This content is located in CAPS under Internet Technologies: Internet and the WWW for Grade 11.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) networks and torrenting may sound technical, but they represent concepts your learners likely encounter in their everyday use of technology. Making these concepts relatable and applicable in the classroom can help learners understand their practical implications and ethical considerations.

Start by introducing the concept of P2P networks. Explain that in these networks, devices (or peers) communicate directly with one another to share files or resources, without requiring a central server. Torrenting, a real-world application of P2P networks, allows for the distribution of large files by breaking them into smaller pieces that peers share simultaneously. This efficient sharing method underpins its popularity—and raises legal and ethical considerations.

Classroom Activities and Examples:

1. Visual Demonstration with Students:
   • Arrange your class into small groups and ask each group to represent a “peer” in a network.
   • Use index cards to represent a large “file” broken into pieces.
   • Assign one group to initially have all the pieces and share them with others. This illustrates how data is distributed in P2P networks.
2. Real-Life Analogies:
   • Relate P2P sharing to sharing snacks in a class. If everyone contributes a piece, everyone gets a share quickly. This analogy helps contextualise the concept of decentralisation in a P2P network.
3. Exploring Torrenting Applications:
   • Use examples of legal torrenting platforms such as Linux distributions or public domain media to show legitimate uses of torrenting.
   • Discuss how torrenting works with metaphors, such as assembling a jigsaw puzzle, where each peer provides a piece of the picture.
4. Research Activity:
   • Assign students to research and present on the pros and cons of P2P networks. Topics can include speed, efficiency, decentralisation, and risks like malware or data theft.
5. Ethics and Legal Case Studies:
   • Share examples of how torrenting can lead to copyright infringement. Discuss the ethical and legal implications of sharing protected content.
   • Encourage debates: Should all P2P uses be banned, or is it just a matter of how they’re used?
6. Simulated Network Setup:
   • If resources allow, use a small lab to set up a simple P2P network with shared folders. Allow students to experience file sharing firsthand, reinforcing the technical and practical aspects of the topic.
7. Interactive Diagrams and Mind Maps:
   • Have students create diagrams or mind maps illustrating the flow of data in P2P networks versus traditional client-server models.
8. Relating to Current Events:
   • Discuss recent headlines or trends related to P2P technologies, such as blockchain or cryptocurrency (which leverage decentralisation concepts similar to P2P).

Teaching Tips for Varied Resources:

• For resource-limited environments, rely on analogies, group simulations, and discussions.
• Encourage students to use free online tools like Lucidchart or Google Drawings for creating network diagrams if devices are available.
• Use printed visuals or a chalkboard to demonstrate data flow in networks.

Wrap up the lesson by encouraging students to reflect on how P2P networks might shape the future of technology and the importance of responsible digital behaviour. Engage them with questions: How do these technologies improve lives? What risks should we address?P