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).

Activities:

  1. Unplugged Parallel Activity – solve a large math problem (like adding 1–1000) sequentially vs. dividing among groups (parallel).

  2. Coding Lab (optional, Python/JavaScript) –

    • Write a program that processes a large list sequentially vs. with simple parallel methods (if environment supports threads/async).

    • OR simulate distributed computing with multiple students working on different parts of a dataset.

Project/Check:

  • 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).