Course Title: Introduction to Cloud

Part A: Course Overview

Course Title: Introduction to Cloud

Credit Points: 12.00


Course Coordinator: Aminul Islam

Course Coordinator Phone: +61 3 9925 4475

Course Coordinator Email: aminul.islam@rmit.edu.au

Course Coordinator Location: B57.5.36 City Campus

Course Coordinator Availability: By appointment


Pre-requisite Courses and Assumed Knowledge and Capabilities

None


Course Description

This course will provide you with an introduction to the key aspects of Amazon Web Services (AWS) well-architected framework of cloud computing. 
By completing this foundation course, you will develop the skills and knowledge required to configure, deploy, and monitor a range of technology resources of core cloud computing services on a cloud platform and gain an overall understanding of Amazon Web Services (AWS). You will also acquire knowledge regarding cloud computing concepts for cloud engineers, cloud systems administrators, and those who work within cloud computing operations to provision, implement and maintain cloud computing solutions for a business with little guidance or supervision.
The course provides a detailed overview of AWS cloud concepts and its core services, Cloud Networking, security, architecture billing, and support.  
In this introductory course, you will develop an understanding of AWS Global Infrastructure, AWS cloud services concepts such as AWS IAM, VPC, EC2, RDS, DynamoDB, CloudFormation, Lambda, CloudFront, SNS, SQS, Elastic beanstalk, S3, EBS, EFSs, and AWS Cloud security and more. 


Objectives/Learning Outcomes/Capability Development

The course will contribute to the following program learning outcomes. 

PLO1 Enabling Knowledge: Understand core concepts of cloud architecture, infrastructure, cloud services, characteristics, delivery models, and benefits of cloud computing. Understand the business case for cloud computing.   

PLO2: Critical Analysis: Understand how commercial considerations influence cloud architecture design decisions. Critically analyse and devise cloud solutions following business requirements. 

PLO3: Problem Solving: Apply understanding of problems in cloud environment design. Plan, select and implement cloud infrastructure using compute, storage and serverless cloud services.  Monitor and troubleshoot cloud resource access and connectivity. 

PLO4: Communication: Employing a range of communication methods in interactions with both computing and non-computing personnel while building and deploying resources in cloud environment. Be able to describe and demonstrate cloud infrastructure requirements and solutions.  

PLO5: Teamwork: Provision, implement and maintain cloud computing solutions in teams. Develop collaboration skills by participating in cloud solutions design in teams.


Upon successful completion of this course, you should be able to:
CLO1: Define and understand AWS and its cloud services.
CLO2: Explain AWS Cloud Architecture and networking concepts
CLO3: Explain AWS Storage and Database Services
CLO4: Explain AWS Serverless Computing concepts
CLO5: Demonstrate architectural principles, security, and compliance issues in AWS Cloud
CLO6: Communicate using industry standard terminology, including reports written with a professional approach.


Overview of Learning Activities

The learning activities included in the AWS Academy instructor-facilitated course include: 

  • key concepts explained in AWS Academy modules, where fundamental concepts will be presented and illustrated through relevant demonstrations and examples.  
  • the online modules including lecture materials, online multiple-choice knowledge checks, lab exercises, video introductions, video demonstrations, and example solutions.  
  • weekly interactions with the facilitator to discuss concepts and queries. 

Teacher-guided learning will include seminars, case studies, group discussions and debates. 
You are expected to be self-directed and be able to study independently outside class. This may include studying learning materials presented in the class or provided by teaching staff or doing your own research on certain topics.


Overview of Learning Resources

This Course extensively uses AWS Academy - Cloud Foundations learning materials, AWS training and certification study materials and hands-on lab exercises using AWS Learner Labs, and AWS management console.
In addition, instructor-guided sessions, third-party learning tutorials, and labs will also be extensively used to support the course learning materials. 
You are not required to complete all weekly lab exercises each week. However, you must complete and demonstrate all lab exercises by the end of the semester. 

Learning resources:

  • AWS Cloud Foundation course materials
  • AWS Learner Lab for hands-on practice exercises
  • AWS Documentation
  • Third-party documentation, Labs, Learning Video Tutorial
  • Instructor guided readings and Labs exercises

You will make extensive use of computer laboratories and relevant software provided by the school. You will be able to access course information and learning materials through the RMIT Learning Management System. Lists of relevant reference texts, resources in the library and freely accessible Internet sites will be provided. 
The course is supported by the Canvas learning management system which provides specific learning resources.


Overview of Assessment

Assessments involve both theoretical and practical exercises on the course topic areas. This includes, but not limited to, AWS Cloud Service concepts, AWS global infrastructure, AWS core services, VPC, Database service, serverless computing, load balancer, monitoring, auto scaling & cloud security.

To be awarded a pass grading in this course you must achieve overall a minimum grade of 50%.  
Assessment marks will be added together across all submitted assessments and your final total mark must be equal to, or greater than 50%. 

Assessment Task1: Practical Labs (40%)

  • 5 Lab exercises, worth 8 marks each
  • Students must demonstrate lab work individually.
  • This assessment task supports CLOs 1-5.   

Assessment Task2: Project (40%)

  • This is an individual project work demonstration and submission. Students may work in a group for collaboration and exchange solution ideas.
  • This assessment task supports CLOs 1-6.    

Assessment Task3: Knowledge TestQuiz (20%)

  • Closed book, 40 questions, combination of Single-choice, Multiple-choice, matching, fill-in gaps and short answer questions randomly selected from a Question pool.
  • This is an individual online quiz.
  • This assessment task supports CLOs 1-5