Instructions / Authentic Assessment Network Project Part 1
Please read the AAP Case Study documents before beginning.
Here is work to be completed. The listing is organized in no particular order.
  • High level drawing.
  • WAN links bandwidth in your group
  • Inventory and IP scheme
  • Scope of work
  • Wireless Network
  • VoIP Design
  1. The first task in network design or upgrading the network, is defining the scope of work. This scope of work is outlined in client’s Request for Proposal. This is your base line for developing the scope of work. Here you will start gathering information about client business goals and technical requirements. For business goals, interview upper management and for technical requirements, IT department will provide you the information. In real world this step is necessary to validate the information provided by the client’s RFP. In this project this part is missing. Either you can role play and interview each other to get the information or you can skip it. If you skip it your scope of work is client’s RFP. Please see below for an example scope of work.
  2. Prepare inventory list. This can be done by using software or physically verifying the existing equipment. Your inventory list should include currently operable equipment and new equipment. (You can use inventory template of course module for guidelines)
  3. Prepare a high level existing drawing. This drawing should include all key components of your network. (Key components: Connecting devices, Security devices, wireless devices, VLANs, and subnets of network) . In real world, client’s drawing does not match the topology on the site. In this section designer update the client’s supplied network drawing.
  4. Prepare an IP scheme of your network
  5. Calculate WAN links bandwidth for your voice network.
  6. Prepare wireless design
Example Scope of work:
The scope of this project consists of major modifications to the existing network, along with the implementation of many new network devices and protocols. The main intent of this redesign is to improve network availability, network reliability, improved network security, creating a centralized network backbone, implementing the use of wireless access, as well as migrating form a PBX telephony system to an IP based telephony solution.
The proposed design will affect all areas of the current network. Implementing a centralized backbone and upgrading the speed of current links (from 10Mbs to 100Mbs) will greatly affect the entire network. Where the implementation of a new IP schema, the introduction of VLAN’s, and implementation of new routing protocols and security protocols will improve the network layer. Just as the implementation of wireless, redundant switches, along with the design of a network edge area will improve the data link layer of the network.
The scope for this project is that the redesign of the network meets the customer’s intent for the redesign. During the implementation phase of the redesign the entire network will be affected in some way, some improvements will have an immediate impact, while other improvements are going to take more time to implement and may cause some network disruption for a short time. However upon the conclusion of the design implementation the customer will have a greatly improved network, which will fulfill their needs for today and many years to come.
Rubric Name: Authentic Assessment Part 1
Criteria / Level 4 / Level 3 / Level 2 / Level 1
Design Requirements / 32 points
Exceptional clarity of thought. Shows understanding of all major points. Reasonable hypothesis or targeted questions; conclusions supportable by data; creativity; some graphic representation of data or concepts. Includes detailed budget estimate for ready reference. / 28 points
Good clarity of thought; shows understanding of most major points. Narrative is persuasive. Provides cost estimate of the project but does not attach supporting detail. / 22 points
Begins successfully, but omits significant customer requirements. Narrative is not persuasive. Does not support conclusion with a detailed analysis. / 18 points
Product does not reflect goals of the assignment; or provide information requested; restates description question without making an attempt to justify solution
Business Requirements / 20 points
Presents all requirements correctly and recommends additional requirements with justification. / 16 points
Clearly identifies requirements and organizational goals. / 14 points
Shows basic understanding of requirements, but some of the requirements overlap. / 12 points
Does not ascertain requirements beyond suggestions provided.
Technical Requirements / 20 points
Presents all requirements correctly and recommends additional requirements with justification. / 16 points
Clearly identifies requirements and organizational goals. / 14 points
Shows basic understanding of requirements, but some of the requirements overlap. / 12 points
Does not ascertain requirements beyond suggestions provided.
Essay Writing / 8 points
Presents a logical explanation for findings and addresses most of the questions. Uses correct grammar and spelling. / 6 points
Presents a logical explanation for findings and addresses some of the questions. Only one or two grammatical or spelling errors. / 5 points
Presents a logical explanation for findings and addresses some of the questions. Only one or two grammatical or spelling errors. / 4 points
Presents an illogical explanation for findings and does not address any of the questions.
Numerous grammatical and/or spelling errors.
Inventory List / 12 points
Done Correctly
Identify locations and connection to devices and VLAN correctly
Inventory matches IP scheme / 10 points
Done correctly
Missed few locations and connections / 8 points
Done partly correct.
Location, connections are missing / 6 points
Not done
IP Scheme / 24 points
Presents correct IP design and implements complex routing protocols and subnetting / 20 points
Uses a hierarchical design concept successfully and implements simple routing protocols and subnetting / 17 points
Attempts to use a hierarchical design but without success.
