New Cisco Networking Academy Class...

New Cisco Networking Academy Class

This week, I dropped the AI Fundamentals with IBM SkillsBuild online class at the Cisco Networking Academy.

Introduction to Artificial Intelligence with IBM SkillsBuild 

I completed the first module, "Introduction to Artificial Intelligence". It was interesting to learn about what artificial intelligence is and what it is not. It was also interesting to learn about the history of artificial intelligence and its different categories. It was also interesting to learn about the different techniques on how machine learning solves problems. As you progress through the class, you eventually work with IBM Watson AI to run a couple of simulations. It's all fascinating. Moreover, while AI may be the latest IT buzzword, AI isn't going away anytime soon. Thus, it's important to learn what it is and what it can do. My understanding is that the newest version of the Official Cert Guide for CCNA from Cisco Press will have a chapter about using AI in regards to networking.

However, since I have one last online course to complete all of the networking courses from Cisco Networking Academy, I made the decision to stop the AI Fundamentals with IBM SkillsBuild online class. Despite my newly found interest in the subject, the course itself is a distraction from my goal of completing the online courses for networking. I will come back and complete the course at a later date.

As a result, I went ahead and started the Network Support and Security online class instead.

Network Support and Security Online Course

While the Network Support and Security online class may only have three training modules, each individual module is quite lengthy.

Here are the three modules:

• Network Support
• Cybersecurity Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Attacks
• Network Security

Plus, as I mentioned in a previous post, I have a long list of online courses at the Cisco Networking Academy that I want to complete.

Time to get studying!!!

Completed Another Cisco Online Course...

Online Course Complete

On this past Friday, I F-I-N-A-L-L-Y completed the Final Exam for the Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting online course over at the Cisco Networking Academy.

Like other online courses I have taken at the Cisco Networking Academy in recent months, the Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting course was a long slog. Then again, while taking these online courses, I took serious and exhaustive notes. The notes I took during the online course filled an entire Lemome grid paper notebook. I worked through all of the Cisco Packet Tracer exercises. I also worked through the exercises that did not involve using Cisco Packet Tracer.

During the Final Exam, if I didn't immediately know the answer to a question, I carefully searched for the answer in my notes. Sometimes, it's like looking for a needle in a haystack. Oftentimes, the wording in the question and the answer exactly matches the wording given in the lecture notes. As so often happens in tests for IT subjects, there were one or two questions where the answer is ambiguous, so you have to try to narrow down the most likely answer and hope for the best. All .of that hard work paid off as I scored a 90% on the Final Exam.

Certification Badges on Credly

After getting the result of the Final Exam, I logged into Credly to check on my accomplishment. I now have a verified badge for Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting.

Verified Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting Badge

As a result, I now have three verified certification badges from Cisco Networking Academy on Credly.

The three verified certification badges that I have earned are:

• Networking Basics
• Networking Devices and Initial Configuration
• Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting

Verified Cisco Badges on Credly

Now, I just need to update my resume to reflect these achievements.

Next Courses to Take

With the Network Addressing and Basic Troubleshooting course completed, it's time to move on to the next online course.

Here is my list of online courses at Cisco Networking Academy that I am planning to take:

• Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
• JavaScript Essentials 1
• JavaScript Essentials 2
• Ethical Hacker
• Introduction to Cybersecurity
• Cyber Threat Management
• Python Essentials 1
• Python Essentials 2
• Network Support and Security
• Network Defense
• Endpoint Security

It's a long list.

To complete all of the online courses about networking, the next course I should start should be Network Support and Security. However, someone that I recently met via Twitter/X, who is something of an AI-enthusiast, has suggested that I learn about artificial intelligence (AI). As a result, I just might start the Introduction to Artificial Intelligence online course before I tackle the Network Support and Security online course.

From what I can tell, the Introduction to Artificial Intelligence is relatively short online course.

Since I could use a break from networking, I just might do that online course next.

That said, I really want to start the Python Essentials 1 online course.

As always, we'll see.