Author: Amanda McGarrigle

Computing—Term 5
We are network technicians

Background Information
In this unit, the pupils use unplugged activities to develop their understanding of networks; they learn about the domain name system and explore the school’s network infrastructure.
In computer networks, all information (data) is transmitted and received in a digital, binary format. Networking hardware (copper cables, optical fibre, wifi access points, hubs, switches and routers) allows computers to pass data from one to another to create a computer network. These networks connect together to make the internet. A standard system has been developed for the internet: data is broken into ‘packets’, which are passed from one router to another, based on the IP (internet protocol) address of the packet’s recipient. Computers connected to the internet provide different services, e.g. serving web pages, dealing with email or converting server names (such as www.google.com) into numerical IP addresses. Understanding how the internet works empowers pupils to use this technology safely and responsibly, through recognising that the internet is not completely secure and that servers might not always be what they seem.

In this unit the children will…
appreciate that computer networks transmit and receive information digitally
understand the basic hardware needed for computer networks to work
understand key features of internet communication protocols
develop a basic understanding of how domain names are converted to numerical IP addresses.

By the end of this unit….
All children will:
Understand that information is communicated digitally across the internet
Name hardware used in connecting computers together
Appreciate the route taken by packets of data across the internet
Understand that domain names are converted to numbers
Appreciate the implications of how networks work for their online safety
Most children will:
Convert messages between text and USASCII code
Describe the function of the different hardware used to connect computers together
Describe how data is transmitted via the internet
Have some understanding of how DNS works
Consider ways that their safety or privacy may be compromised by using the internet
Some children will:
Consider how information other than text can be communicated digitally via the internet
Discuss the hardware involved in connecting a classroom computer to a web server in another country
Discuss some of the protocols involved in transmitting data via the internet
Use ping, ipconfig and tracert commands
Consider the implications of unrestricted access to the internet

The children will explore:
Communicating digitally—taking part in ‘unplugged’ activities (without technology) to learn about how the internet works.
What is the internet? How is the school network is connected to the internet, explaining about any filter, cache or firewall hardware that may have been installed
Passing messages—how modern networks (including the internet) pass data between computers.
Getting from here to there
From names to numbers

Key Vocabulary
Tracert: A Windows command to show the IP addresses (and sometimes DNS names) of the routers, switches and other computers through which a data packet travels. The Linux/Mac equivalent is traceroute.
Unicode
Filter, cache or firewall hardware
Internet Protocol (IP) addresses: Numeric addresses uniquely specifying computers
directly connected to the internet, also used on private networks to uniquely
identify computers on that network.
ipconfig: A Windows command to show (or modify) information about the computer’s network interface. The Mac/ Linux equivalent is ifconfig.
ISPs: Internet service