Lesson Plans
Objectives, Preparation, and Exercise
This course provides an introduction to computer networks from both a theoretical and software design perspective. The goal is to provide the basic concepts necessary to understand the design and operation of computer networks and gain experience writing programs that use the network. Each level of the TCP/IP protocol stack is examined in detail with a heavy emphasis on socket programming, theoretical foundations, and cybersecurity implications.
All the resources listed below are considered common knowledge and do not need to be cited.
| Lesson | Day1 | Day2 | Assigned | Due Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1- Introduction to Networking | 07 Jan | 06 Jan | Usage Agreement | 11 Jan |
| 2- Protocols, Layers, and Abstraction | 09 Jan | 08 Jan | Problem Set 1 | 18 Jan |
| 3- Assessing Terrain Conditions: Network Metrics | 12 Jan | 13 Jan | Problem Set 2 | 25 Jan |
| 4- Application Layer | 14 Jan | 15 Jan | ||
| 5- HTTP and the Web | 20 Jan | 21 Jan | ||
| 6- DNS and Email | 30 Jan | 27 Jan | Problem Set 3 | 08 Feb |
| 7- Socket Programming Lab | 04 Feb | 05 Feb | Problem Set 4 | 15 Feb |
| 8- Transport Layer | 09 Feb | 10 Feb⚡ | Problem Set 5 | 22 Feb |
| 9- Reliable Data Transfer | 11 Feb | 12 Feb | ||
| 10- Transmission Control Protocol | 18 Feb | 17 Feb | Problem Set 6 | 01 Mar |
| 11- Flow and Congestion Control | 20 Feb | 19 Feb | ||
| 12- UDP and QUIC | —☃ — | 24 Feb | ||
| WPR1 Review | 25 Feb | 26 Feb | ||
| WPR1 | 02 Mar | 03 Mar | ||
| 13- Network Layer | 04 Mar | 05 Mar | Project 1 | 24 Mar |
| 14- Internet Protocol v4 | 09 Mar | 10 Mar | Problem Set 7 | 20 Mar |
| 15- Internet Protocol v6 | 11 Mar | 12 Mar | ||
| 16- Routing Protocols- Link State, Distance Vector | 16 Mar | 17 Mar | Problem Set 8 | 29 Mar |
| 17- Control Plane | 18 Mar | 19 Mar | ||
| 18- Link Layer | 23 Mar | 24 Mar | ||
| 19- Multiple Access Protocols & Switched LANs | 25 Mar | 26 Mar | ||
| SPRING BREAK | 🌿 | 🏖️ | Problem Set 9 | 12 Apr |
| SPRING BREAK | 🏝️ | 🌴 | Project 2 | 19 Apr |
| 20- WiFi, Bluetooth & Cellular Networks | 07 Apr | 08 Apr | ||
| 21- Network Security Basics | 09 Apr | 10 Apr | ||
| 22- VPNs and Wireless Network Security | 13 Apr | 14 Apr | Project 3 | 10 May |
| 23- Transport Layer Security | 15 Apr | 16 Apr | ||
| 24- In-Class Lab | 20 Apr | 21 Apr | Problem Set 10 | 03 May |
| WPR2 Review | 27 Apr | 28 Apr | ||
| WPR2 | 29 Apr | 30 Apr | ||
| 25- Network Security Appliances | 04 May | 05 May | ||
| 26- In-Class Lab | 06 May | 07 May |