This content is located in CAPS under Network Technologies: Networks for Grade 11.

When teaching “Internet as an example of a WAN,” it’s important to bridge the abstract concept of a Wide Area Network (WAN) with the practical and familiar experience of using the internet. Students often use the internet daily, making it the perfect real-world example to illustrate the topic.

Start by introducing the characteristics of a WAN. Highlight how WANs cover broad geographic areas, involve interconnected devices across cities or countries, and typically rely on public communication links. Then, segue into the internet as the most prominent and accessible example of a WAN.

Making the Concept Tangible

1. Visualise with Maps

Begin the discussion by showing a global map of the internet infrastructure. Use tools like submarine cable maps or a simple graphic showing interconnected data centres worldwide. This visual helps students grasp the scale and complexity of the internet as a WAN.

2. Role-Playing Network Components

Assign students roles as network devices: routers, servers, and client computers. Use physical props like strings to represent connections. For instance:

• A “client” (student A) in one city sends a request (e.g., “Google search”).
• A “router” (student B) connects the request to a “server” (student C) in another country. This activity demonstrates data travelling across the WAN, emphasising how routers and servers facilitate communication across distances.

3. Compare with Local Networks

Help students differentiate between a Local Area Network (LAN) and a WAN by comparing a school’s network with the internet. Ask them to imagine the school’s LAN as a self-contained system and the internet as a network that connects millions of such LANs worldwide.

4. Conduct Speed Tests

Have students use online tools like Speedtest.net to measure the data transmission speed of their internet connections. Discuss the factors affecting their results:

• Bandwidth
• Internet Service Provider (ISP) infrastructure
• Distance to the server Relate these results to the concept of WANs, showing how physical distance and infrastructure influence internet performance.

5. Explore Real-World Uses

Highlight specific examples of internet services that demonstrate WAN features:

• Streaming: Explain how streaming platforms like Netflix rely on data travelling across WANs to deliver content from servers located worldwide.
• Cloud Computing: Use Google Drive or Microsoft 365 to show how data stored in data centres can be accessed from anywhere.

Addressing Contextual Challenges

For under-resourced environments:

• Offline Activities: If internet access is limited, use pre-downloaded videos or printed diagrams to explain how the internet operates as a WAN.
• Local Examples: Highlight national ISPs or government services (e.g., SARS e-filing, online TV licence renewal) that operate through WANs.

Higher-Order Thinking with Bloom’s Taxonomy

• Analyse: Have students compare the advantages and disadvantages of WANs and LANs.
• Evaluate: Discuss the importance of the internet as a WAN for global communication and business.
• Create: Ask students to design a diagram or presentation explaining how the internet functions as a WAN.

Incorporating these strategies into your teaching will help Grade 11 students see the internet as more than just a tool for entertainment. They’ll develop a deeper understanding of the internet’s structure and significance as a WAN.