Lesson Package: Computing Systems
- cshub37
- 5 days ago
- 1 min read
Developed as part of the Extending the CS Pipeline: Enhancing Rigor and Relevance in Middle School CS Project.
Computing systems are all around us, quietly coordinating devices, software, and data to make everyday technology work. In this lesson package, students explore what makes a device a computer, how multiple computing devices work together as systems, and how those systems communicate to share information and complete tasks. Students develop a foundational understanding of hardware and software while examining how data moves between devices through connections such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and wired networks.
Through discussion, direct instruction, and collaboration, students connect abstract computing concepts to real-world examples they already recognize, such as smartphones, smartwatches, and school-based technologies. By analyzing existing systems and designing their own, students engage critically with how computing systems improve efficiency, solve problems, and impact their daily lives. The lesson emphasizes systems thinking, collaboration, and real-world relevance, helping students see computing not as isolated devices but as interconnected tools shaping the modern world.
This lesson package includes the following:
Lesson plans with timing and Student Learning Standards (NJSLS)
Presentation slides
Hardware vs. software student worksheet & answer key
Introductory computing systems WebQuest
Smart cafeteria WebQuest
Design a System WebQuest
Teacher discussion questions
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