Introduction to Information Technology and AWS Cloud

Overview

Technology is omnipresent, but how did we get here? And what does the future hold for a world that's increasingly connected, mobile and data-rich? This course is to give learners enough technical context to understand how to build solutions in the cloud starting from zero technical knowledge. Before diving into the cloud, we will cover the basics of: how do computers work (including software and operating systems), an introduction to information technology, the basics of modern IT infrastructure, and the cloud careers that will be increasingly in-demand. We will then move into the world of internet connected networks (the Internet), covering local hosts, web servers, web applications, web security, the interworkings of a Website and the differences between static and dynamic content. We'll close the course by introducing Cloud Computing; it's role in our world, the differences between public, private and hybrid and why APIs are so important.

Syllabus

Week 1: Once up a Time in IT
Video: Welcome to the Course
Video: Meet the Instructors
Subsection: Why IT foundational knowledge is relevant for cloud
Video: Module 1 Introduction
Video: How do computers work?
Reading: Computer Basics
Assessment: Practice Quiz – Matching
Video: Introduction to IT
Reading: Network connections and VPN - the corporate connections
Video: Basics of Modern IT Infrastructure
Video: Traditional IT Roles
Subsection: Moving up the stack
Video: Let’s talk about software
Video: Operating Systems
Video: Operating Systems and the Command Line
Reading: Operating systems and software
Video: What is OS virtualization?
Reading: Different types of virtualization
Graded - Self reflection - What is virtualization?
Video: Module 1 wrap up

Week 2: IT and the internet
Video: Module 2 Introduction
Subsection: The localhost and web applications
Video: The Localhost: there’s no place like 127.0.0.1!
Video: Web servers and web applications, what's the difference?
Video: Anatomy of a website
Reading: Web application architectures
Practice Quiz - Single quiz question
Subsection: Internet 101
Video: What happens when I load a website in a browser?
Video: DNS Basics
Reading: Internet and DNS Concepts
Video: IT security basics
Video: Putting all the pieces together
Reading: Internet Basics and Security Glossary
Assessment: Graded - Activity - Rendering a website in a browser
Video: Module 2 wrap up

Week 3: Hey Cloud, welcome to our world!
Video: Module 3 Introduction
Video: Why is cloud the new normal?
Practice Quiz - Single quiz question
Subsection: The AWS Cloud
Video: AWS Public Cloud Components
Reading: AWS Cloud Basics
Video: What are APIs, and why the term “Elasticity” is so common?
Video: 6 advantages of cloud computing
Video: IT Job Roles and the Cloud
Discussion Question
Video: Cloud Consulting ideas, and how to get involved
Reading: Links for the Cloud Consulting Ideas and How to Get Involved video content
Video: AWS Cloud in action
Reading: Downloadable - Cloud Glossary
AWS Labs - Create a static website with Amazon S3
Module 3 Assessment
Video: Course Closing