Lesson video

Hi everyone.

My name is Mrs. Jenkins.

I can't wait to learn with you today.

Our lesson today is called Connecting Networks.

It is taken from the unit, The Internet.

Throughout today's lesson, we are going to be looking at connecting networks, and by the end of the lesson, you'll be able to explain how networks are connected together and why it is important that they are protected.

Today's lesson has three key words.

They are internet, network and router.

You might be familiar with some of these words and some might be new to you.

They will appear throughout the lesson, so it's really helpful to know what they mean before we start.

The internet is the global system of interconnected computer networks.

A network is a group of interconnected computing devices.

A router is a device that manages the flow of data between computer networks.

So those three words again to remind us are internet, network and router.

See if you can spot them throughout the lesson.

Our lesson today is called connecting networks.

We have two learning cycles in the lesson.

The first is explain the role of routers in networking.

The second is recognise why networks need protecting.

We're going to start with explain the role of routers in networking.

How would you describe the internet? Let's have a few answers.

What did you think? I asked you how would you describe the internet? The internet is a global system of computer networks.

These networks help us share information and communicate.

Do you know the key functions of each part of a network? Let's have a little look at this wired network in front of us.

We have got a network switch, a server, and then cables that are connected to some desktop computers.

We can also have a wireless network.

A network often includes both wired and wireless devices.

To use a wireless device on a network, you need a wireless access point.

So let's have a little look at our diagram here.

We have got our network switch, desktop computers, the server, and our wireless access point connected to the network switch.

This means that our wireless devices, so our tablets, laptops, any other wireless devices can all be connected to the wireless access point.

And the wireless access point is connected to the network switch with a cable.

Network computers are connected to switches or routers.

These pass data and share information around the network.

Data can also be passed from one network to another.

You need a router to pass data between networks.

A router connects the different networks together.

It helps send data from one network to another, such as from your home network to the internet.

So here we've got another diagram.

We have got a network switch connected with cables to the computers.

It's also connected by cable to the router.

And then we have the second network is also connected to the router and then to the computers by cables.

This enables your home network to join other networks.

Every network connects to the wider internet using routers, including those for home, schools and businesses.

So here we've got our original network in the circle that shows us our network switch, the cables and the desktop computers.

They are then connected to the router, which takes 'em to the wider world.

On the other side, we can see some other networks that you might have heard of.

So offices have a network.

Each individual office will have its own network, shops each have their own network, and restaurants, again, individual restaurants will have their own network, which will be connected to a router to allow to connect to the wider internet.

Okay, we've got a little check-in now.

True or false.

Data is passed through routers.

How did you get on? I asked you true or false? Data is passed through routers.

What did you think? The answer is true.

And the reason why.

Messages are passed between different networks through routers.

The internet connects networks from all around the world.

We can send information between countries through these global connections.

How do you think these networks are connected? The internet is a network of networks.

The networks are connected by cables on land and under the sea and by satellites.

This diagram shows some of the sub sea cables linking all the different countries.

Laura asks us a question.

She says, "Why are there so many cables?" What do you think? So there are a few reasons why there are so many cables.

The first is that lots of people use the internet.

So that means it can get very busy and there'll be lots of people trying to use it at the same time.

The second is because lots of data needs to be able to get from one network to another at the same time.

And the third, sometimes one cable may break, but it means another can be used while the first one is being repaired.

I've got another little check in now.

And my question for you is networks in different countries could be linked by A, subsea cables, B, tunnels or C, aeroplanes.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you networks in different countries could be linked by A, subsea cables, B, tunnels or C, aeroplanes.

And the answer was A, subsea cables.

And we had a little look at that diagram on the slide before.

Okay, we're going to move on to task A now, and that is going to be to label parts of a network.

So I want you to have a look at the pictures and label the different parts of the network.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you for task A, to label the parts of a network.

Let's have a little look at the answers.

Okay, so we have got desktop computers, we have got cables, a router, a network switch, and a server.

Well done everyone.

We are going to move on now to our second learning cycle, which is recognise why networks need protecting.

In the same way that you would not allow everyone into your home, it is important not to let everyone into your network.

Keeping a network safe is as important as remembering to lock the front door.

So let's have a little check.

True or false.

Everyone is allowed to access your network.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you true or false.

Everyone is allowed to access your network.

The answer is false.

The reason why.

In the same way that not everyone can enter your home, only trusted people should access your network.

Laura asks us a really good question here.

"Why do we need to protect networks?" Why do you think we need to protect networks? How do you get on? I asked you why do you think we need to protect networks? Let's help Laura out.

Protecting networks is important because networks hold data that is valuable and personal.

If a network isn't protected, it could let bad people steal or damage important data.

That's why we use things like firewalls, antivirus programmes, and strong passwords.

Thank you Laura for that question.

Networks have security features such as firewalls to block bad things and allow only safe content to pass through.

Firewalls reduce what is able to get through and antivirus software adds a second layer of protection.

So here we have our diagram of our different networks again, but you can see each network has two shields on there, one for the firewall and one for the antivirus.

Every network should have both of these.

A firewall is like a guard at the entrance of a network.

It uses rules to decide what data can pass through and what should be blocked to keep the network safe.

Antivirus programmes help protect computers and networks from harmful software like viruses.

They search for and remove things that can damage the network or steal information.

Let's have a little check.

True or false.

Firewalls block everything that is bad to protect the network.

Have a go.

How did you get on? I asked you true or false.

Firewalls block everything that is bad to protect the network.

The answer was false.

The reason why.

Firewalls use rules to block most bad things from entering the network.

Occasionally things might get through the firewall that were not meant to.

Okay, we are going to move on to task B now.

And the first part of the task is to explain why a network needs protecting.

How did you get on? I asked you to explain why a network needs protecting.

Protecting networks is important because networks hold data that is valuable and personal.

If a network isn't protected, it could let bad people steal or damage important data.

Going to move on to part two now.

And this one you are going to use the following rules and decide whether the data on the next page could go through the firewall.

So this firewall blocks numbers with three or more zeroes, numbers that do not have exactly eight digits and numbers that also contain letters or symbols.

Okay, so I'm gonna read those again, okay? 'Cause you are going to be the firewall.

You are going to come up with whether you can block these numbers.

So the firewall blocks numbers with three or more zeros, numbers that do not have exactly eight digits, numbers with letters or symbols.

Okay.

So can these numbers pass through the firewall? I'll read the numbers out to you and then you can have a go.

So our first number, 76934527.

The second number 74803020.

And we have 3m427467.

35284567.

30$73!86.

And 6732457.

Let's remind ourselves of those rules before you get started.

If the number has three or more zeros, it does not have exactly eight digits or contains letters or symbols, they should be blocked.

Off you go.

How did you get on? Let's have a look at the answers.

So I asked can these numbers pass through the firewall? Here are our answers.

So the first one, yes, it can go through.

It's exactly eight digits and it is all digits.

The second number, 74803020.

There are three zeros, so no, it can't go through the firewall.

The next one, 3m427467.

Can't go through because there is a letter in the number.

35284567.

Yes, nothing wrong with that number.

It can go through the firewall.

The next one, 30$73!86.

No, that one cannot go through the firewall, there are symbols.

The final number.

6732457.

No, that one does not have eight digits.

There are not enough numbers, it cannot go through the firewall.

You have worked so hard today.

Well done.

Let's summarise what we have learned.

Networks can be physically connected to other networks using routers.

Data can be shared between computers on different networks.

The internet is lots of networks that are all connected.

And networks need protecting in order to keep the information on them safe.

You have worked so hard.

Great job.

I look forward to learning with you again soon.