This content is located in CAPS under Network Technologies: Networks for Grade 12.

Streaming has become an integral part of how information and entertainment are accessed and shared. Understanding its principles equips students with knowledge about data consumption, bandwidth, and the various practical applications in everyday life.

In the Grade 12 curriculum, streaming focuses on how it functions as an internet service, its advantages and disadvantages, and the implications for users regarding bandwidth, data caps, and throttling. Here’s how to make this topic relatable and interactive for students:

Real-World Context

Start by discussing how students already use streaming in their daily lives—YouTube, Netflix, Spotify, or even educational content on platforms like Khan Academy. Relating to their experiences makes the concept more tangible. Discuss what happens when they hit play on a video: how the content is delivered in real-time rather than downloaded entirely before use.

Classroom Activities

1. The Bandwidth Experiment:
   • Set up a simulated network in the classroom. Use different devices (e.g., a laptop, phone, or tablet) to stream videos simultaneously.
   • Demonstrate how video quality changes based on bandwidth availability (e.g., using YouTube’s resolution settings).
   • Explain terms like buffering, throttling, and bandwidth prioritisation.
2. Data Usage Detective:
   • Give students a table of typical data usage rates for streaming services (e.g., HD vs. 4K video).
   • Ask them to calculate how much data would be consumed watching a two-hour movie in different resolutions.
   • This activity builds their ability to make informed decisions regarding data caps or Wi-Fi plans.
3. Comparing Streaming Platforms:
   • Divide the class into groups. Assign each group a platform (e.g., Netflix, Spotify, YouTube).
   • Have them research the specific features of each platform, focusing on data usage, subscription models, and quality options.
   • Groups present their findings, encouraging discussion on pros and cons.

Budgeting Exercise

Provide students with a scenario: they have a capped internet plan of 100GB/month, and they love streaming music and video.

• Ask them to plan their usage to stay within their limit.
• Encourage them to include their favourite platforms, and show how changing quality settings can stretch their data budget.

Visualising the Process

Create a flow diagram on the board to illustrate streaming:

1. Request for content from the user.
2. Server processes and sends data in small chunks (packets).
3. Continuous data transmission while the content plays.
4. Impact of interruptions in bandwidth (buffering).

This makes the process easy to visualise, helping students grasp the technical aspect.

Addressing Throttling and Fair Use Policies

Discuss how service providers manage internet traffic and the impact of throttling on streaming.

• Highlight real-world examples, such as load management during peak hours.
• Open a debate: Should throttling be allowed, or is it unfair to consumers?

Accessibility and Sustainability

Link streaming to broader topics like:

• Environmental impact: Cloud storage and streaming energy usage.
• Access inequalities: How different regions experience varying streaming qualities based on infrastructure.

Teaching Strategies

• Analyse: Have students critically evaluate why certain types of streaming services (like video) require more data than others (like audio).
• Apply: Let them compare how compression algorithms (e.g., H.264 vs. H.265) impact streaming efficiency.
• Create: Students design a hypothetical streaming platform, detailing features that balance quality and data usage.

By combining hands-on activities, critical discussions, and real-world examples, you can make streaming a relatable and engaging topic for your Grade 12 students.

How do you approach this topic in your classroom? Share your ideas and experiences below!