Report: Assessing the Effectiveness of Computer Networking Course - UK

This report evaluates the effectiveness of a computer networking course at the University of Bedfordshire, focusing on the author's personal experience and development. The course covered technical skills in network administration, including LAN, MAN, and WAN technologies, as well as soft skill traini...Read More

Running head: HOW EFFECTIVE HAVE BEEN THE COMPUTER NETWORKING COURSE FOR ME
How Effective Have Been the Computer Networking Course for Me
Name of the student:
Name of the University:
Author Note:

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HOW EFFECTIVE HAVE BEEN THE COMPUTER NETWORKING COURSE FOR ME
Introduction
As a fresh graduate in computer technology, getting a chance to enrol myself in the
learning course of computer networking and administration of the University of Bedfordshire.
Computer networking have been my topic of interest since I enrolled myself for graduation in
computer science. The career path was clear for me and it led to the post of network
administrator to one of the most esteemed companies in United Kingdom. After completion of
my training, I started to evaluate my performance based on the course materials and my
performances in the training season. Though the training season covered all the criteria
employers look for in a computer network administrator in UK, still I personally feel that the
program is not complete without individual development process for every students of the
program. I have completed a formal report based on the course work of the University of
Bedfordshire, which I have already attended. The commercial purpose of this report is quite
important, as it will help to validate the efforts of the government of UK to provide up-to-date
training for creating efficient network administrators for the industry.
The basic for any computer network course in any university covers a detailed prospect
of network administration. This involves thorough information related to the different network
modules. Thus, I find it very relevant for industrial and career purposes. However, the lack of
such knowledge and training during graduation programs has been a major issue in UK as the
employers complain about lack of required knowledge among them is a regular issue in UK. This
is the reason; the training programs of different universities are relevant to get a kick-start in the
career. I am doing a self-evolution by going through such a project. In a systematic evolution I
will reveal points like how benefited I am by this project, aspects where I feel the programs are

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HOW EFFECTIVE HAVE BEEN THE COMPUTER NETWORKING COURSE FOR ME
lagging and plan of action I need for betterment. Plan of action is applicable typically in fields of
education, personality development and career path.
The course work and my overall performance during the training
Course work of the University of Bedfordshire not only covers the technical skillsets of
network administration, it also covered soft skill training and other training processes which
include team mentality test and training and personality development test and training for the
students. The professors and course conductors have devised questionnaire based assessment
tests for participants to analyse their soft skills. The aim of this training is not only to provide
knowledge or technical training to participants. To groom the participants in a way that will help
them kick-start their career very easily. This is reason the course designers included soft skill
development and testing processes in the training program besides technical and practical skills.
Different personality testing questionnaire and processes were utilized like Belbin team-member
selection test, knowledge and competence training, deadline maintenance and project
presentation skills besides report preparation and communicative skills of the participants.
The formal report I have created, about the analysis of the effectiveness of computer
network courses of universities of UK, is a perfect example of my communicative skills. I have
experience of the course work of one university. However, to device a report, which covers all
the aspects of the entire available computer network courses available in almost every university
of UK, is a work of thorough research and analysis. I found the course of university of
Bedfordshire is one of the best in UK. The designers of the course work in this university has
kept the course relevant to the requirements of the employers. I have to clear number of
personality tests to secure good grades besides sound knowledge and technical skills about
computer networking.

