Welcome to the Class
The Red Hat RHCSA certification is one of the most respected Linux certifications since the exam is performance-based. In this independent study class you will use the Red Hat curriculum (RH124 and RH134) to prepare for the RHCSA certification or to demonstrate your skills working with a Red Hat based Linux distribution. This class is independent study and does not have regular class sessions. Because of that student-to-instructor and student-to-student interaction is through a weekly discussion forum. It is on this forum that you can seek help from other students. I will monitor the forum and step in only when I have something to add. Questions of a general nature which would benefit the entire class should be asked on this forum. Example: "When I ran the command in Step X in Lab Y I got this error. I reread the instructions but don’t see my error." Be sure to show the exact command or commands you ran and what you tried to fix the problem. Eric Raymond’s How to Ask Question the Smart Way should be your guide. Besides, the audio version is entertaining especially if you’ve been around a while.
Course Information
Course: CIS275DL Linux Capstone
Section: 35059
Term: Fall 2023
Credits: 3
Course Requisite(s): Prerequisites: A grade of C or better in CIS240DL, or CIS240RH, or permission of Instructor.
Start Dates: 08/21/2023-09/08/2023
End Date: 05/12/2023
Instruction Mode: Independent Study
Important Dates
Withdrawal with Refund: Drop deadlines are based on the individual start date of each student.
Withdrawal without Instructor Permission (no refund): Drop deadlines are based on the individual start date of each student.
Instructional Contact Hours
This is an independent study course without classroom time.
Minimum Expectation for Hours Spent on Out-of-Class to Complete Coursework
This is an independent study course without classroom time.
Required Texts, Materials and Technologies
There are no required textbooks for this course.
Third-Party Learning Tools
Red Hat Academy Learning Portal
Red Hat provides the curriculum as well as a virtual lab environment for this course on the Red Hat Academy Learning Portal. This is provided at no charge to you.
Zoom Video Conferencing
I use Zoom to hold Live Online classes. There will be a link in Canvas to connect to our Zoom meetings. If you are new to video conferencing you can join a test meeting and test your audio and video.
About Your Instructor
I have been teaching the Linux Operating System since 2008 at Mesa Community College and have been working with Linux for over two decades. In 2009 I was a contributing author to The Command Line for the GNU Press and have served as a subject matter expert for other publishers. I have been recognized by Red Hat as an outstanding Red Hat Academy instructor. Two of my courses received Mesa Community College’s Gold Star for instructional excellence. I hold numerous industry certifications as well as blockchain Certificates of Completion from the MIT Sloan School of Management and the University of Buffalo. Also, I am an AWS Accredited Educator and a Quality Matters Peer Reviewer.
How to Contact Me
Instructor: Dennis Kibbe
Email: dennis.kibbe@mesacc.edu
Teleconferencing: Request a Zoom meeting
Office Location: BA 40 Room: BA 025
Office Hours: My office hours are posted on my contact page. I’m available in person or by Zoom.
Phone: (480) 461-7246
Grading Standards and Practices
Letter Grades
Your final letter grade will be determined by the point value of work completed. Quizzes and end-of-chapter labs are graded. Guided Exercises are not graded.
Grade | Percent |
---|---|
A |
90-100% |
B |
80-89% |
C |
70-79% |
D |
60-69% |
F |
0-59% |
How I Grade Lab Assignments
You receive 5 points for each PASS or SUCCESS. In this example the total points are 30. For any FAIL the output will tell you why it failed and you can usually redo just that part of the lab then rerun the grading script to improve your score.
Late Assignments
In this class we cover a lot of material in the short eight weeks we have together. It’s important that you set aside time each week to read the textbook and work on the labs. Studies show that short study sessions spread out over several days are more effective and less stressful than cramming at the last minute. Follow the tips in the The Study Cycle video on how to improve your study habits.
All lab assignments have a due date along with instructions for what to submit. You should turn assignments in by the due date. If you do not submit an assignment on time you can still turn it in within seven days of the due date without losing points. However, after that date assignments are locked and you will not receive credit for any unsubmitted assignments. Allow yourself plenty of time to complete assignments and make it a habit to submit them by the due date!
Warning
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If you fail to turn in two consecutive lab assignments you are in danger of being dropped from the class. |
Attendance Policy
Active participation and engagement is important in the learning process. The knowledge and skills to be gained in this course are dependent on attending and participating in class.
In-Person/Live Online: Therefore, attendance and participation are required to be successful. Students who must be absent because of an emergency or illness should make every effort to speak with the instructor about it beforehand, if possible, or after the next class.
