Week 4 Lesson Plans: Introduction to Networking
Objective:
Students will understand the basic networking components (repeaters, hubs, wireless access
points, bridges, switches, routers) and wireless media standards. They will learn about basic
wireless connection parameters, security, and troubleshooting.
Materials:
• Pens and pencils
• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed handouts with diagrams of networking devices
• Computers for research (no Packet Tracer)
• Worksheets for drawing network setups
Duration: 50 Minutes
Warm-Up (5 minutes)
• Discussion: Ask students what devices they use at home to connect to the internet. List
these devices on the whiteboard.
Introduction to Networking Devices (20 minutes)
• Lecture and Discussion (10 minutes):
• Explain Basic Devices: Briefly describe repeaters, hubs, wireless access points,
bridges, switches, and routers.
• Uses: Highlight how each device is used in a network.
• Advantages and Disadvantages: Discuss the pros and cons of each device.
• Interactive Activity (10 minutes):
• Device Matching Game: Hand out printed diagrams of different devices. Have
students match the name of the device to its picture and write one advantage and
one disadvantage.
Wireless Media Standards (10 minutes)
• Presentation (5 minutes):
• Define Standards: Explain Wi-Fi standards like 802.11a/b/g/n/ac.
• Evolution: Briefly touch on how these standards have evolved over time.
• Group Discussion (5 minutes):
• Real-Life Application: Discuss with students which standards they think their
home Wi-Fi uses and why.
Basic Wireless Networking (10 minutes)
• Lecture (5 minutes):
• Connection Parameters: Explain SSID, channel, and encryption.
• Security: Brief overview of WEP, WPA, WPA2, and WPA3.
• Basic Troubleshooting: Common issues like interference and signal strength.
• Group Activity (5 minutes):
• Scenario-Based Questions: Present scenarios (e.g., weak signal, slow speed) and
ask groups to identify potential causes and solutions.
Network Drawing Exercise (5 minutes)
• Activity:
• Distribute worksheets with blank network diagrams.
• Students will draw a simple home network including at least one of each device
discussed.
• Encourage creativity and practicality in their designs.
Wrap-Up and Homework (5 minutes)
• Review: Quick recap of the lesson.
• Homework Assignment:
• Research one advanced networking device (e.g., NAS, firewall) and prepare a
short presentation for the next class.
Notes for the Teacher:
• Keep the language simple and relatable.
• Use real-world examples to explain concepts.
• Encourage questions and group interactions to maintain engagement.
• Assess the room periodically to ensure all students are following along.
This lesson plan introduces the basics of networking in an interactive and engaging way, suitable
for 9th-grade students. The balance of lectures, discussions, and hands-on activities should cater
to different learning styles and keep the class dynamic.
Week 4: Lesson Plan “B” Define Network Segmentation
Duration: 5 minutes
Objective: Understand what network segmentation is.
• Explanation:
• Simple Analogy: Think of network segmentation like organizing a big party into
smaller groups. Each group (segment) can have its own music and snacks, reducing
chaos and ensuring everyone's having a good time.
• Technical Definition: It's the practice of dividing a computer network into smaller,
manageable parts. Each segment is a subnetwork, and it can improve performance,
security, and manageability.
2. Explain Network Segmentation Using Bridges, Switches, Routers,
Brouters, and Gateways
Duration: 15 minutes
Objective: Learn how different devices contribute to network segmentation.
• Interactive Discussion:
• Bridges: Like a simple traffic officer, directing data between two segments.
• Switches: The smart organizers, keeping track of who needs what data and sending
it directly to them, reducing unnecessary traffic.
• Routers: The savvy travel guides, directing data between different networks
(segments) and even different types of networks.
• Brouters: A mix of a bridge and a router, like a multi-talented performer, can work
either as a bridge or a router depending on the data.
• Gateways: The universal translators, connecting completely different types of
networks and ensuring they can communicate.
• Group Activity: Divide the class into groups, each representing a device. Each group
explains how their device helps in segmentation, using real-world examples.
3. Explain Ethernet Operations
Duration: 15 minutes
Objective: Understand how Ethernet works.
• Presentation:
• Basics of Ethernet: It's like a big, bustling marketplace where everyone can talk to
everyone, but they need to take turns to avoid chaos (CSMA/CD).
• Frames: Discuss how data is packed in Ethernet frames, like packing items in a box
for shipping.
• Addressing: MAC addresses are like unique IDs for each participant in the network.
• Switching: How switches intelligently direct traffic to reduce congestion.
• Demonstration: Use a simple animation or diagram to show how an Ethernet frame travels
through a network.
4. Define Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet
Duration: 10 minutes
Objective: Learn the differences between Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet.
• Lecture:
• Fast Ethernet: Like upgrading from a bicycle to a motorcycle, boosting the speed to
100 Mbps.
• Gigabit Ethernet: Like hopping onto a high-speed train, further boosting the speed
to 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps).
• Use Cases: Where and why you would choose one over the other.
• Group Discussion: Discuss how the increased speed might impact network performance and
user experience.
Wrap-Up and Homework (5 minutes)
• Recap the Key Points: Quick summary of what was covered.
• Homework: Research an advanced networking concept (like VLANs) and how it relates to
network segmentation.
Notes for the Teacher:
• Use analogies and real-world examples to make concepts relatable.
• Encourage participation and questions to ensure understanding.
• Make sure all students are engaged, especially during group activities.
This lesson plan should provide a comprehensive overview of network segmentation and Ethernet
operations, making these concepts accessible and interesting for students.
