About this trail:
This Trail takes you through several lessons geared toward teaching you about computer networking. It begins with basic background information on computers and how they communicate, on through to what the Internet is. Clicking your way through the entire trail will likely take you more than one session, but you will have a good understanding of computer networking once complete.
Happy Learning!
Trail link: http://www.trailfire.com/ellejaycee/trails/50670
Summary: http://www.trailfire.com/ellejaycee/trailview/50670
Summary: http://www.trailfire.com/ellejaycee/trailview/50670
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We will begin this lesson on computer networking with background information on what a computer is.
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Section 1: What is a computer?
Watch this video to get an overview of the 7 components of a computer.
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Section 1: What is a computer?
A list with brief descriptions of the different categories of computers.
Now that you know what a computer is, this section will talk about the different types of computers. You will become more familiar with computing terminology.
Feel free to click on the links within this page for more detailed information on the topics.
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Section 2: Data Communication
It is virtually impossible to understand computer networking without knowledge of the basic structure or language that computers use to communicate. This section eventually explains what kilobytes, megabytes, gigabytes and biggerbytes are, which is extremely helpful in your everyday computing life.
Read this web page that explains what bits and bytes are and why bits and bytes are important in computing and basic data communication.
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Section 2: Data Communications
This is an excellent tutorial on how data communicates over wire or through the air. It is an advanced explanation, but once you've gone through it, you will understand the foundation of how computers talk to one another.
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Section 3: Basic Computer Networking
Videos are always helpful in getting an overview of a topic. This video provides a basic description of what a network is and is a good introduction to the rest of this lesson. The page may seem confusing to know what you're supposed to do. If the video does not start automatically, please just click on Play below the video window.
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Section 3: Basic Computer Networking
This page provides a bit of redundancy and more information about what a network is.
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Section 3: Basic Computer Networking
Now that you understand what a network is and heard/read a few terms, this page offers some basic terminology you need to know when learning about and understanding computer networks.
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Section 3: Basic Computer Networking
Pictorial examples of networking elements
Like videos, pictures can really help solidify a concept and assist in your understanding. Please click through exhibits 1 - 4, remembering to use the back button on your browser to get back to this page.
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Section 3: Basic Computer Networking
Computers can not communicate on a network with a network interface card (NIC). Any device wishing to communicate on a network must have one. This page describes the different types.
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Section 4: Advanced Networking Concepts
Given its popularity, this lesson would be incomplete without a description of wireless networking.
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Section 4: Advanced Networking Concepts
Understanding the OSI Model is an important advanced networking topic. If you have interest in the computer networking field as a career, you will need this knowledge. Please read this page about the OSI Model.
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Section 4: Advanced Networking Concepts
A pictorial representation of the OSI Model
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Section 5: The Internet
The Internet is the worldwide connection of networked computers. It is one gigantic WAN. To gain a better understanding of the Internet, work through this 11 section tutorial. This section is optional for this lesson.
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Section 5: The Internet
Listen to this podcast about internet carrier hotels.
This is optional, but really cool information.
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Section 6: Conclusion
Let's bring this lesson closer to home. What are some benefits of installing a network at home? This page sites some pretty good reasons.
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Section 6: Conclusion
Answer these eleven questions to test your knowledge of basic computer networking. With the information presented in this Trail, you will be able to answer most of them. For the questions you are either unable to answer or get the incorrect answer to, take advantage of the links provided in the correct answer that give you the information you may have missed.
