These free, interactive, self-paced courses from Cisco Networking Academy will introduce you to important technology concepts and help you develop skills that can advance your career.
Available courses
Introduction to IoT
An introduction to the Internet of Things (IoT) and the challenges of the transformational IoT economy.
Estimated time required: 20 hours
Introduction to Cybersecurity
Learn about different types of cyber attacks, measures organizations use to mitigate risks, and career options in cybersecurity.
Estimated time required: 15 hours
Linux Unhatched
Learn the fundamentals of 19 basic Linux commands. This course can also help you prepare for the CompTIA A+ certification exam.
Estimated time required: 8 hours
What You Need
- A computer and an internet connection
- An up-to-date browser, such as Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Internet Explorer
- An account at Cisco Networking Academy (NetAcad). This account is created when you enroll for your first course. You will need to provide some personal information. Please refer to their Privacy Statement and Terms and Conditions (PDF) for more information.
- Some courses require additional software installation. Detailed information will be stated in the course description on the enrollment page.
How to Enroll
- Click on the link of the course you would like to take from the list above.
- Type your email address in the input field (if your email address is not pre-populated) under the heading Enroll Now and click the Submit button.
- New students will need to provide some personal information to create a NetAcad account. Personal information is not shared or sold to outside parties.
- You will receive an email confirmation from Networking Academy Team (noreply@netacad.com) confirming that you have successfully created an account.
- Returning students can sign into your NetAcad account and your email address will be pre-populated on the course enrollment page.
Note: once you create an account, you only need to enter your email address when enrolling in a new course.
Frequently Asked Questions
- I don’t know anything about computers or the internet. Can I take these courses?
- There are no prerequisites to these courses but learners are expected to have basic understanding of computers and the internet.
- How many courses can I take?
- There is no limit to the number of courses you can take, and you can take a course as many times as you need in order to complete it.
- How do the courses work?
- Each lesson includes short quizzes. Some courses include hands-on assignments and lab exercises. If you have a question during a class you can post your question to the interactive discussion area. Dedicated library staff or one of your fellow students will respond. The interactive discussion closes after the course is finished. You can continue accessing all course materials but you cannot submit assignments, quizzes or exams.
- How to get started on a course?
- You will see a button to launch course module after you enroll in the course. You can also log on to your NetAcad account and start the course by clicking on the course title under the I’m Learning tab.
- Can I drop a course part way through?
- You can drop a course that is in progress using the Drop this Course button on the right side of the course home page. You will no longer be able to access the class again unless you enroll in a future session.
- Is technical support available?
- Each course lists the technical requirements on its enrollment page. E-mail technical support is available from the Discussions page. You can also contact us at networkingacademy@torontopubliclibrary.ca and we will respond to you within 3 business days.
- Why did I need to complete a Pretest and an End of Course Feedback survey?
- The Pretest and End of Course Feedback are used by the Library to understand learners’ needs and to improve our service. The information is not shared with any third party.
- Can I use Let’s Learn Tech courses on a library computer?
- Course modules can be accessed on a library computer. Some courses, such as Introduction to Cybersecurity and Introduction to IoT, have lab sessions that involve installing additional applications and cannot be completed on a library computer. There is a maximum one hour booking per day per customer on public library computers.
- Does the library provide the software covered by the Let’s Learn Tech courses?
- No, however all softwares used in Let’s Learn Tech courses are open-sourced or have free trial version available. Details of individual softwares can be found in course modules.
- How can I get help with the courses?
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- Email us at networkingacademy@torontopubliclibrary.ca with your questions
- Send us questions using the Networking Academy Inbox (found on the left panel of the page) or individual course discussion forum