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HOW EFFECTIVE HAVE BEEN THE COMPUTER NETWORKING COURSE FOR ME
I have found that the course covers knowledge about the basic things about computer
networking which are important for any employer in UK. Topics like LAN, MAN, or WAN
connections used for office based computer systems. Technical knowledge about such basic
topics of networking helps to keep office culture smooth and unaffected always. I found the
course is quite effective to develop competence through teamwork. Competence is highly
appreciated by employers in UK as it suggests that innovative and inventive characteristics of the
candidate. I have found in my research that, competence of a candidate assures that the candidate
has good communicative skills. Such candidates are prone to build a good communication with
their teammates which is helpful in solving every problems faced by the company overall. The
course work, I got myself enrolled in, uses the popular Belbin team role analysis tests during the
training season to determine the exact role I am able to carry on in a typical team. Clearly, the
course work is related to the expectations of the companies where network administrators have to
work in groups to maintain a flaw-less network in the office.
After I took part in their Belbin team-member selection test during the training season, it
is evident to me that the role of monitor-evaluator in a team. Initially the course conductors
briefed us about the Belbin team-member selection process, as the overall training process is a
team-based approach. The conductors gave us a questionnaire, which we had to answer as per
our personality traits. I found that my ability to analyse all the possible solutions to a problem is
a much-appraised aspect for team efforts. The trainers actually appreciated my ability to weigh
the advantages and disadvantages of all the solutions on table, as it will help the implementer to
pinpoint the most suitable solution for a project suggested by the Plant. As per the trainers, I am
able to slowly evaluate all the solutions suggested by other team members and this is only
possible because I have acquired in-depth knowledge and expertise in the field I am working in.

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HOW EFFECTIVE HAVE BEEN THE COMPUTER NETWORKING COURSE FOR ME
this is quite an appreciable trait for the employers in different companies in UK. However, my
mentors pointed out some of the features, which could be harmful for my popularity. Being a
monitor evaluator, I have to be judgemental about every solutions suggested by others and in a
process I have to be rude and take the upper hand sometimes. This trait can be harmful for my
communication and formal relation with other team-members. The trainers suggested improving
my communication skills to subjugate my judgemental behaviour. My Belbin team-member
choice result is quite impressive as my primary concern have always been the overall
performance in a teamwork but to achieve that rudeness is not appreciable.
My trainers also used methodical and analytical approach to understand the learning
processes each trainee is good in and they utilized their analysis to improve the soft skill of the
participants. To analyse the learning techniques of the participants they used individual
questionnaire after every weekly lecture. I found that with this technique is quite an effective
way to understand different learning techniques and how they are related to personality traits of
someone. The trainers of the program used the popular Honey and Mumford technique to
differentiate various learning techniques and used questionnaires based on this. I found out that I
appreciate a reflective method of learning in daily life as this allows me to acquire knowledge
more efficiently than others. On the other hand, I appreciate being an active learner or an activist
in case of in-depth training to acquire technical skill. Technical skills are better example of
theory based knowledge and practical technology. The trainers, after analysing my answers of
the questionnaire concluded that I can be a concrete learner and the credit goes to my reflective
and activist nature of learning. However, they found out that I do not appreciate learning by
theories and by implementing them directly. This is can have an impact on my judgement of
choosing the perfect solution for every problem.

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HOW EFFECTIVE HAVE BEEN THE COMPUTER NETWORKING COURSE FOR ME
While the mentors were thoroughly analysing my team-membership quality, learning
ability, it was time to analyse my learning power. To analyse this, the mentors organized one-to-
one interview process where one of my mentors interviewed me. The mentors used the ELLI
learning power test to analyse it. The process was quite simple and was conducted almost by the
end of our training tenure. A simple interview about the extent of my ability to grasp any theory
was analysed. The mentors by the end of the training released the result of the interview. In my
case, the mentors highlighted some of the very important dimensions of my learning practice,
which resembles the qualities of a monitor evaluator. I found out that I have critical curiosity
about each everything related to my work and this helps me learn and change with time. In
addition, I like to make out meaning from everything I learn and develop an idea about the topic
I am learning about. It has already being established by the Belbin test that my personality
matches with that of a monitor, which is why I am always keen to keep my knowledge up-to-
date. The employers for recruiting network administrators consider this one of the most
preferable traits.
Only after completion of the training, I found my results included through test reports
done to analyse my personality type using MBTI tools and different aspects of my personalities
have been highlighted for self-awareness. The training helped me nurture the positive traits of
my personality. To understand my personality traits the mentors took a questionnaire based
analysis using the MBTI tool set. I found that my personality comes under the type of ISTP type
of MBTI tool set. ISTP stands for Introversion, Sensing, Thinking and Perception, which
matches with me personality in practical life. In addition, this result relates to the other outcomes
of the previous tests like Belbin team-member tests and others. A good monitor always observes
the proposed solutions with in-depth knowledge. I have always been introvert and this has helped

