Commit a54143
2026-04-11 11:33:04 cloudy-jc: Add Workshop 1: Hardware & Networks wiki page Key concepts (CPU, RAM, Storage, Motherboard, GPU, Binary, Networks), embedded YouTube videos, core + extension tasks, key words, and resources. Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.6 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>| /dev/null .. Workshop 1 Hardware and Networks.md | |
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| + | # Workshop 1: Hardware & Networks |
| + | |
| + | Year 7 Digital Technologies — Term 2, 2026 |
| + | |
| + | ## Overview |
| + | |
| + | In this workshop you will open up computers, discover what makes them tick, learn the secret language of binary, and build your own network. |
| + | |
| + | ## Key Concepts |
| + | |
| + | ### Inside a Computer |
| + | |
| + | Every device — phone, laptop, gaming PC — has the same core components: |
| + | |
| + | - **CPU (Central Processing Unit)** — The brain. Processes billions of instructions per second. |
| + | - **RAM (Random Access Memory)** — Short-term memory. Like your desk — apps go here while you use them. Wiped when you power off. |
| + | - **Storage (SSD/HDD)** — Long-term memory. Your photos, games, and files live here permanently. |
| + | - **Motherboard** — The backbone connecting everything. Data flows between components like cars on a highway. |
| + | - **GPU (Graphics Processing Unit)** — Originally for games — fast, smooth graphics. Now also powering AI with billions of parallel calculations. |
| + | |
| + | ### Binary |
| + | |
| + | Computers only understand **binary** — 0s and 1s. Every photo, message, and game is stored as binary. |
| + | |
| + | Each position is worth double the one to its right: |
| + | |
| + | | 128 | 64 | 32 | 16 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 | |
| + | |-----|----|----|----|----|---|---|---| |
| + | |
| + | **Example:** `10110010` = 128 + 32 + 16 + 2 = **178** |
| + | |
| + | #### Practice |
| + | |
| + | Convert binary to decimal: |
| + | - `00001101` = ? |
| + | - `01010101` = ? |
| + | - `11000011` = ? |
| + | - `10000001` = ? |
| + | |
| + | Convert decimal to binary: |
| + | - 25 = ? |
| + | - 100 = ? |
| + | - 42 = ? |
| + | - 200 = ? |
| + | |
| + | ### How Networks Work |
| + | |
| + | - **Ethernet cables** — Twisted pairs of copper wires carrying electrical signals. Up to 100m at 1 Gbps. |
| + | - **Fibre-optic cables** — Pulses of light through glass. Up to 100km at 10 Gbps. Used for internet backbones and undersea cables. |
| + | - **Switch** — Connects devices on a local network. Reads addresses to send data to the right device. |
| + | - **Router** — Connects your local network to other networks (like the internet). |
| + | - **LAN (Local Area Network)** — Devices in one location, like your classroom. |
| + | - **WAN (Wide Area Network)** — Connects multiple LANs. The biggest WAN is the internet. |
| + | |
| + | When you send a message, your device breaks it into **packets**. The switch sends them to the right local device. If they need to go further, the router forwards them to the internet. At the other end, packets are reassembled. |
| + | |
| + | ### The AI Connection |
| + | |
| + | AI models like ChatGPT run on the same hardware — just thousands of CPUs, GPUs, and RAM sticks working together in massive data centres. The same type of chip that runs your Fortnite is now running AI. And it needs a LOT more of them. That's why there aren't enough GPU cards left for gamers! |
| + | |
| + | ## Videos |
| + | |
| + | - [Inside a Computer — Why AI Stole Your GPU](https://youtu.be/tNkFNDFyTf4) (1:35) |
| + | - [How Networks Power AI](https://youtu.be/CM-mj626lkc) (1:22) |
| + | |
| + | ## Tasks |
| + | |
| + | ### Core Tasks |
| + | |
| + | 1. **Laptop Autopsy** (1 lesson) — Open a broken laptop and identify at least 5 internal components. Label them in your notebook with a sketch. |
| + | 2. **Raspberry Pi Boot** (1 lesson) — Set up a Raspberry Pi from scratch. Boot it, navigate the desktop, open the file manager and terminal. |
| + | 3. **Build a LAN** (1 lesson) — Connect 3 devices using ethernet cables, a switch, and a router. Test that they can communicate. |
| + | |
| + | ### Extension Tasks |
| + | |
| + | 4. **Pi Network Challenge** (1 lesson) — Transfer a file between two Raspberry Pis over your LAN. Document the steps you took. |
| + | 5. **Data Journey Research** (1 lesson) — Research: How does data travel from your Raspberry Pi to Google? Draw the path including all the devices it passes through. |
| + | |
| + | ## Key Words |
| + | |
| + | | Term | Definition | |
| + | |------|-----------| |
| + | | CPU | Central Processing Unit — the brain of the computer | |
| + | | RAM | Random Access Memory — temporary working storage | |
| + | | Storage | SSD or HDD — permanent file storage | |
| + | | Motherboard | Main circuit board connecting all components | |
| + | | GPU | Graphics Processing Unit — fast parallel calculations | |
| + | | Router | Device that directs traffic between different networks | |
| + | | Switch | Device that connects devices within the same network | |
| + | | Ethernet | Wired network connection using cables | |
| + | | Binary | Number system using only 0 and 1 | |
| + | | LAN | Local Area Network — connected devices in one location | |
| + | | WAN | Wide Area Network — connects multiple LANs | |
| + | | Packet | A small chunk of data sent across a network | |
| + | |
| + | ## Resources |
| + | |
| + | - [CS Unplugged — Count the Dots](https://csunplugged.org/activities/binary-numbers) — Classic binary activity with physical cards |
| + | - [Isaac Computer Science — Systems Architecture](https://isaaccomputerscience.org/topics/architecture) — CPU, RAM, storage deep dive |
| + | - [Isaac Computer Science — Networking](https://isaaccomputerscience.org/topics/networking) — LANs, WANs, how data travels |
| + | - [Raspberry Pi Getting Started](https://projects.raspberrypi.org/en/projects/raspberry-pi-getting-started) — Official setup guide |
| + | - [Micro:bit Radio Projects](https://microbit.org/projects/make-it-code-it) — Send data wirelessly between micro:bits |
| + | - [Digital Technologies Hub](https://www.digitaltechnologieshub.edu.au/) — Australian curriculum resources |