Hybrid: Therefore, attendance and active participation are essential for a successful academic experience. Students should attend all scheduled class meetings, commit to time outside of class for other required assignments, and notify the instructor of planned absences; missed assignments translate to absences.
Online On Your Own Time: Therefore, engagement in course activities and submitting assignments provides instructors the opportunity to provide feedback that guides learning. Attendance will be measured by consistent assignment submissions. Students who cannot complete assignments in Canvas by scheduled due dates should reach out to the instructor. Missed assignments translate to absences and missing two due dates in a row may result in withdrawal from the course.
If you stop attending class after the 45th day of the semester, I may award a grade of W, Y, or F depending on your status in the class up until the day you stopped attending. Please discuss any desires to withdraw from the class with me so together we can decide on the best course of action. For more information see For more information see Administrative Regulation 2.3.6 and Appendix S-7.
Excused Absences
MCC’s policies excuse absences due to college sanctioned events, death of an immediate family member, jury duty, subpoenas, short-term military service, or religious holidays. Signed absence verification forms or accommodation forms are required prior to absence. See https://district.maricopa.edu/regulations/admin-regs/section-2/2-3#2
Recording Faculty Lectures
You can find Maricopa Community College District’s policy regarding recording faculty lectures at this link.
Artificial Intelligence
The World Economic Forum defines generative AI as “a category of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms that generate new outputs based on the data they have been trained on. Unlike traditional AI systems that are designed to recognize patterns and make predictions, generative AI creates new content in the form of images, text, audio, and more.” Some examples of generative AI tools include but are not limited to: ChatGPT, Google Bard, Microsoft Copilot, Stable Diffusion, GrammarlyGo, and Adobe Firefly.
No Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Allowed
In this class, all work submitted must be your own. The use of generative AI tools will be considered academic misconduct see Administrative Regulation 2.3.11 1.B(b) and will be treated as such. If you are unsure if the tool or website you are using is a generative AI tool, please contact the instructor for further clarification before using the tool or website.
Some Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Allowed in Special Circumstances
There are situations and contexts within this course where you may be permitted to use generative AI tools. In these cases, specific guidelines will be provided in the assignment details. If you are unsure if the tool or website you are using is a generative AI tool or if it is permitted on a specific assignment, please contact the instructor for further clarification before submitting your work.
Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Allowed in All Contexts
In this class, you are permitted to use generative AI tools to complete your assignments. When submitting work that incorporates generative AI content, please clearly indicate what content was generated by AI tools. In such cases, no more than 15% of your work should be generated by a generative AI tool. If any part of this is confusing or uncertain, please reach out to me for a conversation before submitting your work.
Tutoring and Academic Support
Online Tutoring by Brainfuse
All MCC students have access to 10 (ten) hours of free online tutoring by Brainfuse in multiple sessions throughout the semester.
Learning Enhancement Center
Student success is important at MCC, and we encourage students to use all available resources. In addition to meeting with their instructor, students are encouraged to seek FREE tutoring and other on campus support services to reinforce their understanding of course concepts and improve performance in their course(s).
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Live Help – Receive instant support for various subjects.
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Writing Lab – Have written assignments reviewed by a tutor.
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Offline Questions – Send a tutor an academic question.
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And much more!
There are nine on-campus locations, seven at the Southern and Dobson campus, two at the Red Mountain campus, and a virtual option for accessing MCC Tutoring Services. For more information go to https://www.mesacc.edu/students/tutoring.
Writing Center
The Writing Center provides one-on-one appointments with English faculty to help students during any phase of the writing process: brainstorming, pre-writing, researching, drafting, and revising. The Writing Center is located on the 1st floor of the MCC Library. However, for our Fall 2020 semester, our highest priority during the COVID-19 crisis is the health, safety, and well-being of all students, faculty, and staff; thus, our services can be accessed online at https://www.mesacc.edu/students/tutoring/tutoring-online.
Classroom Accommodations for Students with Disabilities
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) and its associated colleges are committed to providing equitable access to learning opportunities to students with documented disabilities (e.g. mental health, attentional, learning, chronic health, sensory, or physical). Each class/term/semester that a student needs academic adjustments/accommodations, the qualified student is required to work with the Disability Resources and Services Office (DRS) at their individual college(s). College DRS offices may only offer accommodations/academic adjustments for their own college. Contact with the DRS should be made as soon as possible to ensure academic needs are met in a reasonable time. New and returning students must request accommodations each semester through DRS Connect online services. To learn more about this online service process, please contact your local DRS office.