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HOW EFFECTIVE HAVE BEEN THE COMPUTER NETWORKING COURSE FOR ME
my choosing the right solution even when not everyone is cooperating. Thinking or observing is
another important part to analyse the pros and cons of every solution on table. Perception helps
me to relate a solution with the project. However, the mentors emphasized on the introversion of
mine as this is isolating me from my teammates. I was not able to build a strong communication
channel with my teammates and cannot deliver my analysis to them. It was clear that my
creativity and proper judgemental power is my best asset to get job in top companies in UK as
network administrator from the soft skill development program conducted by the university
during the training period. However, I can understand that my introvert nature will turn into a
blockage for me in the way of communicating with my teammates and conveying my analysis to
them. I can see now how important is the training for me. Now I understand that a graduation
degree in computer science is not enough to get a proper job in UK. To be a successful network
administrator, soft skill training and improvement is as important as technical and practical
knowledge about networking.
During the training session of University of Bedfordshire, I grew my technical skills to
develop LAN, WAN, MAN networks and work with a group to maintain security and sound
service of computer networking. The training helped me to understand my strengths and
capabilities besides giving me a sound knowledge about the recent trends of networking used in
different companies. In addition to this, I am able to understand how important it is to keep
myself up-to-date with the recent technical implementations carried on worldwide to avoid
hacking and other security issues of networking. For me, personal and team performance are of
highest priority. As I have been placed as a monitor evaluator in a team, I have to keep my
knowledge upgraded always to understand and evaluate all the proposed solutions properly.
However, as per my results, I have to communicate more often with my teammates to understand

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HOW EFFECTIVE HAVE BEEN THE COMPUTER NETWORKING COURSE FOR ME
their view points about a project and use their knowledge for a better results for every
assignment. The university has provided a MAP (motivation, ability and personality) analysis of
mine. In the report performance is a determined as the main motivation for me while my ability
is analysed as critical analysis. On the other hand, introvert yet knowledge personality is also my
plus point as per the result.
Action Plane
I have sorted out some of the traits where I need more improvement with time, to refine
my chances in the industry. I have grouped them as personal traits, academic and professional
traits to make them understandable. I am going to introduce an action plan to improve them.
Personal traits include the outcome of the Personality tests by MBTI tools. My personality type
as per the results is ISTP type or introversion, sensing, thinking and perception type. Among
them, the introversion nature can be a blockage for communication with others. Therefore, I need
to work on this personal trait for betterment.
The academic trait includes the continue learning and practically implementing the
technical knowledge for betterment. For analysing my academic traits, I found my results of
ELLI learning power dimension test is quite relevant. For a technical student it is important to
keep up-to-date knowledge about application and practical knowledge as everyday technology is
upgraded from different parts of the world.
The professional traits include results of Belbin team-member selection test. As per the
results, I am placed as a monitor-evaluator. However, lack of communication and insensibility
are identified as the negative traits. I need to work on them in a time-based plan up to July of

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HOW EFFECTIVE HAVE BEEN THE COMPUTER NETWORKING COURSE FOR ME
2019 to bring out the best of me before I kick start my career. The plan I have designed for
myself is given below.
Goal Action Target Date
1 Improve the
introversion nature
Participate as student volunteer in
“Design Thinking and Innovation
Week”
18th-22nd March 2019
2 Improve lack of
communication with
teammates and
insensibility towards
other’s analysis
Participate in different conferences
like “Develop in Brighton”
conference as student volunteer to
participate in group activities and
discussions
9th-11th July 2019
3 Build up-to-date
knowledge
Participate as student volunteer in
‘Furture: PropTech 2019”
13th May 2019
Conclusion
From my training session in the University of Bedfordshire, one thing is very clear to me
soft skills are not improved or developed in a single day or by participating once in a training or

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conference. It requires daily practice to improve gradually. Otherwise with time it will be
diminished and hamper my overall performances. To be a successful network administrator I
have to interact with people in my company and gather as much knowledge as I can to evaluate
all the solutions proposed. This will also help me to understand my assignments and problems
and chose the right solution for it.