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Day 1: Networking Systems Pathway + Transferable Skills

Lesson Overview
Time 50 minutes
Objectives Explore the Networking Systems pathway in H&L; identify Network Architect, Network Administrator, Database Administrator, and Systems Analyst Hats; identify transferable skills shared between Programming and Networking pathways
TEKS d(1)(C), d(4)(B)
Deliverable Network career notes + 1 transferable skill written in workbook
Materials H&L Workbook Ch 12, Chromebooks, projector, BLS Network Architects page

Warm-Up (5 min)

WARM-UP: If the school Wi-Fi went down right now, whose job would it be to fix it? What do you think they would actually DO to fix it?

Quick share. Most students will say "the IT person" but cannot describe what fixing it actually looks like. Bridge: "Today we meet the people who DESIGN the network in the first place, not just the people who fix it when it breaks."

Activity 1: H&L Networking Systems Pathway Exploration (25 min)

Source: H&L Workbook Ch 12, p. 192, Networking Systems pathway (one of the 5 IT pathways)

[H&L PLATFORM] Direct students to the H&L IT cluster, then specifically to the Networking Systems pathway. The workbook (Ch 12, p. 192) describes this pathway as: "Design, set up, and maintain the systems that connect computers and devices to the internet and each other." Students use the Hat Finder to explore four specific Hats: Network Administrator, Network Architect, Database Administrator, and Systems Analyst.

The 4 Networking Hats to explore:

  1. Network Administrator: Day-to-day operations. Manages user accounts, troubleshoots Wi-Fi, monitors network traffic. Often the first networking job for someone with a 2-year degree or certifications.
  2. Network Architect: Designs entire networks from scratch. Plans where servers go, what hardware to buy, how to scale for growth. Senior role, typically requires bachelor's + experience.
  3. Database Administrator: Manages the systems where company data is stored. Backs it up, secures it, makes sure it's accessible to the right people.
  4. Systems Analyst: Bridges business needs and IT solutions. Talks to non-technical employees about their problems and figures out how IT can help.

Students spend ~5 min per Hat and record on a notes page:

  • Hat name
  • Education required
  • DFW salary
  • One thing that surprised them

After 20 min, lead a brief whole-class discussion: which of the 4 networking Hats sounds most interesting? Listen for students who connect a Hat to their personality type.

Facilitation Tip

Many students think networking = "fixing computers" and lump it together with tech support. Distinguish clearly: tech support FIXES things that break; networking DESIGNS the systems in the first place. The distinction matters because the careers, salaries, and education paths are different.

Activity 2: Transferable Skills Discussion (15 min)

Direct students to pull up TWO H&L Hat profiles side by side: ONE programming career from Wk2 (Software Developer or Web Developer) and ONE networking career from today (Network Architect or Database Administrator).

Ask students: "What skills are listed for BOTH careers? Not the technical skills, the SOFT skills."

Listen for and capture on the board:

  • Problem-solving
  • Communication (written and verbal)
  • Attention to detail
  • Time management
  • Teamwork
  • Curiosity / continuous learning
  • Patience under pressure

These are transferable skills, skills that work across many careers, not just one. The TEKS standard d(4)(B) specifically requires students to identify transferable skills.

DOK 3: What conclusions can you draw about which transferable skills appear across MULTIPLE IT pathways? Why do you think employers value these skills as much as the technical ones?

Have students write in their workbook margin: "One transferable skill I have is _. It applies to ___ careers (name 2)."

Exit Ticket (5 min)

EXIT TICKET (Venn Diagram Comparison) · Printable PDF:

Compare a Programming career (pick Software Dev, Web Dev, App Dev, or Game Dev from Wk2) to a Networking career (pick Network Administrator, Network Architect, Database Administrator, or Systems Analyst from today).

  • My Programming career: _____

  • My Networking career: _____

Unique SKILLS used by the Programming career (2 things):

Unique SKILLS used by the Networking career (2 things):

TRANSFERABLE skills shared by BOTH (2 things — soft skills, not technical):

Bottom line: Why do employers care about the SHARED skills (middle overlap) as much as the technical ones? One sentence. (d(1)(C), d(4)(B))

Differentiation

  • Support: Pre-print a list of 10 common transferable skills for students to circle and connect to careers, rather than generating from scratch.
  • Extension: Students explore a 5th networking career not on the list: Cloud Network Engineer, Wireless Communications Specialist, or VoIP Engineer.
  • ELL: Bilingual transferable skills card: Comunicación = Communication, Resolución de problemas = Problem-solving, Atención al detalle = Attention to detail, Trabajo en equipo = Teamwork.