SWIFTT | Foundations of Technology

Southwest Iowa Free Technical Training (SWIFTT) provides accelerated training for Iowans interested in a career in technology. The program typically costs $1,500 but has been generously funded by the Charles E. Lakin Foundation, meaning that participants can register at no cost to themselves.

The SWIFTT program aims to introduce students to the world of Information Technology (IT). In this program, students will learn the different facets of IT, including computer hardware, networking, and programming. This course is designed to provide an overview of the fundamental concepts, principles, and ideas related to IT and software development.

Since it is designed for absolute beginners, there are no pre-requisites to take this course apart from basic computer literacy. This course also provides job readiness skills that are critical for securing a entry-level position, although a job is not guaranteed.
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Module 1: Hardware
In this module, students learn to build a desktop computer from scratch. Throughout the process, students are made acquainted with all the different parts involved in assembling a machine, including cables, connectors, memory, storage devices, motherboard, etc.

Module 2: Networking
This module introduces students to the two models that describe networking systems (OSI Model and TCP/IP Model). Students also learn how the IP addressing system works, how to configure a network, and how to calculate subnetting. Additionally, students also have the chance to analyze network traffic using Wireshark, a real-world tool used by IT professionals.

Module 3: Network Topologies
In Module 3, student learn the different types of network topologies, how they are structured and arranged, and their use cases.

Module 4: Network Security
In this module, students learn the many aspects involved in securing network systems, such as network access and authentication, firewalls, intrusion detection systems, common threat and vulnerabilities, among others.

Module 5: Linux
In this module, student gain a strong foundation on Linux, a community-developed, open-source operating system for servers, computers, mainframes, embedded devices, and mobile devices. Students gain a solid understanding of directory structure, file systems, and permissions. Additionally, they are able to use commands in the terminal to create, edit, and delete users, files, and directories.

Module 6: Python Programming
Students are introduced to Object Oriented Programming (OOP) using Python. In this course, they learn the foundations of programming, including strings, arrays, conditional statements, loops, functions, and classes.

Module 7: SQL
Here students are introduced tot Structured Query Language (SQL), a computer language used to interact with a relational database. With SQL, they will learn how to create, organize, manage, and retrieve archived data from a computer database.

Module 8: Web Development
In this last module, students learn the principles of web development by utilizing the three fundamental tools of web applications – HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. By the end of this module, students will be able to build a basic static web page.

Learning Outcomes

None listed