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

The internet, as an example of a Wide Area Network (WAN), is one of the most powerful tools to teach students about networking concepts. By exploring how the internet operates as a WAN, students can grasp the intricacies of data transfer across vast geographical distances. This makes the theoretical concept of a WAN more tangible and relatable.

To introduce this topic, compare a local area network (LAN), which exists within a building, to the global scope of the internet. Highlight how the internet connects millions of smaller networks and spans continents.

Making the Concept Practical in the Classroom

1. Visualise the Internet’s Scale
   Begin with a map of the world showing undersea cables, satellite connections, and data centres. Discuss how these physical infrastructures connect countries and continents, making the internet a global WAN.
2. Role Play a Packet’s Journey
   Create an activity where students act as data packets. Assign some students as devices (e.g., a computer or a smartphone), others as routers, and others as servers. Simulate the movement of packets through different paths to demonstrate how data travels across the internet and encounters routers, DNS servers, and firewalls. Include scenarios of interruptions, such as “lost packets,” to illustrate reliability mechanisms.
3. Use an Internet Speed Test
   Involve students in testing the internet speed at school or home. This can lead to discussions about bandwidth, latency, and factors affecting speed (like throttling and shaping). Show how these metrics indicate the performance of a WAN connection.
4. Explore Real-Time Network Visualisation Tools
   Introduce free tools like Traceroute or Ping (e.g., in the Command Prompt or online tools) to trace the route data packets take from the school network to a global website. This practical example helps students understand hops between nodes in a WAN.
5. Investigate Internet Services
   Discuss services enabled by WANs, such as cloud computing, video streaming, and online gaming. Use examples like Google Drive or YouTube to explain how data is stored in distant servers and accessed via the internet. Encourage students to think critically about the pros and cons of such services.
6. Bring in Local Context
   Relate the concept of WANs to South Africa by discussing ISPs (Internet Service Providers) and the challenges of internet access in rural areas. Explain how technologies like satellite internet or fibre-optic cables impact connectivity in these areas.
7. Discuss Fair Use Policies and Data Caps
   Address the limitations and ethical considerations of WAN usage. Many students are familiar with data bundles, so explore concepts like bandwidth shaping, fair use policies, and the cost of internet access in South Africa.
8. Simulate a Virtual Private Network (VPN)
   Explain how VPNs work as part of WAN technology. Show a simple diagram illustrating how a VPN creates a secure “tunnel” over the internet. Use online demos or free trial VPNs (if available) to let students explore the tool safely.
9. Highlight Cybersecurity and WANs
   Tie WAN concepts to cybersecurity by discussing encryption, SSL, firewalls, and how they protect data in transit. This can be linked to practical examples such as HTTPS websites and secure online shopping.

Bloom’s Taxonomy in Action

• Remember: Define a WAN and explain its components.
• Understand: Compare a WAN to other types of networks (e.g., LAN, MAN).
• Apply: Use Traceroute to explore the route of a packet.
• Analyse: Investigate the factors affecting internet speed and how they relate to WAN performance.
• Evaluate: Discuss the pros and cons of relying on the internet as a WAN.
• Create: Design a diagram illustrating how a local device connects to a distant server over the internet.

Engage students by encouraging them to think critically about the role of WANs in their everyday lives. By using relatable examples and hands-on activities, the concept of the internet as a WAN becomes accessible and exciting.