CTE · Information & Communication Technology

ICT & Cybersecurity

A hands-on, career-focused course designed to prepare students for real-world roles in networking, IT support, and cybersecurity. Industry skills. Professional mindset. Day one.

View Syllabus Browse Units
36
Weekly Units
180
Instructional Days
4
Core Domains
1
Goal: Your Career
WHAT YOU'LL LEARN
🌐

Networking Fundamentals

TCP/IP, DNS, subnetting, VLANs, and the OSI model — the foundation everything else is built on.

🔒

Cybersecurity Principles

Threat modeling, CIA triad, common attack vectors, defense-in-depth strategies, and security policies.

💻

IT Support & Systems

Hardware troubleshooting, operating systems, virtualization, Active Directory, and helpdesk workflows.

⚙️

Hands-On Labs

Packet Tracer simulations, virtual machines, CTF challenges, and real-world scenarios you can put on a resume.

⚠️

Live Demo: Brute Force Attack

See a real MD5 brute force attack run in your browser. Enter a password, watch it get cracked, and learn why length matters.

→ Launch Demo
🔁

Live Demo: Password Hashing

Watch a password get transformed into a hash in real time. See the avalanche effect and toggle salting to see why identical passwords get different hashes.

→ Launch Demo
✦

AI: Password Strength Analyzer

Type any password and get an AI-powered explanation of why it's weak or strong — with specific tips to improve it.

→ Try It
🏆

Mini CTF Challenge

5 hands-on puzzles — Caesar cipher, Base64, source inspection, binary decoding, and hash cracking. Earn points as you go.

→ Start Challenge
ANNOUNCEMENTS
WEEK 1
Welcome to ICT & Cybersecurity
Course materials, syllabus, and supply expectations will be distributed on the first day. Come ready to learn and bring a growth mindset.
ONGOING
Lab Days Every Friday
Fridays are reserved for hands-on lab work and skill demonstrations. Attendance is especially important on lab days.
About This Course

Course Overview

Who teaches it, what it covers, and what to expect from day one to the final exam.

About Your Instructor

Over 20 years of enterprise IT and GIS experience, including network administration, systems infrastructure, VoIP, MDM, and cybersecurity. U.S. Army Signal Corps veteran (31U), BJJ black belt, and youth coach with 7+ years experience working with young people.

Holds a Preliminary CTE Credential from LACOE and brings real-world industry context into every lesson. Believes students learn best by doing — not just listening.

NameMr. Thien Ngo
RoomTBD
Office HoursBy appointment
Email[instructor@district.edu]
→ Full bio & teaching philosophy

Course At a Glance

CourseICT & Cybersecurity
Grade Level9–12
Credits10 (CTE Elective)
DurationFull Year · 36 Weeks
PrerequisitesNone
Certification PathCompTIA IT Fundamentals+

Course Philosophy

This course is built around a simple belief: the best way to learn technology is to work with it the same way professionals do. Every unit mirrors how IT and security teams actually operate — you'll troubleshoot real problems, document your work, and defend your decisions.

By the end of this course, you won't just understand how networks and systems work — you'll be able to communicate about them with confidence, which is the skill that actually gets you hired.

Course Syllabus

Policies & Expectations

Everything you need to know about how this class runs, how grades work, and what's expected of you.

📋 Grading Breakdown

▼
  • Labs & Hands-On Work — 40% — Packet Tracer simulations, VM labs, configuration exercises
  • Daily Participation & Warm-Ups — 20% — Attendance, engagement, bell ringers
  • Unit Assessments — 25% — Quizzes and end-of-unit tests
  • Projects & Presentations — 15% — Semester capstone, group and individual projects

📱 Technology & Device Policy

▼

Per California Education Code and district policy, personal cell phones must be stored and out of sight during instructional time. Lab computers are for coursework only. Misuse of technology equipment is subject to disciplinary action and may result in loss of lab privileges.

📝 Late Work & Makeup Policy

▼

Late assignments are accepted up to one week after the due date for partial credit (up to 70%). Lab work must be made up within the same unit. Students with excused absences have one day per missed day to make up work. Contact the instructor as soon as possible after an absence.

