Lesson Plan

• Describe the three categories of LAN hardware: transmission media, network interface devices, and infrastructure devices.
• Compare copper, coaxial, fiber‑optic and wireless media in terms of speed, distance and suitability.
• Explain the roles of NICs, switches, routers, access points and modems within a LAN.
• Identify how switches differ from hubs and the benefits of VLANs and PoE.
• Apply a checklist to select appropriate hardware for a small‑office LAN.

• Projector or interactive whiteboard
• Slide deck summarising LAN hardware
• Handout with LAN hardware comparison table
• Sample network diagram (printed or digital)
• Ethernet cables and RJ‑45 connectors for demo
• Switch, router and Wi‑Fi access point (optional demo devices)
• Worksheets for the checklist activity

Begin with a quick poll: “What networking devices do you see at home?” Use the responses to link prior knowledge of everyday devices to the day's focus. Explain that by the end of the lesson students will be able to describe each piece of hardware that makes a LAN work and justify its selection.

1. Do‑Now (5') – Students list hardware they notice in their home network; share a few examples.
2. Mini‑lecture (10') – Overview of LAN hardware categories and transmission media using slides.
3. Interactive table activity (10') – In pairs, compare media types (speed, distance, cost) and fill in a comparison chart.
4. Demonstration (10') – Show different NICs and a switch vs. a hub; discuss MAC learning, VLANs and PoE.
5. Guided design task (15') – Students sketch a small‑office LAN diagram on a worksheet, selecting appropriate hardware per the checklist.
6. Check for understanding (5') – Quick Kahoot quiz on the functions of routers, switches, and access points.

Recap the key hardware components and their roles, highlighting how they work together to form a functional LAN. Ask students to write one “exit ticket” note: the most important hardware decision they would make for a new LAN and why. For homework, students research a real‑world LAN diagram and prepare a short summary of the hardware choices.