Computing and Network Systems

Great request! I’ll design you a comprehensive AP CSP unit on Understanding Computer & Network Systems (Big Idea 4) with lessons, projects, and activities that fit the AP CSP framework, keep students engaged, and prepare them for the AP exam.

Here’s a structured unit you can use right away:

Unit: Understanding Computer & Network Systems (Big Idea 4)

Unit Goals

  • Explain how the Internet works (IP addresses, DNS, packets, protocols).

  • Demonstrate the importance of fault tolerance, redundancy, and scalability.

  • Explore parallel and distributed computing with real-world applications.

  • Apply concepts through simulations, unplugged activities, coding projects, and reflections.

Lesson Sequence

Lesson 1: What is the Internet? (4.1)

Objectives:

  • Understand IP addresses, DNS, packets, and protocols.

  • Visualize how a request moves across the internet.

Activities:

  1. Unplugged Simulation – “Passing Packets” game: students pass envelopes with parts of a message, simulating dropped/reordered packets.

  2. Mini Lab – Use ping and tracert/traceroute on school computers to see how packets travel.

  3. Discussion – Why do we need DNS? What happens if DNS fails?

Project/Check:

  • Draw a diagram of how a browser request works (user → DNS → server → back to user).

  • Quick-write: “What role do IP addresses and DNS play in making the Internet usable?”

Lesson 2: Protocols and Communication (4.1)

Objectives:

  • Explore TCP/IP, HTTP, HTTPS.

  • See why protocols are critical for interoperability.

Activities:

  1. Classroom Protocol Game – students pass secret notes with different “rules” for communication; only when they follow a shared set of rules can the message be read.

  2. Wireshark or Online Demo – (if allowed) capture network packets and see TCP/HTTP in action.

Project/Check:

  • Create an infographic or short video explaining one protocol (HTTP, HTTPS, TCP, UDP) in plain English.

Lesson 3: Fault Tolerance & Redundancy (4.2)

Objectives:

  • Understand how redundancy improves reliability.

  • Explore routing and rerouting of data.

Activities:

  1. Unplugged Simulation – students act as routers; if one path is blocked, data finds another route.

  2. Case Study – Look at a real-world event (e.g., Google outage, submarine cable cut, DNS outage). Discuss: what went wrong, how did redundancy help/fail?

Project/Check:

  • Create a one-page visual explanation of fault tolerance: why redundancy matters, with examples.

Lesson 4: Scalability (4.2)

Objectives:

  • Learn how networks grow to handle more users.

  • Explore bottlenecks (bandwidth, servers, congestion).

Activities:

  1. Bandwidth Demo – have students send messages with limited “bandwidth” (e.g., only 2 characters per round) vs. full sentences to simulate congestion.

  2. Discussion – What happens when millions of people stream Netflix or join Zoom?

Project/Check:

  • Students research and present: How do big companies like YouTube, Netflix, or Amazon scale their systems?

Lesson 5: Parallel & Distributed Computing (4.3)

Objectives:

  • Compare sequential vs. parallel vs. distributed computing.

  • Recognize real-world uses (scientific research, AI, climate modeling, SETI@Home).

Parallel and distributed computing are two models used to perform complex computations efficiently. While they share similarities, they differ in structure and functionality.

Key Differences

Parallel Computing

  • Structure: Involves multiple processors that work on tasks simultaneously. These processors can share memory.

  • Functionality: Tasks are divided into smaller sub-tasks, which are processed at the same time.

  • Examples: Supercomputers, smartphones, and artificial intelligence applications.

Distributed Computing

  • Structure: Comprises multiple autonomous computers that communicate over a network. Each computer has its own memory.

  • Functionality: A single task is divided among different computers, which work together to achieve a common goal.

  • Examples: Cloud computing services, online applications like Google Docs, and cryptocurrency mining.

Advantages and Challenges Advantages

Feature

Parallel Computing

Distributed Computing

Speed

Faster execution due to simultaneous processing

Fault tolerance; failure of one node does not halt the entire system

Resource Utilization

Efficient use of processing units

Can leverage multiple locations and resources

Challenges

Requires synchronization between processors, which can complicate programming and increase overhead.

Faces issues like network latency and the need for robust communication protocols.

Understanding these differences helps in choosing the right model for specific computational tasks.

Activities

  • Binary Messages

  • Let’s Make a cake

Reflection:

Why are parallel and distributed computing essential for modern problems like AI, space exploration, or healthcare?

Lesson 6: Review & Synthesis

Objectives:

  • Bring together internet structure, protocols, fault tolerance, scalability, parallel/distributed computing.

  • Prepare for AP-style questions.

Activities:

  1. Concept Map – students create a visual showing connections among IP, DNS, packets, protocols, fault tolerance, and distributed computing.

  2. Practice AP CSP Exam Questions – multiple choice and short-answer style.

Projects & Performance Tasks

  1. “Life of a Packet” Storyboard/Video

    • Students create a comic, animation, or video that shows how data travels across the internet, including DNS, IP, packets, and protocols.

  2. Network Outage Case Study

    • Research a real-world outage (DNS failure, DDoS attack, cable break).

    • Present what happened, how redundancy helped (or didn’t), and lessons learned.

  3. Parallel/Distributed Simulation Project

    • Students simulate solving a problem (like word counting, searching, or sorting) using sequential, parallel, and distributed strategies.

    • Write a reflection on efficiency and scalability.

  4. Scalability Research Project

    • Students research how a major service (YouTube, Netflix, Zoom, Fortnite servers) handles massive numbers of users.

    • Create a presentation or infographic.

Assessment Options

  • Formative: exit tickets, diagrams, reflections, class simulations.

  • Summative:

    • Project presentation (Life of a Packet, Network Outage Case Study, or Scalability Research).

    • Unit test with multiple choice + short answer (aligned to AP CSP style).