🤝 Academic Integrity

▼

Collaboration is encouraged; copying is not. You may discuss problems with classmates, but submitted work must be your own. Plagiarism or copying lab work will result in a zero and a referral. In cybersecurity, integrity isn't just a policy — it's a professional standard.

🎯 Classroom Expectations

▼
  • Be in your seat and working on the bell ringer when the bell rings
  • Treat all equipment with care — report damage immediately
  • Respect your classmates' work and learning environment
  • Bring your district-issued device charged to every class
  • Ask questions — there are no dumb questions in this room

♿ Accommodations & Support

▼

All IEP and 504 accommodations will be honored as written. If you have an accommodation plan, please provide a copy in the first week. Students who need additional support are encouraged to reach out early — this class is designed to be accessible to all learners regardless of prior technical experience.

Curriculum Map

36-Week Course Outline

The full year at a glance. Each unit builds on the last. Labs and assessments are embedded throughout.

Week Unit Title Key Topics Deliverable
Assignments

Current Work

Active assignments, upcoming due dates, and lab instructions. Check here first before emailing.

DUE FRIDAY
Lab 1: Packet Tracer Network Topology
Build a basic network in Packet Tracer with at least 3 PCs, 1 switch, and 1 router. All devices must be able to ping each other. Submit your .pkt file and a 1-paragraph explanation of your design choices.
UPCOMING — WEEK 2
Unit 1 Quiz: Networking Vocabulary
25-question vocabulary quiz covering OSI model layers, IP addressing basics, and networking hardware. Study guide will be posted Wednesday.
ONGOING
Daily Bell Ringers
A short warm-up question is on the board each day when you arrive. These are graded for completion and count toward your participation score. Start immediately — do not wait for class to begin.
Student Resources

Tools & References

Free tools, practice platforms, reference guides, and certification resources. All curated for this course.

Lab Tools
🖧
Cisco Packet Tracer
Network simulation tool used for all lab assignments. Free with Cisco NetAcad account.
Free
🎯
TryHackMe
Guided cybersecurity learning paths and CTF challenges. Used for lab extension activities.
Free Tier
🔬
ANY.RUN
Interactive malware sandbox for analyzing suspicious files safely. Used in security analysis units.
Free Tier
⚠️
Brute Force Attack Demo
Live in-browser simulation — enter a password, watch it get MD5 hashed and cracked in real time.
Live Demo
✦
AI Password Strength Analyzer
Type any password and get an AI-powered explanation of its strength, entropy, and how to improve it.
AI · Free
🔁
Password Hashing Demo
See MD5, SHA-1, SHA-256, and SHA-512 hashing live. Demonstrates the avalanche effect and salting with a toggle.
Live Demo
🏆
Mini CTF Challenge
5 puzzles from beginner to intermediate — cipher, encoding, source inspection, binary, and hash cracking. Points-based scoring.
Challenge
Course Information
📈
Career Pathways & Salary Data
Where this course leads — CompTIA cert roadmap, local Kern County salary data, and job outlook for 2026.
Guide
📋
Standards Alignment
CA CTE ICT, CSTA, Common Core ELA & Math standards mapped to every unit in the 180-day curriculum.
Academic
👤
About Mr. Ngo
Instructor background, teaching philosophy, career timeline, and contact information.
About
Study & Certification
📚
Professor Messer
Free CompTIA A+, Network+, and Security+ study materials. Video courses + practice exams.
Free
🃏
Quizlet — Course Flashcards
Unit vocabulary flashcard sets will be shared here each week. Great for quiz prep.
Free
Reference
📄
Course Syllabus PDF
Printable version of the full syllabus including grading rubrics and contact info.
Download
📅
Holiday-Adjusted Pacing Calendar
Full-year calendar with all district holidays marked and unit pacing adjusted accordingly.
Download
Contact

Get in Touch

Questions about grades, assignments, or anything else — reach out here or during office hours.

Or email directly at [instructor@district.edu]

Office Hours
By appointment — email to schedule
Email Response Time
Within 48 hours on school days
Room Number
TBD — check class schedule
Parent / Guardian
Parent inquiries are always welcome. Please include your student's name and period in the subject line.
Emergency Contact
For urgent matters, contact the main office directly.