Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Information Technology IT
Lesson Topic: Explain utility software functions (anti-virus, backup, disk defragmentation)
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe the purpose of anti‑virus, backup, and disk defragmentation utilities.
  • Explain how each utility functions (real‑time scanning, backup types, fragmentation analysis).
  • Compare the impact of each utility on system performance and maintenance schedules.
  • Apply appropriate scheduling strategies for each utility in a typical PC environment.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector or interactive whiteboard
  • Slide deck summarising utility functions
  • Demo versions of anti‑virus, backup, and defragmentation software
  • Handout with key terms and comparison table
  • Worksheet for scenario‑based scheduling activity
  • Internet access for software‑update demonstration
 Introduction:
Begin with a quick poll: “What does your computer do to stay healthy?” Connect to prior learning about operating‑system basics. Explain that today’s success criteria are to identify the core functions of anti‑virus, backup, and defragmentation utilities and to choose suitable maintenance schedules.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5’): Students list three ways computers stay secure or perform well; teacher checks responses.
  2. Mini‑lecture (10’): Overview of utility software categories and their purposes; brief Q&A.
  3. Anti‑virus demo (10’): Show real‑time vs on‑demand scanning, discuss signatures and heuristic analysis; check understanding.
  4. Backup activity (12’): In groups, create a backup plan selecting full, incremental, or differential types and set a schedule; share plans.
  5. Defragmentation demo (8’): Run a fragmentation analysis, explain consolidation and SSD limitations; discuss performance impact.
  6. Comparison discussion (5’): Complete a quick Venn diagram comparing frequency and system impact of each utility; teacher summarizes.
Conclusion:
Summarise that utility software maintains system health by protecting, preserving, and optimizing data. Students complete an exit ticket stating which utility they would schedule most frequently and why. For homework, they research a free utility for each category and prepare a brief recommendation.