Technologies · Year 4 · Connected Worlds · Term 2

Input and Output Devices

Students differentiate between various input and output devices and their specific uses.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9TDI4K01

About This Topic

Introduction to Networks explores how digital devices 'talk' to each other across both local and global scales. For Year 4 students, this means understanding that a computer is rarely an isolated island; it is part of a web of connections. They learn about the hardware that makes these connections possible, like routers and cables, and the invisible signals like Wi-Fi. This aligns with ACARA's focus on how digital systems are connected to form networks and the role of protocols in data transmission.

Students also consider the vastness of the internet and how information travels from Australia to the rest of the world via undersea cables. This provides a great opportunity to discuss Australia's geographic location and its reliance on global infrastructure. This topic comes alive when students can physically model the paths that data takes through a network.

Key Questions

1. Differentiate between an input device and an output device.
2. Design a system using specific input/output devices for a task.
3. Evaluate the best input device for a person with limited mobility.

Learning Objectives

• Classify common digital devices as either input or output devices based on their primary function.
• Explain the role of specific input and output devices in completing a given digital task.
• Design a simple system for a specific purpose, selecting appropriate input and output devices.
• Evaluate the suitability of different input devices for users with specific needs, such as limited mobility.

Before You Start

Basic Computer Hardware

Why: Students need a foundational understanding of what a computer is and that it has different parts to understand how input and output devices function.

Digital Citizenship

Why: Understanding how devices interact is a precursor to discussing responsible use and the flow of information.

Key Vocabulary

Input Device	A piece of computer hardware used to provide data and control signals to an information processing system such as a computer. Examples include keyboards and mice.
Output Device	A piece of computer hardware that converts information into a human-readable form. Examples include monitors and printers.
Peripheral	An auxiliary device used to put information into and get information out of the computer. These can be input, output, or both.
Interface	A point where two systems, subjects, organizations, etc., meet and interact. For computers, this is how users interact with the device or how devices connect.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

The internet is 'in the air' or 'in the clouds'.

What to Teach Instead

Students often think the internet is magic. Use photos of server farms and undersea cables to show that the internet relies on massive physical infrastructure on land and under the ocean.

Common Misconception

Information travels as a single whole file.

What to Teach Instead

Students think a whole video moves at once. Use a 'packet' activity where a message is broken into pieces and reassembled at the end to show how data actually travels.

Active Learning Ideas

Simulation Game: The Human Internet

Students act as 'nodes' in a network. They must pass a 'packet' (a piece of a message) from one side of the room to the other, following specific rules (protocols) and dealing with 'broken' connections (blocked paths).

30 min·Whole Class

Gallery Walk: Undersea Cables

Display maps of the global undersea fiber-optic cable network. Students explore the maps to find how Australia connects to Asia and North America, noting the specific coastal cities where cables land.

20 min·Individual

Think-Pair-Share: Wired vs. Wireless

Students brainstorm the pros and cons of using a cable versus Wi-Fi. They pair up to decide which connection is better for a gaming console versus a mobile phone and share their reasoning with the class.

15 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Game designers at Electronic Arts use a variety of input devices, like specialized controllers and motion sensors, to create interactive gaming experiences, and output devices like high-resolution monitors and surround sound systems to present the game world.
• Audiologists use input devices such as microphones to record patient sounds and output devices like headphones to deliver specific auditory stimuli during hearing tests.
• Roboticists designing assistive robots for hospitals utilize input devices like cameras and touch sensors to perceive their environment and output devices like robotic arms or screens to interact with patients and staff.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Present students with images of 5-6 different devices (e.g., microphone, speaker, printer, touchscreen, webcam, headphones). Ask them to write 'Input' or 'Output' next to each device on a worksheet. Review answers as a class, asking students to justify their choices.

Exit Ticket

Give each student a card with a simple task (e.g., 'Listen to music', 'Type a story', 'See a picture'). Ask them to list one input device and one output device needed for that task and briefly explain why.

Discussion Prompt

Pose the scenario: 'Imagine you are designing a computer for someone who can only use their eyes and cannot use their hands. What input device would you choose and why? What output device would be most important?' Facilitate a class discussion comparing student choices.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a network in simple terms?

A network is a group of two or more computers or devices that are connected so they can share information, like files, or resources, like a printer.

How does Wi-Fi work without wires?

Wi-Fi uses radio waves to send information through the air between your device and a router. It is like a walkie-talkie for computers, sending data back and forth using invisible signals.

What is a router and why do we need one?

A router is like a traffic controller for a network. It looks at the data coming in and decides exactly which device it needs to go to, making sure your sister's video doesn't end up on your tablet.

How can active learning help students understand networks?

Networks are abstract and invisible. Active learning strategies, like physically passing 'data packets' or mapping out classroom connections with string, help students visualize the structure and flow of information in a way that a diagram cannot.