Does not demonstrate knowledge of routing protocols and subnetting / 14 points
Does not use IP hierarchical design.
Does not demonstrate knowledge of routing protocols and subnetting
VoIP Design / 24 points
Uses design calculation diagram precisely to support the design. Provides evidence of in-depthunderstanding of design concepts. / 20 points
Effectively uses design principles. Attaches diagram.
Uses design calculation correctly to get the desired results / 17 points
Uses partial design procedure to complete task. Missed steps in design calculations. / 14 points
No evidence of use of design procedure. Design calculations are wrong
Wireless Network / 24 points
Designs comprehensive wireless network with roaming ability. Provides configuration and diagrams to support the network / 20 points
Designs wireless network as per customer requirements and provides network design diagrams. / 17 points
Attempts to design wireless network but does not complete task. / 14 points
Design is incomplete and/or incorrect.
High Level Diagram / 36 points
Incorporates all key devices, VLANs and link addresses without any error. Demonstrate mastery of LAN design through High Level Diagram / 29 points
Incorporates all key devices, VLANs and link address with few errors. / 25 points
Limited ability in drawing the high level diagram.
Drawings are difficult to understand due to naming of devices, subnets, and VLANs / 20 points
No evidence of use of knowledge of network design theory in drawing the diagram
Authentic Assessment Network Project Part 2
Instructions
Please read the AAP Case Study documents before beginning this assignment.
For this course a AAP is a response for customer’s RFP or customer’s design requirements and type of solution used in network design. Typically a customers RFP includes following topics.
  • Business goals for the project
  • Scope of the project
  • Information on existing network
  • Information on new applications
  • Technical requirements, including scalability, availability, network performance, security, manageability, usability, adaptability, and affordability
  • Warranty requirements for products
  • Training and support requirements
  • Preliminary schedule with milestones and deliverables
  • Legal contractual terms and conditions
Your AAP should include responses to all of customer’s RFP and should include logical and physical component pf the design, information on technologies used in design solution, and proposal to implementing the design. The following sections describe the format of AAP:
A: Executive Summary (ES)
The executive summary briefly states and emphasizes the major points of the customer’s requirements. The ES should be no more than one page and should be directed at key decision maker of the project who will decide whether to accept your design. The ES can have minimum technical information but NO technical details. The technical information should be summarized and organized in order of the customer’s highest-priority objectives for the design project. The ES should be organized customer top requirements.
B: Project Goal
This section should state the primary goal for the network design. The goal should be business oriented and related to an overall objective that organization has to become more successful in core business. Your objective is to make it clear to decision maker that you understand the primary purpose and importance of the network design project. Below is an example of project goal was written for an actual design.
“The goal of this project is to develop a wide area network (WAN) that will support new high bandwidth and low-delay multimedia applications. The new applications are key to the successful implementation of new training programs for the sales force. The new WAN facilitate of increasing sales in the USA by 50% in the next fiscal year.”
C: Project Scope
The project scope section provides information on extent of the project, including a summary of departments, field offices networks that will be affected by the project. The project scope section specifies whether the project is new network or modifications to an existing network. It indicates whether the design is for a single network segment, a set of LANs, a building or campus network, or a set of WAN or remote access network, VoIP, or enhancing security
D: Design Requirements
In this section, you provide major business and technical requirements of the network in priority order. In business goal explain the role network design will play in helping an organization provide better products and services.
In Technical requirement section explain in general term how propose technical improvement is better than or meet the customer requirement.
Network Application: This section lists and characterizes the new and existing network applications.
E: Current State of the Network
This section briefly describes the structure and performance of the network. It should include a high-level network map that identifies the location of connecting devices, server farm, storage systems, and network segment
F: Design Solution
This section includes:
  • Logical Network topology which include high level one or more drawings to illustrate logical architecture of the proposed network
  • A plan of addressing network segments and devices
  • A plan of naming network devices which include routers, workstations, servers, and network segment.
  • A list of routing, switching protocols that have been selected to implement design
  • Recommended Voice over IP solution, and mechanism to implement them
  • Recommend security policies, security mechanisms and products, including a summary of security policies.
