As a follow-up from our CIN Instructor Toolbox webinar about how AI may be incorporated into course delivery, I thought we could keep the conversation going here in the community. Do you have a best practice for using AI in your course? Do you have examples or prompts you would like to share? Do you have an AI resources you would like to share? Maybe you have a question about using AI in the classroom. Let's talk about it here.

Looking forward to sharing! If you missed the webinar, you can view the on-demand session.

Good morning all, I'm looking to start a CompTIA training cell with my company and I'm just looking for some general guidance. I taught A+, Network+, and Security+ while I was on active duty in the Marine Corps for about 3 years. I've since transitioned to civilian life and I see the opportunity to expand the company I work for into the CompTIA training sector in our region. I have attended various formalized instructor trainings through the military but I'd still like to attend a TTT if possible. Also, I've contacted CompTIA about becoming a delivery partner, I hope that works out too!

Is there anything you guys would recommend that someone just starting out should do? I have the classroom experience teaching and the certifications and education. I've never done any kind of sales or business development though.

TIA

-Logan

When is the next train the trainer session?

I am glad to report I passed CompTIA CySA+ today. I set a high bar for myself by taking the CySA+ rather than the Security+ and my score was just barely above passing, but a passing grade is a passing grade, right?

Alas, I never did get the two vouchers that were promised to me for attending the Security+ and CySA+ Train-the-Trainer sessions, but a co-worker of mine was able to get me a voucher through another contact they had at CompTIA. So if you're still waiting, maybe try another avenue or bug a colleague with good connections!

- Marcio

Curious. Is anyone teaching IT Fundamentals and looking to move to the new Tech+? I am putting together a Sneak Peek for the new Tech+ and looking for a lead instructor. If you would like to share your experience and discuss the differences between the new course with your fellow CIN members, DM me, and let's connect.

I am just curious what all is included in the CertMaster curriuculm? I currently have a class of students whose teacher left mid year so I am scrabbling trying to find currciulum for them that might be self lead.

If the question shown below were asked in a job interview, which answers would you advise students to select? Would your advice be the same if the question were on the 701 cert exam? Given the definition of "cryptographic algorithm" in the 701 manual, I don't know which answers would be scored as correct on the 701 exam.

Question:
Laws and regulations require your organization to use cryptographic algorithms to secure some data. Which of these are cryptographic algorithms? (Select all that apply)

Answers:
A. Hashing
B. Encoding
C. Decoding
D. Encryption
E. Decryption

From your professional opinion, what are your thoughts on my question below?:

Discuss the diverse and evolving nature of the IT industry, including various sectors and career opportunities.

Hello, CIN family. Have anyone heard anything about the new Network+ TTT start date?

I noticed a lot of discussion about how Comptia determines the differences between Managerial and Operational Controls?
On example is Awareness Programs (Training) because depending on the author, some categorize them as Managerial while others consider it as an Operational Control.
What are your thoughts? and what are your recommendations on how to better explain this to students (and even to explain them why testout content differs from most internet sources)?

Yes, it is time to talk about the next version of Network+! The new version will launch in mid-may 2024! Join CIN and special guest @Hod Berman as he takes a Sneak Peek into the changes in the new exam objectives. We will discuss how to cover the content with students and suggest various labs to let students gain hands-on experience as they prepare for certification.

Networking is networking! Or is it! Come join us to hear how things are changing!

What: two-hour webinar investigating updated Network+ exam
When: Tuesday, March 5, 10:00 AM CST
Where: ON24
Who: Hod Berman
Register Now

IT'S TIME! Mark your calendars and start planning! CompTIA is thrilled to invite you to the upcoming CompTIA Partner Summit in Atlanta, GA, from July 31 to August 1, 2024, at the Hyatt Regency Atlanta. This event is a tribute to our shared mission of fostering innovation, overcoming challenges, and creating new opportunities in IT education. It's time to sync in and align our efforts for a transformative future.

At the Summit, as a partner, you will have the opportunity to:

• Connect with other educators and industry professionals, building valuable relationships that will enhance your network.
• Share and receive powerful insights and successful teaching strategies, allowing you to align with the latest trends and practices in IT education.
• Explore the latest methods for engaging and effective IT instruction, ensuring you're in tune with the most effective teaching techniques.

Be sure to join us for a CINfull good time!!

Big Blue is 100! I bet at one time or another we all had our hands on at least one version of an IBM PC. Isn't it funny how time and technology keep passing by?

Due to circumstances at my school, I have been asked to come up with some activities for the remainder of the year for our Data & AI students. I was wondering if there is any training curriculum out there for the Data+ certification?

Hello,

I am sure I am not the only person with this problem. I am currently teaching an equivilent course in A+. I am also a certified proctor at the Certification Center that I also management.

Is there anyway other then drooping down as a Certified Proctor for Pearson Vie that I could take the A+ exam?

Any comments?

Russell

I accidently booked one of my students for Security+ SY0-701, but he wanted to write 601 while it's still available.
(And that's the content he's studied for)
We run our PearsonVue test center, so I think there is an option to cancel the order.
But I'm worried that the voucher will not be available again. (or will it be usable again so I can book him for the correct exam?)
Can anyone confirm this?
Thanks!


