Part1：overview

  1. An overview of the networking fundamentals
    1. Why Networking[1]?
      1. Network is the virtual infrastructure most commonly used by people today. It is an important field in computer science and a necessary condition for modern people to communicate over long distances. It covers the basic concepts and techniques for transferring data between computers and other devices. The Internet originated in the 1960s as a way for government researchers to share information. In the subsequent development, it gradually evolved into a way for people to share information and resources. Nowadays, society’s demand for the Internet is increasing day by day. Understanding the basics of the Internet will give you a certain understanding of many current cutting-edge technologies and enable you to seize opportunities in the future.
    2. Misconceptions of Networking
      1. The faster the network connection, the better the network performance: Many people believe that as long as the network speed is fast, they can get the best network performance. However, network performance does not only depend on speed, but is also affected by factors such as network latency, packet loss rate, and network jitter. Even with high bandwidth, if the delay and jitter are too large, it will affect the user experience.
      2. When the WiFi router connects to the network[2]: Although restarting the WiFi router can temporarily solve the network connection problem, it is not a fundamental solution. Restarting can restore network connectivity by clearing cached data, reassigning IP addresses, fixing software glitches, resolving overheating issues, and switching to less disruptive channels. However, this is only a temporary measure and frequent connection issues may require updating the router firmware, checking the configuration, considering replacing the device, or optimizing the network settings for more stable and long-lasting network performance. Understanding the reasons behind this can help you troubleshoot network connectivity issues more effectively rather than relying solely on rebooting.
  1. A rationale for developing your learning resource based on this topic. What is it about this topic in particular that is of interest to you?
    1. Applications:
      1. Network connection issues are a real problem that everyone faces. Understanding and solving these problems can not only improve our quality of life, but also improve our work efficiency.
    2. Improve problem solving skills:
      1. By studying and learning these technical issues, we can improve our problem-solving skills. This not only applies to network problems, but also has reference significance for solving other technical problems.
    3. Technological advancements and applications:
      1. With the advancement of technology, new routers and network technologies are constantly emerging. Learning and understanding these new technologies will allow us to better apply and enjoy the convenience brought by technology.

Reference for the Overview:

  1. [1] Networking basics – PEARSONCMG, http://ptgmedia.pearsoncmg.com/imprint_downloads/cisco/ccna1cgsample.pdf (accessed Jun. 1, 2024). 
  2. [2] G. Howser, “Computer Networks and the internet,” SpringerLink, https://link.springer.com/book/10.1007/978-3-030-34496-2  (accessed Jun. 1, 2024). 

Part 2：A learning design plan

Big Ideas

  • How the internet is structured and how it works on a basic level
  • Some causes of slow internet and how they can be avoided or troubleshooted

Learning Outcomes

The learner should by the end of our lesson:

  • Understanding that the internet is just many different devices communicating remotely in an ecosystem
  • Understand how users communicate on the internet: Through small bundles of data called packets that are sent back in forth and in large quantities for larger messages
  • Understand the structure of a network and the differences between types of networks
  • Understand the OSI and TCP/IP model
  • Have knowledge of several different types of network devices
  • Understand the impact bandwidth and throughput on a connection
  • Understand the causes of network congestion and knowledge of practical solutions for the issue
  • Understand Latency and jitter and how they are caused
  • Understand Packet loss and how it affects network performance
  • Have a better understanding of how to tackle network issues at work and in their own home

Evidence of Learning

The learner should be able to demonstrate:

  • That they can distinguish between TCP and UDP given definitions of both
  • How network switches and exponential backoff works
  • That they can Identify the names of packet segments
  • Understanding of the OSI layered model through definition matching
  • They can identify the cause of a given network problem and identify a possible solution

Assessments/Learning Activities

1. Short quiz

After students develop a surface level understanding of the details of how computer networks work, they will be tasked with completing a short quiz to demonstrate and solidify their understanding. It will be multiple choice, with simple definitions and concepts. Provide this video for them to reference: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QhU9jd03a0. These are the main ideas worth assessing:

  1. TCP and UDP (connection vs connectionless)
  2. Using switches and exponential backoff to avoid network congestion on LAN
  3. Packets: their purpose, segmenting and encapsulation
  4. OSI model: simple understanding of the layered model

2.Partner discussion 

Prompt students to discuss concepts with a partner. Students will have the choice of either being assigned to choosing a partner. This allows students to think about what they have learned and teach/learn it from others to further reinforce their understanding. They will submit a simple 1 or 2 sentence reply to each prompt that is not graded to encourage freedom of thought. Prompts:

  1. What are the key factors to consider when choosing a network topology? What topology do you think UVic is using?
  2. Do you think video games use UDP or TCP packets? Talk to your partner and explain your reasoning.

3.Free response question

All students are assigned a free response question meant to be answered in 3-6 sentences. This encourages students to do their own research and further demonstrate their understanding. Their responses will only be graded on correctness and will be replied to by the professor.

