Lesson 1: Computer

networks and protocols

Year 7 – Networks: from semaphores to the Internet

 Starter activity

How many devices are connected to the internet?

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 Objectives

Lesson 1: Computer networks and protocols

In this lesson, you will:
● Define what a computer network is and explain how data is transmitted between
computers across networks
● Define ‘protocol’ and provide examples of non-networking protocols

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 Activity 1

Historic communication methods

These are all forms of communication. Can you match the name with the image and the
year in which they were first used?

Telegram
1876

Email 1961

1837
Carrier pigeon 1791

1167
Telephone

Semaphore

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 Activity 1

Answers

Carrier pigeon Semaphore Telegram

1167 1791 1837

Telephone Email

1876 1961 5
 Activity 2

What is a computer network?

A computer network is when two or more

computers are connected together to allow
them to communicate.

This brings many benefits, which will be

covered later on.

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 Activity 2

Using computer networks

What common daily activities do you

think use computer networks?

Think, pair, share

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 Activity 2

How many common daily activities do you think use computer

networks?
Morning: music playing via a Bluetooth Evening: Using social media, playing
speaker, asking Alexa for the weather games online
forecast, controlling your central heating
via an app on your phone

Daytime: logging on to a PC for a

Computing lesson, accessing files stored
on the school network, printing to the
library printer, researching a topic on the
internet

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 Activity 3

Key milestones
Question
revisited:
The internet: The first internet was World Wide Web:
How many
called the ARPANET. Only a few Tim Berners-Lee invented the devices are now
people had access to it initially. WWW.
connected to the
internet?
1969 1989

Guidance: There
are just under 8
1950–1970 1974–1977 1999 billion people on
the planet.
Mainframe computers: Mainframe The first personal computers: IBM Mini computers: Nokia introduced
computers grew in popularity. and Apple were a couple of the a mobile phone that could connect
These were large and expensive. brands releasing PCs. to the internet.

Think, pair, share

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 Activity 4

A message to Australia (part 1)

Imagine that you needed to send a

message from the UK to Australia but no
computer networks exist.

● What methods would you use?

● What information would you need?
● Would anyone be involved in
relaying the message?

Think, pair, share

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 Activity 4

A message to Australia (part 2)

Imagine that you needed to send a

message from the UK to Australia and
computer networks do exist.

● What methods would you use?

● What information would you need?
● Would anyone be involved in
relaying the message?

Think, pair, share

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 Activity 4

Message transmission: letters

An answer to the first scenario (no computer networks) might have been to write and
post a letter.

How is a letter sent from the UK to Australia? What steps are involved between
putting the letter in the postbox and it arriving at the destination?

(Hands up)

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 Activity 4

Message transmission: email

Just as a letter does not go directly from the sender to the recipient, the email does not
travel from a sender’s machine through a cable or “into the cloud” directly to the
recipient’s machine.

The message is passed on to many mail servers along the way, who help get the message to
its destination.

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 Activity 5

Protocols

All methods of communication need rules

in place in order to pass on the message
successfully. These sets of rules are called
protocols.

What protocol exists for meeting someone

new?

Is this the same in all countries?

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 Activity 5

Protocols

UK: Question:

● Smile, and say ‘Hello’ In which cultures do people use the below
● Shake right hands (shaking left hands protocols to greet each other?
is considered disrespectful in many
● Bowing
countries)
● Rubbing noses
● Sticking your tongue out

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 Activity 5

Protocols

Question: In which cultures do people use the It is important that both parties involved
below protocols to greet each other? in communication know the rules. This is
the same with computer network
Answer: protocols.
● Bowing: Japan
● Rubbing noses: Inuit
● Sticking your tongue out: Tibetan

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 Activity 6

Climber and belayer protocol

Climbers often attach to a rope for safety A series of commands exist in order for
via a belay clip. the climber and belayer to communicate
during the climb.
The length of this rope is controlled by a
person called the belayer. Can you order them correctly so that the
climber can ascend safely?
The belayer is responsible for the
climber’s safety.

Belay: To fix a rope around an object

to secure it

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 Activity 6

Commands to order

Command Person Meaning

Belay On Belayer The rope is secured and slack taken up so it is tight.

Climbing Climber I wish to climb.

Off Belay Climber I wish to be detached from the rope. The climber only says this command when it is safe to do so at their
destination.

Belay Off Belayer The belay rope has been disconnected.

Climb On Belayer I am happy for you to climb.

Slack Climber I need some slack rope in order to climb up.

On Belay? Climber Is the rope secured?

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 Activity 6

Answers

Command Person Meaning Order number

(1 to 7)
On Belay? Climber Is the rope secured? 1
Belay On Belayer The rope is secured and slack taken up so it is tight. 2

Climbing Climber I wish to climb. 3

Climb On Belayer I am happy for you to climb. 4
Slack Climber I need some slack rope in order to climb up. 5

Off Belay Climber I wish to be detached from the rope. The climber only 6
says this command when it is safe to do so at their
destination.
Belay Off Belayer The belay rope has been disconnected. 7

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 Activity 7

Computer protocols: email and web address protocols

What rules (protocols) exist for an email What parts of this web address show rules
address? (protocols) being used?

An ‘@’ symbol must be used. http://www.bbc.co.uk

The email address must be unique. All website addresses start with ‘http://’
followed by ‘www’.

All website addresses are unique.

They use dots to separate each part of the

address.

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 Plenary

How many devices are connected to the internet?

Would you like to revise your answer in the light of the lesson?
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 Plenary

Answer: Over 27 billion

Answer:
There are currently just under 8 billion people on the
planet. In 2019, the number of connected devices on
the internet reached 27 billion! A projected 75 billion
will be online by 2025 (statista.com).

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 Summary

Next lesson

In this lesson, you… Next lesson, you will…

Defined what a computer network is and Look at the hardware necessary for
explained how data is transmitted between connecting devices to networks.
computers across networks.

Defined a protocol and looked at

examples of non-networking protocols.

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