New Version of IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software Available

Cisco Networking Academy is pleased to announce general availability of the English version of the IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software v4.1 curriculum. All course materials are available for immediate use on Academy Connection and instructors can now open and teach student classes.

The IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software v4.1 curriculum is designed for Networking Academy students who want to prepare for careers in information and communication technology (ICT) and students who want to gain skills and practical knowledge of how computers work, how to assemble computers, and how to troubleshoot hardware and software issues.

IT Essentials: PC Hardware and Software v4.1 has been updated with new content and labs to encompass new technologies, and help students prepare for the new CompTIA A+ 2009 certification exams. The fundamentals part of the course, chapters 1–10, will help students prepare for the CompTIA A+ Essentials exam (220-701), which covers the fundamentals of computer technology, networking, and security, and validates the communication skills and professionalism required of all entry-level IT professionals. The advanced part of the course, chapters 11–16, will help students prepare for the CompTIA A+ Practical Application exam (220-702), which builds on the CompTIA A+ Essentials knowledge and skills, with more of a hands-on orientation and scenarios in which troubleshooting and tools must be applied to resolve problems. Students must pass both exams to earn the CompTIA A+ certification.

Along with revised content to align with the objectives of the new certification exams, version 4.1 features Cisco Packet Tracer activities to help students learn and practice concepts introduced in the fundamental and advanced chapters of the curriculum. The inclusion of Packet Tracer activities provides learning experiences that align with the new CompTIA A+ certification objectives without requiring academies to purchase extra networking equipment