Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Information Technology IT
Lesson Topic: Describe characteristics of mainframe computers and supercomputers
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe key characteristics of mainframe computers, including reliability, scalability, and multi‑user support.
  • Explain the defining features of supercomputers such as extreme speed, massive parallelism, and specialised architecture.
  • Compare and contrast mainframes and supercomputers in terms of purpose, performance, architecture, and energy use.
  • Analyse real‑world examples (e.g., IBM z15, Fugaku) to identify how their specifications reflect the discussed characteristics.
  • Evaluate which type of system is appropriate for given application scenarios.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector or interactive whiteboard
  • Slides with diagrams of mainframe and supercomputer architectures
  • Handout summarising the comparison table
  • Sample data‑center case‑study worksheets
  • Internet access for quick research on current systems
  • Whiteboard markers and sticky notes
 Introduction:
Begin with a quick poll: “Which computer do you think powers your bank’s daily transactions?” Connect to prior learning about servers and introduce today’s focus on the two most powerful classes of computers—mainframes and supercomputers. Explain that by the end of the lesson students will be able to describe their key characteristics and decide which is best suited for different real‑world problems.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5') – Students list examples of computers they know and classify them as personal, server, or unknown; share results.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10') – Present slides on mainframe characteristics, highlighting reliability, scalability, virtualization, and security.
  3. Interactive comparison (12') – Using the handout, pairs fill a Venn diagram contrasting mainframes with supercomputers; teacher circulates to check understanding.
  4. Case‑study analysis (10') – Groups examine brief profiles of IBM z15, Fugaku and Summit, identifying which features match the earlier lists; groups report findings.
  5. Quick quiz (8') – Kahoot/Google Form with 5 multiple‑choice questions to confirm key concepts before moving to conclusion.
Conclusion:
Summarise that mainframes excel in continuous, high‑volume transaction processing while supercomputers dominate in raw computational speed for scientific tasks. Ask each student to write one sentence on a sticky note describing which system they would choose for a given scenario as an exit ticket. Assign a short homework: research a recent supercomputer or mainframe launch and prepare a one‑minute summary for the next class.