Question: Explain the main differences between IPv4 and IPv6 addressing. Why is the transition from IPv4 to IPv6 necessary?

(Ideal) Expected Response: IPv4 addresses are 32-bit numeric addresses written in decimal format, allowing for approximately 4.3 billion unique addresses. In contrast, IPv6 addresses are 128-bit hexadecimal addresses, providing a vastly larger address space. The transition to IPv6 is necessary due to the exhaustion of IPv4 addresses, driven by the rapid growth of internet-connected devices.

This question puts the students in the shoes of those solving computer networking issues allowing them to think critically about why networks are designed the way they are today.

4.Wireshark activity

As a final learning activity, students will download Wireshark, a network analysis tool and analyze packets on their local interface.

  1. Start a Capture Session:
    • Instruct students to start a Wireshark capture on their local network interface.
  2. Capture and Filter Traffic:
    • Stop the capture session.
    • Use filters to display only the TCP and UDP packets.
  3. Analyze Captured Packets:
    • Select a TCP packet and examine the details in the packet details pane.
      • Identify the information in the Ethernet frame, IP header, and TCP header.
  4. Encapsulation and Decapsulation:
    • Trace a packet from the application layer down to the physical layer by examining the captured packet details.
    • Discuss how data is encapsulated at each layer and how it is decapsulated when received.
  5. Reflection and Discussion:
    • With their partner, ask students to discuss their observations:
      • What did they find surprising or interesting about the packet structures?
      • How does Wireshark help in diagnosing network issues?
  6. Submit Findings:
    • Each group should submit a short report summarizing their findings, including screenshots of analyzed packets and explanations of key observations.

Part 3: A list of resources

Textbook: Computer Networking: A Top-down Approach featuring the Internet

    The book adopts a top-down approach, starting from practical applications and gradually delving into the various technical details of the network, with a clear structure and rich content. Beginners are suitable for reading this book because it helps readers understand complex concepts through concrete cases and illustrations, and guides them step by step to master the fundamentals and applications of network technology. Also because many of the images we use to explain the composition of network hierarchies are copied from here as well, I think this textbook is of the utmost importance.

Scholarly articles:

    Because the knowledge we tell about the web is relatively basic, I don’t think we need rigorous academic literature to engage students who are just getting interested in the web. Too much boring academic literature can scare learners away.

Grey literature:

    This two-minute video is a great introduction to the basic concepts of networking while giving students something to think about! Afterwards, we’ll design some related questions to keep students guessing, using inquiry-based learning here.

https://medium.com/@karthikayanmailsamy/5-layer-network-model-made-simplified-e813da0913ba

This article explains the knowledge from the video above in more detail in an easy to understand way, and we intend to do this after the students have watched the video above to develop a thoughtful discussion. Read this article with them to deepen their knowledge by having them find what they just guessed on their own.

    Another short video that goes over the basics of computer networks and provides a visual understanding.

    This is a popular science video about why internet connections are unstable, recorded by one of Canada’s most famous tech vloggers, who gives an easy-to-understand look at how home networks work from the perspective of a tech practitioner. After listening to this, learners can get a general idea of these concepts, which will make it easier to understand the more specialized content we’re going to talk about next.

Technology tools

https://dnschecker.org/whats-my-ip-address.php

This website shows the ip addresses that we are using locally and can be used by the students to check the ip addresses of their computers while explaining to them the meaning of each word here when we have finished teaching the basics.

https://speed.cloudflare.com/

    This site is perfect for showing the current internet speed, latency, and where there is latency. Usually if the internet is not smooth you can use this site to check and get a result that you can refer to a professional. This tool also uses exploratory learning so that learners can discover the backside of the network on their own that they couldn’t see before.

Part 4: A Project Plan

Ziming :Ziming had already taken a course on the subject at uvic, so he was already well versed in the basic concepts of networking. He will be responsible for summarizing and reproducing the learning resources we prepared in the blueprints, changing them to be more suitable for newbies. Since English is his second language, he will be more in charge of the behind-the-scenes preparation, and he will work with alex to complete the preparation of the quiz.

Alex: Alex has also already taken a course on this subject. I will be responsible for implementing the assessment plan and ensuring it reflects the relevant competencies outlined in the lesson plan. In doing so I will also design questions such that their answers are easily obtainable through resources found by Ziming.

Qingze: QingZe will design the sub-topics of the learning objectives and bibliographic references throughout the Assignment. I will also work with other team members Alex, Hayden and Ziming to create the assessment plan, and will also be responsible for the learning environment and learner descriptions.

Hayden:  Hayden will work to create the lesson plan, then record the short lecture videos for each small topic. Hayden will also collaborate with the other team members on creating proper assessments for each learning outcome. At the same time Hayden will also be responsible for the part of accessible learning, and is committed to making this learning enjoyable for all.