Lesson Plan

• Describe how packet switching divides data into packets and routes them independently.
• Compare packet switching with circuit switching in terms of bandwidth utilisation, latency and scalability.
• Calculate the effective throughput of a packet‑switched link using the overhead formula.
• Analyse the trade‑off between latency and efficiency in network design.
• Evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of packet switching for real‑world applications.

• Projector and screen
• Whiteboard and markers
• Network simulation software (e.g., Cisco Packet Tracer)
• Printed handout of the circuit vs packet switching comparison table
• Worksheet for labeling packet headers and calculating throughput
• Calculators
• Sticky notes for routing activity

Begin with a quick scenario: “What happens to your message when you send a photo over the internet?” Connect this to students’ prior knowledge of circuit‑switched telephone calls. State that today they will discover how packet switching makes modern data communication possible and how they will be able to measure its efficiency.

1. Do‑now (5'): Quick quiz on circuit switching concepts from the previous lesson.
2. Mini‑lecture (10'): Explain packet switching, show the side‑by‑side diagram, and introduce packet headers.
3. Guided simulation (15'): Students use Packet Tracer to create a simple network, generate packets, and observe independent routing paths.
4. Group comparison activity (10'): Fill in a comparison table (circuit vs packet) and discuss findings.
5. Calculation exercise (10'): Using the formula Tₑₓₑₓ = R × (1‑O), calculate effective throughput for given scenarios.
6. Exit ticket (5'): Write one advantage and one disadvantage of packet switching and submit.

Recap the key steps of packet switching and how it differs from circuit switching. Collect exit tickets to gauge understanding, then assign a short homework: research a real‑world service (e.g., VoIP) and explain why packet switching is essential for it.