If you have not yet established services through DRS, but have a temporary health condition or permanent disability that requires accommodations, you are welcome to contact DRS by using the information listed on the following web page: https://district.maricopa.edu/consumer-information/disability-resources/contacts.
The DRS office offers resources and coordinates reasonable accommodations for students with disabilities and/or temporary health conditions qualifying for accommodations/academic adjustments. Reasonable accommodations are established through an interactive process between you, your faculty, and DRS; and only those academic adjustments/reasonable accommodations granted by the DRS are recognized by the college and MCCCD. It is the policy and practice of the MCCCD to create inclusive and accessible learning environments consistent with federal and state law.
Canvas - Learning Management System
MCC and other Maricopa Colleges use Canvas, an online learning management system (LMS). Whether your class is face-to-face, hybrid, or entirely online, course materials should be accessed by students in Canvas.
You can access the Canvas LMS at https://learn.maricopa.edu/ and learn more about how to use Canvas at https://www.mesacc.edu/online/learn-about-canvas.
Student Email
All students are provided with an institutional email account (MEID@maricopa.edu). Students should use this account for all school business as it assures a student’s identity and privacy. Students should communicate with instructors through this email account or through the Canvas messaging Inbox.
To access this email account click here: http://mail.maricopa.edu
For technical support with your student email account click here: https://www.maricopa.edu/students/technical-support/student-email
Information for Students of Faith
Mesa Community College fosters an environment of religious inclusion where students of faith will be welcomed and supported. If you have religious practices and needs (as protected by Title IV of the Civil Rights Act) and would like to discuss possible accommodations, please review the Religious Accommodation Procedure and contact your instructor.
Early Alert (CARE REPORT)
Mesa Community College is committed to providing a personal education for each of our students, and the Care Team is a key part of this vision. When parents, faculty, or staff members are concerned about the physical, emotional, academic or personal health of a college student, the Care Team can assess the situation, offer support, and provide referrals to the breadth of resources on-campus. https://www.mesacc.edu/employees/student-affairs/care-team.
Covid Reporting Requirements
Members of the Maricopa County Community College District (MCCCD) community must notify Risk Management if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 or if they believe they have been exposed to COVID-19. This includes students who are enrolled in either in-person, hybrid (in-person and online combination) and/or online classes at Mesa Community College.
Your personally identifiable information, including name, address, and medical conditions will remain confidential and will not be shared with instructors, other students, or staff but your information may be shared with local health authorities as permitted under the ADA. For more information and/or to submit a COVID report, visit:
Counseling
The Counseling Department at Mesa Community College provides a variety of counseling services to assist students in addressing their personal, academic, career development, prevention, and intervention challenges. Services are offered free of charge to students. Counseling faculty support and empower students in the process of setting and attaining their academic, career, and personal goals. To schedule an appointment to meet with a counselor call:
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Southern and Dobson: (480) 461-7588
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Red Mountain: (480) 654-7720
Addressing Incidents of Title IX Sexual Harassment
In accordance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the MCCCD prohibits unlawful sexual harassment against any participant in its education programs or activities. Sexual harassment includes quid pro quo (this for that) harassment, hostile environment, sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, and stalking. This prohibition against sexual harassment - including sexual violence - applies to students, MCCCD employees, and visitors to campus.
The policy of the MCCCD is to provide an educational, employment, and business environment free of sexual violence, unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct or communications constituting sexual harassment as prohibited by state and federal law. Incidents of Sexual Misconduct should be reported to the college Title IX Coordinator, as outlined in policy. MCCCD will provide on its Title IX and Preventing Sexual Harassment web page a link to all Title IX Coordinators at the MCCCD. Reports may be filed anonymously at: https://district.maricopa.edu/consumer-information/reporting.
Office of Civil Rights
Pregnant Student? Student of Faith? Please discuss possible accommodations with your instructor in advance of those needs. MCC strives to foster an environment where students will be welcomed and supported.
Institutional Learning Outcomes: MCC’S 4Cs
MCC has identified learning goals integrated throughout the student experience: Communication, Critical Thinking, Cultural and Global Engagement, and Civic Engagement. Taken cumulatively, these goals are designed to provide an educational experience that reflects the college mission which includes academic and co-curricular programs. This course assesses at least one of these student learning goals and provides students, instructors, and the college with meaningful data on our effectiveness. Ideally, students progress toward these goals throughout their journey at the college. The course-level assessment of the learning goal associated with this course is a snapshot of students' progress toward the learning goal.
Academic Integrity
Learning requires honesty, responsibility, and professional behavior. It is college policy to respond to academic misconduct and dishonesty whether it was committed intentionally or not.
