Lesson Plan

• Describe binary and decimal prefixes and their corresponding magnitudes.
• Explain the difference between binary (kibi, mebi, etc.) and decimal (kilo, mega, etc.) prefixes.
• Convert between bits/bytes using both binary and decimal prefixes.
• Apply conversion calculations to real‑world storage examples.

• Projector and screen
• Whiteboard and markers
• Printed handout with prefix tables
• Calculators (or spreadsheet software)
• Worksheet with conversion problems
• Laptop for teacher demo

Begin with a quick poll: “Why does my 500 GB SSD show only about 465 GiB on my computer?” This taps into students’ prior knowledge of bits and bytes. Review the basic units (bit, byte, kilobyte) and set the success criteria: students will be able to distinguish binary from decimal prefixes and perform accurate conversions.

1. Do‑now (5’) – Quick quiz on bits, bytes, and common prefixes displayed on the board.
2. Mini‑lecture (10’) – Explain binary vs. decimal prefixes, show the reference table and suggested bar‑chart diagram.
3. Guided practice (10’) – Walk through converting 2 MiB to KiB and kB; students complete the same steps on their worksheets.
4. Real‑world application (8’) – Discuss a 500 GB SSD specification and calculate the apparent GiB value.
5. Collaborative activity (7’) – Pairs convert a set of storage values and create a simple bar chart comparing binary and decimal sizes.
6. Check for understanding (5’) – Exit ticket: state one key difference between binary and decimal prefixes and convert 1 GiB to GB.

Summarise that binary prefixes are based on powers of two while decimal prefixes use powers of ten, and highlight the importance of checking which convention is used. Collect the exit tickets as a retrieval check, and assign homework to find a device’s advertised storage size and convert it to the alternate prefix system.