# Lesson Plan: Classification of Computers
## Subject: Data Processing
## Grade Level: Senior Secondary 1
### Lesson Duration:
- 1 Hour: 45 minutes for instruction, 15 minutes for Q&A and review
### Lesson Objectives:
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:
1. Understand the basic categories of computers.
2. Distinguish between different types of computers based on size, purpose, and performance.
3. Identify examples of different types of computers.
### Materials Needed:
- PowerPoint Presentation on "Classification of Computers"
- Whiteboard and markers
- Handouts with a summary of the classification types
- Projector and computer for the presentation
- Internet access (for supplementary video if needed)
### Lesson Outline:
#### Introduction (10 minutes)
1. **Welcome and Introduction:**
- Greet the students and briefly introduce the topic.
- Ask students to share any type of computer they are familiar with (e.g., desktops, laptops, smartphones) to gauge pre-existing knowledge.
2. **Lesson Objectives:**
- Display and explain the objectives of the lesson so students know what they will learn.
#### Instructional Input (25 minutes)
3. **Categories of Computers:**
- **Microcomputers:**
- Explain with examples (Desktops, Laptops, Tablets, Smartphones).
- Show images and uses of microcomputers.
- **Mini Computers:**
- Describe their use, typically in small businesses and academic institutions.
- Examples: IBM AS/400.
- **Mainframe Computers:**
- Explain their large size, high processing power, and usage in large organizations like banks.
- Example: IBM System z.
- **Supercomputers:**
- Introduction to their immense processing power and scientific applications.
- Examples: Tianhe-2, Summit.
4. **Additional Classifications:**
- **Embedded Computers:**
- Discuss how these are specialized computing systems embedded within larger systems (e.g., in cars, home appliances).
- **Workstations:**
- Explain their use in professional environments, especially for graphics, CAD, or scientific applications.
5. **Interactive Component:**
- Engage students by showing short video clips (2-3 minutes) illustrating the different types of computers in real-world applications.
#### Guided Practice (10 minutes)
- **Activity:**
- Hand out worksheets where students match different computer types with their correct descriptions and examples.
- Students work in pairs to complete the handouts which are then reviewed together in class for immediate feedback.
#### Independent Practice (10 minutes)
- **Research Task:**
- Ask students to choose one type of computer and write a short paragraph about its uses in various fields, with an example of a specific model and its capabilities.
- This can be done in their notebooks and will serve as a mini-assignment to reinforce the day's lesson.
#### Review and Q&A (15 minutes)
1. **Recap the Lesson:**
- Summarize the key points covered: Microcomputers, Mini Computers, Mainframe Computers, Supercomputers, Embedded Computers, Workstations.
2. **Questions and Clarifications:**
- Open the floor for students to ask questions.
- Clarify any doubts and provide additional examples if needed.
3. **Conclusion:**
- Highlight the importance of understanding different types of computers and how they fit into various sectors of life and industry.
### Assessment:
- **Formative:**
- Observation during the lesson and interactive components.
- Review of handout activity completion.
- **Summative:**
- Validate understanding through the mini-research assignment to be collected in the next class.
### Homework:
- Ask students to find a news article or online report discussing the use of one type of computer and bring a short summary of it to the next class.
### Closing Remarks:
- Thank students for their participation and inform them of the next topic to be covered in the following class.
Abiding by this lesson plan should ensure that students have a comprehensive understanding of the classification of computers, and they can differentiate between various types based on their features and applications.