Lesson Plan

• Describe the key characteristics of magnetic, optical and solid‑state storage media.
• Compare the typical uses, advantages and disadvantages of each storage type.
• Evaluate which storage medium is most suitable for a given scenario based on capacity, speed, cost and durability.
• Explain how form factor and interface affect performance and compatibility.

• Projector or interactive whiteboard
• Slide deck summarising storage media tables
• Sample storage devices (USB flash drive, CD/DVD, external HDD/SSD)
• Worksheet with comparison chart and exam‑style questions
• Whiteboard and markers

Begin with a quick poll: “If you need to move data while traveling, which device would you choose and why?” This activates prior knowledge of primary vs secondary storage. Review the success criteria: students will be able to describe, compare and evaluate magnetic, optical and solid‑state media by the end of the lesson.

1. Do‑Now (5') – short quiz on previous lesson’s storage concepts.
2. Mini‑lecture (10') – introduce magnetic, optical and solid‑state categories, highlighting characteristics, typical uses, advantages and disadvantages.
3. Guided analysis (15') – in pairs, students complete a comparison table using the slide data.
4. Hands‑on demo (10') – examine real devices, identify type, discuss form factor and interface.
5. Check for understanding (5') – Kahoot quiz matching storage types to scenarios.
6. Summative practice (10') – answer a sample exam question and peer‑review responses.

Recap the main differences between magnetic, optical and solid‑state media, emphasizing when each is most appropriate. Students complete an exit ticket stating one advantage and one disadvantage of their preferred storage type for a given task. For homework, they research a recent storage technology (e.g., NVMe PCIe 4.0 SSD) and prepare a short paragraph on its impact on performance and cost.