Understand Computer Networks and the World Wide Web - Key Stage 2
Objectives/outcomes
Understand computer networks, including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the World Wide Web, and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration.
Objectives/outcomes
Understand computer networks, including the internet; how they can provide multiple services, such as the World Wide Web, and the opportunities they offer for communication and collaboration.
Lesson 1. Understand Computer Networks, Internet and Cloud Computing
Teacher Input
Most schools have a computer network that connects the PCs to a server where all the files are stored. It is important that the pupils understand why we have computer networks. Questions can be asked such as:
Why do we save our work to a server on a network, not just to one computer? (So work can be accessed from any computer)
Why do we need to login to a school network? (So it is only us who can access our files)
You can use the diagram below as a stimulus for class discussion, which can be downloaded.
What is Bluetooth? (Demonstrate how data travels wirelessly with Bluetooth speakers, headphones etc or links can be made with our Sphero Activity Pack.
Teacher Input
Most schools have a computer network that connects the PCs to a server where all the files are stored. It is important that the pupils understand why we have computer networks. Questions can be asked such as:
Why do we save our work to a server on a network, not just to one computer? (So work can be accessed from any computer)
Why do we need to login to a school network? (So it is only us who can access our files)
You can use the diagram below as a stimulus for class discussion, which can be downloaded.
What is Bluetooth? (Demonstrate how data travels wirelessly with Bluetooth speakers, headphones etc or links can be made with our Sphero Activity Pack.
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Once the network diagram has been discussed, in a large space such as the playground or school hall, each pupil could take on a role of a piece of equipment from the diagram and the signals moving through the network. This could include:
The computers/iPads requesting to login and the signal moving down the network to the server to see if the request matches a login on the server and then back again with an answer.
The same process could be carried out for requesting and sending files to and from the server, requesting printing and websites from the internet.
The computers/iPads requesting to login and the signal moving down the network to the server to see if the request matches a login on the server and then back again with an answer.
The same process could be carried out for requesting and sending files to and from the server, requesting printing and websites from the internet.
In this wireless world, pupils will need to understand that there needs to be a wired network to create a wireless network. This includes an understanding that the internet actually travels on the seabed between countries. Below is a Youtube video that explains how this works.
Next is cloud computing, which pupils may have a basic understanding of if they have Office 365 or Google accounts in school. In simplest terms, cloud computing means files (documents, videos, music etc) are not stored on a single computer but rather on the servers of big companies such as Apple, Google and many more. Ask the pupils what the benefit if this may be? (Files can be accessed from any computers
Lesson 2 - What is email and how can we use it safely?
Teacher Input
You could start by watching the video How does email work?, then discuss how we communicate with each other. In pairs/groups, the pupils could discuss how email is better/worse than normal postal letters (attach videos, quicker etc but letters often have more care/sincerity).
Ask some scenario questions for whether the pupils would choose email or letter;
Thank you to a relative for birthday press?
Send a document into school?
Also discuss other online communication (FaceTime, Skype, messages, forums etc) and discuss the pros and cons of each with links to e-safety discussions.
Teacher Input
You could start by watching the video How does email work?, then discuss how we communicate with each other. In pairs/groups, the pupils could discuss how email is better/worse than normal postal letters (attach videos, quicker etc but letters often have more care/sincerity).
Ask some scenario questions for whether the pupils would choose email or letter;
Thank you to a relative for birthday press?
Send a document into school?
Also discuss other online communication (FaceTime, Skype, messages, forums etc) and discuss the pros and cons of each with links to e-safety discussions.
Unplugged Email Simulator
Below is a paper-based email simulator that you can download and print for pupils. It has the teacher notes at the beginning, which explains how to use it.
Below is a paper-based email simulator that you can download and print for pupils. It has the teacher notes at the beginning, which explains how to use it.
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Lesson 2/3 - How and why can we collaborate online?
Many of the online services that schools use and that we have mentioned on this website have collaboration tools.
Discuss the word with the pupils, explaining that sometimes we want to work together to give each other feedback and share ideas. This is also something covered in our Blogging Activity Pack.
Discuss the word with the pupils, explaining that sometimes we want to work together to give each other feedback and share ideas. This is also something covered in our Blogging Activity Pack.
A really easy way to get the whole class collaborating is by using Padlet, which is a free online tool that allows you to create a collaborative space. Simply go to the website below (you don't need to sign in or sign up) and go to 'Create a Padlet' - you can click the plus to add text, images, audio, web-links or video. This new Padlet web-link (in the address bar) can be shared with the pupils by pasting it onto a shared area on the network or simply writing it on the whiteboard. The pupils can then go to the web-link and add their own ideas to the page. You could display the web-link on the whiteboard so everyone can see the ideas as they appear on the Padlet. Below is a video tutorial for using Padlet.