  • Recommend network management processes and products
G: Implementation Plan
The implementation plan includes your recommendations for deploying the network design. The design implementation description should be detailed as possible. Implementation of a network design consists of several phases (buy and install hardware, configure system, test system and so forth). Each phase consists of several steps, and documentation for each step should contain the following:
  • A project schedule
  • Plans with vendors or service providers for installation of links, equipment or services
  • Plan or recommendations for outsourcing the implementation or management of the network
  • A plan for communicating the design to end users, network administrators, and management
  • A training plan for network administrators and end users
  • A plan for measuring the effectiveness of the design after it has been implemented
  • A list of known risks that could delay the project
  • A fallback plan if the network implementation fails
  • A pan for evolving the network design as new application requirements goals arise
Sample Project Schedule Template
Date of Completion / Project Milestone
August 1 / Design completed and a beta version of the design document distributed to key executives, managers, network administrators, and end users (end users depends on management)
August 15 / Comments on the design document due
August 22 / Final design document distributed
August 25 / Installation of leased lines between all buildings completed by WAN service provider
August 28-29 / Network administrators trained on new system
August 30-31 / End users trained on new system
September 6 / Pilot implementation completed in Building 1 or head office or branch office
September 20 / Feedback received on pilot from network administrators and users
September 27 / Implementation completed on Buildings 2-5 or floors 1-6
October 10 / Feedback received from buildings 2-5 from network administrators and users
October 17 / Implementation completed in the rest of buildings or floors
Ongoing or December 31 / New system monitored to verify that it meets goals
H: Project Budget
This section should contain the funds the customer needs for equipment purchases, maintenance, and support agreements, service contracts, software licenses, training, and staffing. The budget can also include consulting fees and outsourcing expenses.
I: Budget Report

J: Design Document Appendix
Most design documents include one or more appendixes that present supplemental information about the design and implementation. Supplemental information can include detailed topology drawings, device configurations, network addressing and naming details and comprehensive results from the testing of the network design. You can include business information such as list of contact name, numbers and e-mail addresses. The appendix can include warranty on devices, legal agreement, and any information which is not critical for design, but you have noted in your gathering information process.
Writing Instructions
Paper must have a minimum of 15 pages and a maximum of20 pages of text excluding the required title page and bibliography and optional tables. Text must be Times New Roman, 12 font, 1" margin on all sides, and double spaced.
Students must follow "Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Fifth Edition (APA- 5)", also known as APA style or format. Only a Microsoft Word file will be accepted as the final submission; no HTML or PDF files allowed.
All sources must be properly cited and must be credible. At least two sources must be Internet sources (for help in evaluating the credibility of web sources, go to Once you have completed a good draft, it is strongly advised that you submit it to UMUC's Effective Writing Center (EWC). In order to allow sufficient time for their review, you need to submit the draft to EWC two weeks prior to the paper's due date.

Rubric Name: Authentic Assessment Part 2

Criteria / Level 4 / Level 3 / Level 2 / Level 1
Executive Summary / 10 points
Exceptional clarity of thought. Shows understanding of all major points. Reasonable hypothesis or targeted questions; conclusions supportable by data; creativity; some graphic representation of data or concepts. Includes detailed budget estimate for ready reference / 8 points
Good clarity of thought; shows understanding of most major points. Narrative is persuasive. Provides cost estimate of the project but does not attach supporting detail. / 7 points
Begins successfully, but omits significant customer requirements. Narrative is not persuasive. Does not support conclusion with a detailed analysis. / 6 points
Product does not reflect goals of the assignment; or provide information requested; restates description question without making an attempt to justify solution.
Project Goals / 5 points
Presents all requirements correctly and recommends additional requirements with justification. / 4 points
Clearly identifies requirements and organizational goals. / 3 points
Shows basic understanding of requirements, but some of the requirements overlap / 2 points
Does not ascertain requirements beyond suggestions provided
Technical Requirements / 5 points
Presents all requirements correctly and recommends additional requirements with justification / 4 points
Clearly identifies requirements and organizational goals. / 3 points
Shows basic understanding of requirements, but some of the requirements overlap. / 2 points
Does not ascertain requirements beyond suggestions provided.
Essay Writing / 10 points
Presents a logical explanation for findings and addresses most of the questions. Uses correct grammar and spelling. / 8 points
Presents a logical explanation for findings and addresses some of the questions. Only one or two grammatical or spelling errors / 7 points
Presents an illogical explanation for findings and addresses only a few of the proposed questions.
More than two grammatical or spelling errors. / 6 points
Presents an illogical explanation for findings and does not address any of the questions.
Numerous grammatical and/or spelling errors.
Inventory List / 5 points
Done Correctly
Identify locations and connection to devices and VLAN correctly
Inventory matches IP scheme / 4 points
Done correctly
Missed few locations and connections / 3 points
Done
Partly correct.
Location, connections are missing / 2 points
Not Done
IP Scheme / 5 points
Presents correct IP design and implements complex routing protocols and subnetting / 4 points
Uses a hierarchical design concept successfully and implements simple routing protocols and subnetting / 3 points
Attempts to use a hierarchical design but without success.
Does not demonstrate knowledge of routing protocols and subnetting / 2 points
Does not use IP hierarchical design.
Does not demonstrate knowledge of routing protocols and subnetting
VoIP Design / 5 points
Uses design calculation diagram precisely to support the design. Provides evidence of in-depthunderstanding of design concepts. / 4 points