Understand Computer Networks and the World Wide Web - Key Stage 2
Objectives
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
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 and the Internet
Teacher Input
Most schools have a computer network that connects the PC's 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 Unit.
Teacher Input
Most schools have a computer network that connects the PC's 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 Unit.
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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.
Lesson 2/3 - What is email and how can be use it safely?
Teacher Input
You could start by watch the BBC on link below then discuss how we communicate with each other. In pairs/groups, the pupils could discuss way email is better/worse than normal postal letters (can attach videos, quicker etc but letters often have more care). You ask some scenario questions for whether the pupils would choose email or letter;
Thank you to 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 watch the BBC on link below then discuss how we communicate with each other. In pairs/groups, the pupils could discuss way email is better/worse than normal postal letters (can attach videos, quicker etc but letters often have more care). You ask some scenario questions for whether the pupils would choose email or letter;
Thank you to 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.
Pupil Activities
Pupils emailing each other and the teacher provides a purpose to writing but also a real-life approach to e-safety as they begin to think about who they are talking to online and who is trying to talk to them. Email accounts can be setup using Hotmail, Yahoo etc but a more controlled option is an online email simulation such as Kidscapism. (see video activities below)
Pupils emailing each other and the teacher provides a purpose to writing but also a real-life approach to e-safety as they begin to think about who they are talking to online and who is trying to talk to them. Email accounts can be setup using Hotmail, Yahoo etc but a more controlled option is an online email simulation such as Kidscapism. (see video activities below)
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1. Setting up teacher and pupil email accounts in Kidscapism. (above)
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2. The first activity could be pupils replying to an email the teacher has sent. A good topic for this is for pupils to email the teacher some rules on using email safely.
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3. Pupils can also send attachments, providing many cross curricular opportunities. In this example pupils email facts about Henry VIII with an image attachment
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Lesson 4 - 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.
Discuss the word with the pupils, explaining that sometimes we want to work together to give each other feedback and share ideas.
As well as the collaboration tools in Showbie, 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's 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.
