Unit 6

Communication and computer

networks in education
 Learning outcomes
¢ Explain the term network communication and
describe the hardware and software components
of computer networks
¢ Describe what the Internet is and how one can
access and use the Internet
¢ Describe the WWW
¢ Identify and describe other Internet services
¢ Explain acceptable code of conduct on the Internet
 Communication networks
¢ Also called telecommunications
A collection of computers and other equipments organised to

share data, information, hardware and software (e.g.

printers)
¢ Allows computers to communicate with each other using
telephone lines or wireless connection
¢ Other applications are:
l Internet -
• World Wide Web (WWW or Web)
• E-mail
• Conferencing systems
• Online services
• Fax
• Voice mail
•
 Basic structure of a
communications network/system
¢ One computer sends and other one receives
data
¢ Communications devices to send and route data
¢ Communications channel over which data is sent
(telephone lines, underground cables or
satellites)
¢ Communications software to manage
transmission of data between or among
computers
¢
A communications system
 Transmission media
¢ Twisted pair cables as communication channel
 Transmission media
¢ Modem: modulator-demodulator:-
l converts digital signals into analog signals and vice
versa
Network Interface Card (NIC)
connects to computers without
modem
NIC allows computers to
communicate over a computer
network or wireless network
 LAN and WAN
¢ Local Area Network: covers a limited
geographical area (school, computer lab, an
office)
¢ Wider Area Network: covers a large
geographical region (city, school district)
¢ Server - a computer that stores and manages
resources or data on a network:
la file server stores files
la print server manages one or more printers
la network server manages network traffic
la web server requests web pages
l
 LAN’s and WAN’s
¢
A number of computer devices connected to a server using NIC’s and cables
¢
 LAN’s and WAN’s in schools

¢ SA not networked to the extent that the US or

Australia is
¢ Schools there have LAN’s, but are also
connected to district offices
¢ Data and resources are easily shared
l Databases are online
l Resources (learning materials) are online
¢ Facilitates the use of the INTERNET
¢
 What is the INTERNET?

¢ Worlds largest
network
¢ Thousands of
computer
devices are
connected via
telephone
lines,
dedicated
digital lines or
satellite signals
 What is the Internet?
 A global massive network of networks, super-network
 How data is transmitted or
travel over the Internet?
¢ Computer’s software divides data into small
pieces called packets:
§ packets done through the technique called
packet switching – adheres to
Transmission Control Protocol/IP
§ routers (hardware devices) – determine the
paths and transfer data packets
§ recipient computer – reassembles data
packets into the original massage
§
§
 How to connect to the
Internet?
¢ Computer (sender) divides data into:
l packets through packet switching technique – adheres to the
Transmission Control Protocol/IP
l modem (modulator + demodulator) converts digital signals into
analog signals
l telephone lines
l packets travel through routers
l Internet Service Provider (ISP):
• Local ISP – limited to a small geographical area
• National ISP – large geographical region, nationwide
• Local ISP – limited to a small geographical area
l modem (modulator + demodulator) converts analog signals into
digital signals of the recipient computer
¢ Recipient computer reassembles packets into the original
massage + FTP
 How the Internet works?
Digital packets Analog packets Routers Routers
¢ Computer (sender) Modem Telephone ISP/ L ISP/ N

Routers Analog packets Digital packets

ISP/ L Telephone Modem Computer - receiver
 Connecting to the Internet
• Dial-up access: Using your phone line or an Integrated Services Digital
Network (ISDN) line
• “Always on” lines like Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) lines
• From home connect to an ISP (modem needed)
• ISP connects to national ISP
• National ISP will route to a national ISP in other country via underwater
cables or satellite
• Re-routed to local ISP
• Re-routed to destination web server
• This is called the Internet back bone
¢
How the Internet works?
 The benefits of computer
networks in education
¢ Sharing of hardware, software and
educational resources
¢ Enabling communications among and
between schools and other
organisations
¢ Storing student information/records
¢ Creating teaching and learning
opportunities or timeless possibilities
¢
¢
 What can you do on the Internet?
¢ Publish any information that you like
¢ Search for information on any topic that you can
imagine
¢ Access online databases
¢ Access educational materials
¢ Shop
¢ Bank
¢ Book tickets
¢ Share resources or information
¢ Online service provider (members) - special
content: news, weather, education …


¢
¢
 Internet addresses

http://www.uj.ac.za/index.html


Domain Document
hypertext Organisation Country code
name: name
transfer
protocol compute
r
address
 The World Wide Web
¢ A service available on the Internet
¢ Collection of electronic documents – hyperlinks: text,
graphics, video, sound, animations …
l When one follows links, it’s called “surfing the web”
¢ Web browser: Microsoft Internet Explorer,
 Netscape
¢ Web pages are developed using a language called
HTML
¢ Finding information one needs to know URL or
search engine(s)
¢ Plug-ins or helper application extents the capability of
the web browser
¢

•
 Other Internet services
¢ Email
l Email addresses e.g. duan@rau.ac.za
l Need email client like Outlook
l Also web-based email systems
• www.webmail.co.za
• www.ananzi.co.za
• www.hotmail.com
¢ FTP – used for transferring files, now a service
that the WWW offers
¢ Telnet (not popular in SA), Newsgroups
¢ Mailing lists like LISTSERV
¢ Chat rooms
 Netiquette and security

¢ Acceptable code of behaviour on the Internet

¢ Netiquette (see p 2.33)
l Email: brief, use proper grammar and spelling
l Be polite, consider other cultures
l Avoid flames (abusive or insulting messages)
l Avoid spam (sending junk mail)
l Don’t SHOUT
¢ Security: Cookies, privacy, filters (net nannies)
¢
l
 Impact on education

¢ E-learning or online education

¢ Resources
l www.merlot.org
¢ Collaboration (E-pals)
¢ Assessment
¢ In SA:
l www.learn.co.za
l http://www.mweb.co.za/hub/learn/