Tuition Charges and Refund
Students who officially withdraw from credit classes during fall, spring, or summer semesters within the withdrawal deadlines listed below will receive a 100% refund for tuition, class and registration processing fees. Deadlines that fall on a weekend or a college holiday will advance to the next college workday except for classes fewer than 10 calendar days in length or as specified by the college. Calendar days include weekdays and weekends. Refer to individual colleges for withdrawal and refund processes.
Never attending is not an allowable refund exemption or an excuse of the debt incurred through registration.
Length of Class | Official Withdrawal Deadlines for 100% Refund |
---|---|
1-9 calendar days |
Prior to the class start date |
10-19 calendar days |
1 calendar day including the class start date |
20-29 calendar days |
2 calendar day including the class start date |
30-39 calendar days |
3 calendar day including the class start date |
40-49 calendar days |
4 calendar day including the class start date |
50-59 calendar days |
5 calendar day including the class start date |
60-69 calendar days |
6 calendar day including the class start date |
70 plus calendar days |
7 calendar day including the class start date |
Course fees and registration processing fees will be refunded only if the student qualifies for a 100% refund. Debts owed to any MCCCD college must be satisfied before any refunds are paid to the student. Refunds for students receiving federal financial assistance are subject to federal guidelines. Requests for exceptions to the refund policy must be filed within one year from the semester in which the course was taken.
Honors Achievement Award
Learn and Earn! Do you have a 3.25 GPA? The Honors Achievement Award ($244 to $500 per semester) is open to students who have completed 12 college-level credits within the Maricopa Colleges, have a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.25 and are currently enrolled in at least 6 graded credits. To be awarded funds, you must maintain a 3.25 GPA, complete an honors course (or honors contract in a regular course) with at least a "C" grade and participate in one co-curricular activity during the semester. Any students who qualify for this award should contact the Honors Office at 461-7079, Kirk Center 35S, or ask me about it! Learn more and apply online at https://www.mesacc.edu/honors/honors-achievement-award-scholarship.
F-1 Student
I am so glad that you are in my class! You bring diversity and a world perspective to the classroom and that helps me to fulfill one of MCC’s student outcomes --- Cultural and Global Engagement. Please know that you must adhere to the attendance policy that is set for this class and is listed in this syllabus. If you are withdrawn by me from the class for nonattendance, I will not place you back into the class. If you earn a W or Y for nonattendance and this brings you below the required 12 credits that you need to maintain your F-1 status in the USA, I will not change your grade to an F. You are given the grade that you earn. If you fall out of status, you can go through a process called F-1 Reinstatement with the International Education Office (IE) located in Building 36N. IE regularly sends messages to your MCC email regarding immigration matters. Be sure to check it regularly! They also check attendance reports for all F-1 students on a weekly basis. You are here in the USA to be a student on your F-1 full time study visa and MCC will help you to maintain that status.
Your Rights and Responsibilities as a Student
It is the student’s responsibility to understand the policies listed in this syllabus as these are the guidelines that the instructor will follow for grading, attendance, etc. It is also every student’s responsibility to read and understand the college policies included in the student handbook as they may apply in the case of an incomplete grade or withdrawal. In addition to this syllabus, all students should be aware of the district Administrative Regulations that articulate student rights and responsibilities.
MCC Student Handbook
The Student Handbook answers many of your questions about attending classes at Mesa Community College.
MCC College Catalog
The college catalog is a collection of information about Mesa Community College, our programs, policies and services.
MCCCD Administrative Regulations
At this link you will find in depth information on how the college is run. Included are a complete set of academic calendars
Student Resource Referral Guide
MCC is here to help you! If you need support with academic or basic needs such as tutoring or transportation, there are resources available to assist you. Follow the link below for a comprehensive list of services available to MCC students. Student Resource Referral Guide.
Changes in the Syllabus or Course Policies
Syllabus policies and course schedule are subject to change to accommodate the needs of the course, by agreement between instructor and all students, or as needed by administration. Students will be notified of any changes in schedule, requirements or policies. Students are responsible for knowing and complying with syllabus information and all college catalog and student handbook policies. Continued enrollment is acceptance of this responsibility. The most recent version of this syllabus is found at https://dennisk.freeshell.org
College-Wide Online Students Course Survey
Near the end of this course, students will receive an invitation to complete a course survey. Constructive feedback plays an important role in shaping quality education at MCC. All responses are completely confidential, and student names are not stored with answers in any way. Instructors will not see survey results until after final grades are submitted. Student participation is greatly appreciated.
The Maricopa Community Colleges are EEO/AA Institutions.