EDIT: I phoned pearsonvue and they were going to get me a new voucher code. While on the phone, I cancelled the order, and then re-tried to book with the correct exam, and the voucher code worked again! So all is good.

Greetings,
I publish a couple of times a month on the page below. I try to make sure the skills emphasized are aligned with Sec+/PenTest+, but are on level with what one might expect on an exam like the OSCP. I do teach cybersecurity certification classes and I find that labs like these work really well for individuals who want to go beyond the test training, apply what they are learning, and develop notes that are easily referenced when tackling challenges on sites like Hack-the-Box.

Perhaps someone out there will find these labs useful either individually or in the classroom!
https://medium.com/@josh.beck2006

SINCE THE A+ 2001 CORE1 SCSI HAS BE IN THE IN THE Curriculum and the 220-1101 while it has appeared both the 2001 and 220-1101 as some who also goes out to clients to sort their Desktop PCS I am yet I see one any where in the field once SATA came I am yet a physical with SCSI,

The last question I got book and the objectives covers IDE 40 pin cable. I think back I have had to work on most PCs with Sata , So I dont recall getting a machine to fix with scsi and IDE 40pin,

Can any share where we have these and don't make use of this ? in my filed work with desktops?

thanks
Peter

In the past Academic Partners were able to receive discount codes for the CompTIA exams. However, now we cannot get the codes. Trying to figure out why. Any attempt to get answers, well.... there are none. In the previous year, requesting the codes only took a day or two. Now, we have been requesting for weeks and still no resolution. We have numerous students waiting to test and without the discount codes, financially, there is no way for them to test otherwise. Any info would be greatly appreciated.

When students reach out and ask me for additional training materials, we often share Jason Dion in Udemy and Mike Meyers. Does anyone else have a go-to training program that they share that doesn't go against CompTIA guidelines?

Has anyone mapped the NIST KSAs to CompTIA's courses? Specifically, I'm looking at Sec+ and Net+ to start with. I plan on mapping them myself, but if someone has already done it, then I don't want to reinvent the wheel.

Topic 3A in the 701 course uses "encoding" and "encryption" as synonyms. I think students should understand the difference between the two terms.

I would appreciate knowing what other instructors think about these terms. Does encoding = encryption?

I would also appreciate feedback from a CompTIA SME. What is CompTIA's definition of encoding, and CompTIA's definition of encryption?


My notes on the use of "encoding" in Topic 3A [edited 2/15/2024 to distinguish my opinions from the CompTIA course content]:


Lesson 3: Explain Cryptographic Solutions, Topic 3A, Slide 4

CompTIA content:
"Cryptographic Concepts
Encryption and decryption—encoding and decoding
Plaintext is the unencoded message
Ciphertext is the coded message"

I think this content is misleading, unhelpful, or inaccurate because:
Students need to learn the difference between encoding and encryption. This slide should not confuse encryption and decryption with encoding and decoding. If encoding is mentioned at all, the slide should point out that encoding is not cryptography or encryption.

Lesson 3: Explain Cryptographic Solutions, Topic 3A, Page 38, first paragraph

CompTIA content:
“A cryptographic algorithm is the particular operations performed to encode or decode data.”

I think this content is not accurate because:
Encoding is not the same as encrypting.
Encryption uses a cryptographic key as one of the inputs to a cryptographic algorithm. Encoding does not use a cryptographic algorithm or require the use of a cryptographic key. Geeks for Geeks has an explanation of the difference.
One example of encoding is the use of ASCII codes to represent letters of the alphabet. No cryptographic algorithm or cryptographic key is used.

Page 38, second paragraph:

CompTIA content:
‘Cryptography, which literally means “secret writing,” is the art of making information secure by encoding it. ‘

I think this content is not accurate because:
Cryptography is “transformation of data in order to hide their semantic content, prevent their unauthorized use, or prevent their undetected modification.” Encryption and hashing can provide this confidentiality or integrity, however encoding does not.
Using ASCII or Morse code are examples of encoding; however they are not examples of cryptography.

Lesson 11: Enhance Application Security Capabilities | Topic 11A, page 317, Question 2

CompTIA content:
“the session key does the actual data encoding”

I think this content is not accurate because:
First, the answer should say “encryption,” not “encoding.”
Second, the key does not do the actual encryption. The encryption algorithm does the encryption, using the key as one of the inputs.

During the last TTT series, John Guise was talking to me about how he was using AI to help with lesson plans and how his organization is adopting AI from an instructor's point of view. I thought it was very interesting and have asked John if he would be will to share and demonstrate some of the practices they are adopting and utilizing as they develop courses for their students. Join us for our first CIN Instructor Toolbox of 2024 as we take a look at how instructors can utilize AI.

What: two-hour webinar highlighting tools and best practices for implementing AI in your training environment.
When: Wednesday February 28, 2024, 1:00 p.m. CST
Where: ON24
Who: John Guise, ECPI University

Register Now

https://event.on24.com/wcc/r/4486710/09C0D5E67B6F30021526550AD7534FC3

After repeatedly refreshing, I'm still encountering the same error. Is there a solution available to address this issue?


ing

I am thrilled to share that I have passed the CySA+ certification exam.
I am grateful to CIN for the voucher after the TTT series.