Networks+and+Communications

=Networks and Communications Lesson Plans= toc

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Friday
Wiki prac: Discuss electronic commerce: · The technology of the communications · The flow of data between servers. Critique the advantages and disadvantages to customers, businesses, and society. Critique potential trends and implications of communications technology and its applications (e.g. a cashless society, virtual classrooms, virtual corporations, the merging of all communications [radio, TV, telephone] into the Internet)

Thursday

 * TEST**

Wiki prac: Critique the privacy considerations that the linking of databases between organisations has for individuals. Outline the concepts involved in common electronic communications applications.

Monday
Data is at risk both in transit and when stored. Discuss the Internet security of: · data during transmission with encryption software; data stored on servers with firewall, proxy servers, and encryption software.

Critically discuss the reasons for the widespread use of the Internet, and the implications of this.

Critique various network problems for given case-studies. Examples could include discussion of the ways in which a computer may: · be infected with a virus, and how the virus is detected; · be affected by email abuse; allow access to undesirable information.

Friday


Outline how World Wide Web software (browser software) works. Define terms such as: · URL (uniform resource locator) and its parts; · HTML (hypertext markup language); · HTTP (hypertext transfer protocol); · search engine; domain name, and the parts of an Internet address.

Homework: When an Internet service is used, data flows between nodes and is stored in some of them. Trace the flow of data for a given service by stating a possible route and the probable transmission media used en route. Email to me before Monday's lesson.

Thursday
Outline the main services found on the Internet (file transfer protocol [FTP], email, newsgroups, World Wide Web). Distinguish between the Internet, an intranet, and an extranet. Outline the packet-switching protocol (i.e. transport control protocol / Internet protocol [TCP/IP]) of the Internet. Describe the needs for connecting to the Internet: for a home user: · Communications hardware (functions of) · Communications software (functions of) · Internet service provider (role of); for users of a LAN (e.g. at school): · Proxy server · Firewall Internet service provider (ISP).

Wednesday
Assessment Plan Changes:
 * Issues research project 30% has been cancelled.
 * Tests are now worth 60%.
 * Our class wiki is the new Networks & Communications Practical Assessment.

Click here to see amended outline. Click here to see the Criteria for assessment for the wiki prac.

Define the term ‘the Internet’. Discuss the flow of data in LAN client–server networks for given case-studies (e.g. supermarkets, organisations such as SSABSA, schools, libraries). - Generate your own case study scenario and complete this activity in the class wiki. Due Friday Week 9.

Monday
Warriors of the Net Movie

Outline the functions of a network operating system:

> Essay due by email before Wednesday's lesson.
 * Administration of client users; automatic backup routines.
 * File management (locating and transferring files between nodes).
 * Printer management.
 * Security — restricting access to network resources according to password allocation types.

Monday
Wiki Team Work

Today we're consolidating different parts of the wiki in teams: Nat is working on the home page Richard is working on communications media Adrian and Paul L are working on How the internet works Karl & Paul M are working on What the internet can be used for Braden & Pat are working on communications software The Lukes are working on communications hardware

Thursday
Communications Practise Test - open book, open net, must submit by the end of the lesson.

Friday
Reviewing performance on practise test.

Monday
Introducing our class wiki!

Go to our class wiki at http://asmsitstudies.wikispaces.com. Browse the site, especially the help page.

The following tasks need to be completed in the wiki:
 * 1) Brainstorm questions about the topic.
 * 2) Organise the topic into subtopics.
 * 3) Organise each subtopic into Key Ideas and Concepts.
 * 4) Organise questions into the appropriate Key Ideas and Concepts sections.
 * 5) Develop answers to the questions.
 * 6) Fill in the blanks, and refine the answers.
 * 7) Devise further questions and repeat steps 4-7 until we have a really good resource and you have a deep understanding of the things you need to know.
 * 8) Repeat steps 1-7 for each of the other topics in this course.

We will begin this process today - we need to work efficiently and effectively to make the best use of our learning, so let's see just how much we can accomplish.

Today I want each of you to make at least 2 significant contributions to the class wiki. On Wednesday we'll check our progress.

Wednesday
Today we will improve the Networks subtopic in the class wiki at http://asmsitstudies.wikispaces.com.

You can then add appropriate entries into the class wiki You should already have enough notes to enable you to make entries on the following tasks:
 * Describe the range of requirements for two computers to communicate (e.g. from two devices to global networks).
 * Discuss the need for protocols between two communicating computers.
 * Compare connection and connectionless protocols.
 * Discuss the functions of communications software.
 * Discuss the functions of communications software.

Outline the function of communications media (e.g. twisted pair, coaxial cable, fibre optics, microwave [with and without satellites], and wireless transmission [WAP protocol]). Define the terms ‘node’, ‘local area network’, ‘wide area network’, ‘server’, ‘client’, ‘peer‑to‑peer’, ‘client–server’. Define network terms that relate to transmission efficiency: ‘bandwidth’, ‘modem’, ‘transmission rates’. Describe the notion of packet-switching. List the composition of a packet. Outline common protocol(s) for packet transmission. Discuss the hardware and software requirements of a client–server LAN: · Hardware: file server, transmission media. · Software: network operating system, email. · Groupware (shared software). Outline the functions of a network operating system: · Administration of client users; automatic backup routines. · File management (locating and transferring files between nodes). · Printer management.