduct states that all students should act with personal integrity, respect other students’ dignity, rights and property, and help an environment in which all can succeed through the fruits of their efforts. Academic integrity includes a commitment not to engage in or tolerate acts of falsification, misrepresentation or deception. Such acts of dishonesty violate the fundamental ethical principles of the University community and compromise the worth of work completed by others.

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Evaluation of knowledge and understanding of materials will be by examination, hands-on exercises, project, and class participation. Click Here to view your record and grade on-line.

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Here is a selected list of web pages/sites related to Networking and Telecommunications. A more completed list can be found at: net1.ist.psu.edu/chu/course/NT.htm

• Textbook Web Sites: http://www.prenhall.com/stamper/
• Chu's Beginner Guide on WWW Design: net1.ist.psu.edu/chu/course/guide.htm
• Chu's Selected Web Resources: net1.ist.psu.edu/chu/course/Web.htm.

• Computer-Related Policies, Guidelines, and Laws: http://www.psu.edu/computing/policies/
• INTERNET Access Guide: http://cac.psu.edu/internet/
• Internet Information and Resources: http://cac.psu.edu/~santoro/cac/internexus.html
• LISTSERV Conferencing Resources: http://cac.psu.edu/~santoro/cac/inex/listserv.html
• Netnews Resources: http://cac.psu.edu/internet/news/
• Network Security Home Page: http://www.netsec.psu.edu/netsec/
• Networking Services: http://cac.psu.edu/infotech/network.html
• Networking Services, Office of Telecommunications: http://www.otc.psu.edu/services/staff/UPdata.asp
• Networking Related Products and Services, Office of Telecommunications: http://www.otc.psu.edu/services/student/updata.asp
• News and Alerts, Office of Telecommunications: http://www.otc.psu.edu/hotlinks/news.asp
• Tech News: http://www.cis.psu.edu/technews/
• Web Publishing: http://www.psu.edu/publish/

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This schedule is tentative and will be revised continuously, especially on the availability of class lecture notes. Please check back periodically. A password and an Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to read the class notes. If your computer doesn't have one installed, click here to download a free copy and install it.

Session	Topics	Reading	Notes
January
8 (M)	State-of-the-Art Review	Syllabus	Introduction Survey Form
10 (W)	Overview of Data Communication Essential Features of Communication	Chap 1	Overview Challenge 1, Checklist 1
12 (F)	Basic Computer Skills / Demonstration	FTP, WinZip, Acrobat Reader, PowerPoint, Excel, Access	Skills PowerPoint
15 (M)	Data Communication Applications Requirements of an Online System	Chap 1	Web Applications
17 (W)	Introduction to Networks	Chap 1	Topology
19 (F)	Basic Web Page Design: HTML overview, text formatting and color, background color, links	HTML Chu’s Beginner Guide on WWW	Exercise #1 Lab Session
22 (M)	Networking Standard - OSI Model Data Communication Media	Chap 1, OSI on WWW Chap 2, Belkin, Linksys	OSI Model Media Intruction for Lab
24 (W)	Media Selection	Chap 2	Challenge 2
26 (F)	Intermediate Web Page Design: tables, frames	HTML	Lab Session
29 (M)	Data Transmission	Chap 3	Modems
31(W)	Data Transmission	Chap 3
February
2 (F)	Intermediate Web Page Design: image map (Hands-on Exercise #1 due)	HTML	Lab Session
5 (M)	Common Carrier Services - New Technologies	Chap 4	Exercise #2
7 (W)	Introduction to LAN	Chap 5	Lan Introduction
9 (F)	Intermediate Web Page Design: animated graphics	HTML	Lab Session
12 (M)	LAN Hardware Bonus: Wireless e-Business - It's Closer Than You Think	Chap 6 Dave Cassano, IBM Corp.	Announcement Copy of Flier
14 (W)	LAN Topologies and Media Access Control	Chap 7, Network Topologies	Topology, MAC, ..
16 (F)	Intermediate Web Page Design: JavaScript overview, dialog box, pop-up window, scrolling messages	JavaScript	Lab Session
19 (M)	LAN system Software (Hands-on Exercise #2 due)	Chap 8	Exercise #3
21 (W)	LAN Considerations	Chap 9	LAN Selection
23 (F)	Intermediate Web Page Design: event handlers, rolling banners, dynamic images	JavaScript	Exam 1 Coverage Lab Session
26 (M)	Mid-Term Examination (In Class)	Chap 1-7
28 (W)	WAN Hardware	Chap 10	LAN Design Case
March
2 (F)	Advanced Web Page Design: form-oriented data entry and data validation	JavaScript	Lab Session
5-9	Spring Break (No Classes)
12 (M)	WAN Topologies and Transmission Services Data Link Protocols	Chap 11	Protocols Wan1
14 (W)	The OSI Network Layer	Chap 11	Wan2 Wan3
16 (F)	Advanced Web Page Design: systems call, option list, menu	JavaScript	Lab Session
19 (M)	The OSI Transport Layer (Hands-on Exercise #3 Due)	Chap 11	Wan4 Exercise #4
21 (W)	WAN System Software	Chap 12
23 (F)	Active Service Page - Overview	ASP	Lab Session Overview of ASP
26 (M)	Accessing and Using the Internet	Chap 13	E-Business Seminar
28 (W)	WAN Implementations Network Interconnections	Chap 15 Chap 16	Dijkstra Algorithm
30 (F)	Guest Lecture - TBA
April
2 (M)	Active Service Page - Examples	ASP	Lab Session Examples of ASP
4 (W)	Active Service Page (Web database search)		Lab Session
6 (F)	Advanced Web Page Design: Meta Commands, CSS, cookies. on-line store, on-line shopping Cart (Hands-on Exercise #4 Due)	JavaScript	OSI Revisit Lab Session
9 (M)	Internet Technologies / e-Commerce Network Management	Chap 14	E-commerce Network Management Case Study
11 (W)	Network Management	Chap 17	Network Mgmt System NMS Tools for PC
13 (F)	Network Security/Demonstration	Chap 19	Network Security Resources
16 (M)	Network Security/Demonstration	Chap 19	Network Security
18 (W)	Term Project Final Touch		Peer Evaluation Form
20 (F)	Term Project Presentation	Teams #2 and 7
23 (M)	Term Project Presentation	Teams #1, 5 and 10
25 (W)	Term Project Presentation	Teams #3, 4 and 8
27 (F)	Term Project Presentation (Term Project Due)	Teams #6 and 9
3 (Th)	Final Examination 12:20 PM - 2:00 PM	Chap 7-19	Final Examination

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