Top Trumps (Storage Devices)
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Learning Objectives:
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Suggested time: 100 mins
Starter:
Ask students to research storage devices and list as many different types as they can. After 5 minutes, chosen students at random to list one device they found.
Starter:
Ask students to research storage devices and list as many different types as they can. After 5 minutes, chosen students at random to list one device they found.
Part 1: Introduction
Begin by explaining the main 3 types of storage technologies: Optical, Magnetic and Solid State. I recommend starting with Magnetic storage devices - show students an extract from RI Christmas Lecture 2008, Lecture 3: The Ghost in the machine, part 2 (explanation of how a hard disk works) – Fast forward to 12 min 30 sec. [Alternative: How a hard drive works]. Follow this by explaining optical devices and show them a video showing how a CD works. Finish by explaining Solid State drives.
After a brief explanation of each of the 3 methods, show students a comparison table (See below) comparing some of the features (Capacity, speed, portability, durability and reliability). Finish by showing students a clip from the Gadget Show in which the presenters test the durability of different storage devices.
Begin by explaining the main 3 types of storage technologies: Optical, Magnetic and Solid State. I recommend starting with Magnetic storage devices - show students an extract from RI Christmas Lecture 2008, Lecture 3: The Ghost in the machine, part 2 (explanation of how a hard disk works) – Fast forward to 12 min 30 sec. [Alternative: How a hard drive works]. Follow this by explaining optical devices and show them a video showing how a CD works. Finish by explaining Solid State drives.
After a brief explanation of each of the 3 methods, show students a comparison table (See below) comparing some of the features (Capacity, speed, portability, durability and reliability). Finish by showing students a clip from the Gadget Show in which the presenters test the durability of different storage devices.
Part 2: Research (Revision wiki)
After a brief introduction to storage devices, split the students into teams and instruct them to conduct some research into different storage devices and collect their finding in a table (provided).
After a brief introduction to storage devices, split the students into teams and instruct them to conduct some research into different storage devices and collect their finding in a table (provided).
Example table uploaded to a class wiki.
Part 3: Top Trumps
Give students the Top Trumps template (See below) - alternatively students can use an online Top Trumps generator like Trading Card Creator - then challenge each team to create 8 Top Trumps cards with the following criteria:
Ask students to include an image of their chosen storage device (See example below).
Give students the Top Trumps template (See below) - alternatively students can use an online Top Trumps generator like Trading Card Creator - then challenge each team to create 8 Top Trumps cards with the following criteria:
- Medium
- Capacity
- Speed
- Portability
- Price per Gb
- Reliability / durability.
Ask students to include an image of their chosen storage device (See example below).
Example Top Trumps Card
| top_trump_template.docx |
Note: To make sure students used the same criteria to measure reliability and portability, give them the following comparison table:
Click on the links below for the full table.
| storage_comparison_student.docx |
| storage_comparison_teacher.docx |
Top Tip: To make sure students don’t cheat on price per Gb, ban them from using auction sites and third party re-sellers.
Plenary: Play Top Trumps
After each team has printed and cut out their Top Trump cards, explain the rules (See below) and give a quick demonstration - with the help of two volunteers. After a quick practice, students can play the game.
Hint: The game works best with 3 teams however, if you have more than 3 teams, you could play more than one round with the winner of each round playing against each other in the final.
Tip: To avoid arguments, you can use a Random Name Selector to decide which team goes first.
Rules:
After each team has printed and cut out their Top Trump cards, explain the rules (See below) and give a quick demonstration - with the help of two volunteers. After a quick practice, students can play the game.
Hint: The game works best with 3 teams however, if you have more than 3 teams, you could play more than one round with the winner of each round playing against each other in the final.
Tip: To avoid arguments, you can use a Random Name Selector to decide which team goes first.
Rules:
| top_trumps_rules.docx |
Alternatives:
Top Trumps: Instead of Top Trumps, you could instruct students to create a Spreadsheet or Database comparing different storage devices.
Useful links:
Top Trumps: Instead of Top Trumps, you could instruct students to create a Spreadsheet or Database comparing different storage devices.
Useful links:
- Storage Devices (TeachICT) - http://www.teach-ict.com/gcse_new/computer%20systems/storage_devices/miniweb/index.htm
- BBC BiteSize (Peripherals) - http://www.bbc.co.uk/education/guides/zxgkxnb/revision/6
