Create unit plan for Computer & Network Systems

Added a comprehensive unit plan for Understanding Computer & Network Systems, including lessons, activities, and assessment options.

Author: jonvirak

source/Unit 4/Computing-and-Network-Systems.md

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 # 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).
+
+---
+
+