Lesson Plan

• Describe the main categories of operating systems and their key characteristics.
• Compare the advantages and disadvantages of each OS type.
• Evaluate which OS type is most appropriate for a given user or organisational scenario.
• Explain how hardware, firmware, and software interact within a computer system.

• Projector and screen
• Printed handouts of the OS comparison table
• Laptops or tablets for each group
• Whiteboard and markers
• Scenario cards for group activity
• Online quiz platform (e.g., Kahoot) for exit ticket

Begin by asking students which devices they use daily and what operating system powers them. Connect this to their prior experience with Windows, macOS, Android, or iOS, and explain that today they will explore the full range of OS types. By the end of the lesson they will be able to list each OS category, discuss its strengths and weaknesses, and choose the most suitable type for a given situation.

1. Do‑Now (5'): Students create a quick mind‑map of devices and the OS they run.
2. Mini‑lecture (10'): Overview of hardware, firmware, software layers and classification of OS types.
3. Guided analysis (15'): Examine the advantages/disadvantages table; complete a worksheet matching scenarios to OS types.
4. Group activity (15'): Teams receive scenario cards, decide the best OS type, and present their rationale.
5. Check for understanding (5'): Exit ticket via Kahoot – one question on pros/cons of a chosen OS.

Summarise the key advantages and disadvantages of each operating system type, highlighting how the choice depends on users, tasks, and hardware constraints. Collect the exit tickets to gauge understanding, and assign homework: research a real‑world example of an OS (e.g., Linux server, Android tablet) and write a brief paragraph explaining why it fits its intended purpose.