Know and understand similarities and differences between Bluetooth and wi-fi

Example: A science lab installs 20 Bluetooth‑LE temperature sensors. Each sensor sends a reading every minute to a Raspberry‑Pi gateway. The Pi is linked to the school Wi‑Fi and uploads the data to a Google Cloud Firestore database, where teachers can view live temperature graphs on a tablet.

4 Network Issues & Communication (Section 4.2)

4.1 Security, Passwords, Anti‑malware, e‑Safety (AO2 & AO3)

• Typical threats
  • Eavesdropping – intercepting unencrypted traffic (more likely on open Wi‑Fi or Bluetooth “bluejacking”).
  • Man‑in‑the‑Middle (MitM) – rogue AP or Bluetooth device that pretends to be legitimate.
  • Rogue Access Point – unauthorised AP that mimics the school network.
  • Malware propagation via file sharing over Wi‑Fi.
• Counter‑measures (AO3)
  • Use strong, unique passwords (minimum 12 characters, mix of upper/lower case, numbers, symbols).
  • Enable WPA3‑Personal (or at least WPA2‑AES) on all school Wi‑Fi networks.
  • Activate MAC‑address filtering for critical devices (e.g., servers, admin laptops).
  • Keep firmware of routers, switches, NICs and Bluetooth devices up‑to‑date.
  • Disable “auto‑connect” for Bluetooth in public places; pair only with known devices.
  • Install reputable anti‑malware software on all laptops, tablets and shared PCs.
• e‑Safety checklist for students (AO2)
  • Never accept pairing requests from strangers.
  • Only connect to the school’s SSID – verify the exact network name.
  • Log out of cloud services when finished and lock the device.
  • Report any suspicious “free Wi‑Fi” hotspots to a teacher immediately.
  • Do not share passwords with classmates; use a password manager if allowed.

4.2 Video/Audio/Web‑Conferencing (AO2)

Typical bandwidth requirements (compressed streams):

• Voice‑only: 0.1 – 0.2 Mbps per participant.
• Standard‑definition video (480p): 0.5 – 1 Mbps.
• High‑definition video (720p/1080p): 3 – 5 Mbps per stream.
• Group call with screen‑share: 5 – 10 Mbps total.

Wi‑Fi 6/6E can comfortably support multiple simultaneous HD streams in a classroom. Bluetooth’s maximum of 2 Mbps is only sufficient for low‑quality audio or very small file transfers; it is unsuitable for video‑conferencing.

4.3 LAN, WLAN, WAN, Intranet, Extranet, Internet (AO1)

• LAN (Local Area Network) – covers a single building or campus; uses Ethernet cables and/or Wi‑Fi. Example: the school’s computer lab network.
• WLAN (Wireless LAN) – the wireless part of a LAN, implemented with Wi‑Fi access points. Example: the auditorium’s Wi‑Fi covering 200 seats.
• WAN (Wide Area Network) – connects multiple LANs over larger distances (e.g., the school district network or the Internet). Example: the link between the school and the central education authority’s data centre.
• Intranet – a private network using Internet protocols, accessible only to members of an organisation. Example: the staff portal where teachers upload lesson resources.
• Extranet – a restricted part of an intranet that external partners can access. Example: a parent‑teacher communication portal.
• Internet – the global public network that interconnects millions of WANs. Provides access to cloud services, web‑based learning platforms, etc.

Diagram (placeholder): simple topology showing a LAN (wired switches), WLAN (APs), connection to a WAN router, and the Internet cloud.

5 Practical Classroom Activities (AO2 – Skills)

1. Configure a secure Wi‑Fi network
   • Log into the school router’s admin interface (usually via 192.168.1.1).
   • Create a new SSID called ICT‑Class‑WiFi.
   • Set security to WPA3‑Personal (SAE) with a password of at least 12 characters.
   • Enable a “Guest Network” for visitors and disable “WPS”.
   • Take screenshots of the SSID settings and security options; save them in a folder named WiFi‑Config‑Evidence.
2. Pair a Bluetooth‑LE device
   • Turn on Bluetooth on a laptop (Windows 10/11 Settings → Bluetooth & devices) and on a Bluetooth‑LE speaker.
   • Select “Add a device”, choose the speaker, and complete the pairing (use PIN if prompted).
   • Capture a screenshot of the “Paired devices” list and note the device’s MAC address.
   • Play a 10‑second audio clip; use a stopwatch to record the time from “Play” to audible sound.
3. Compare data‑transfer performance
   • Transfer a 10 MB file from Laptop A to Laptop B via Bluetooth‑LE (use the “Send or receive files via Bluetooth” wizard). Record the transfer time.
   • Upload the same file to the school’s Google Drive over Wi‑Fi; record the upload time.
   • Enter the two times in a table, calculate the percentage speed difference, and comment on the result.

6 Analysis & Evaluation (AO3)

7 Assessment Objective Mapping (quick reference)

8 Key Points to Remember (Revision)

• Bluetooth → short‑range, very low power, ideal for peripherals, wearables and IoT sensors.
• Wi‑Fi → high‑speed, larger coverage, essential for Internet access, video‑conferencing and cloud services.
• Both standards continue to evolve: Bluetooth 5.2 adds multi‑stream audio; Wi‑Fi 6E/7 adds 6 GHz spectrum and multi‑gigabit throughput.
• Security is critical – use WPA3 for Wi‑Fi, enable Bluetooth LE Secure Connections, keep passwords strong and firmware up‑to‑date.
• Understanding the strengths and limits of each technology helps you design efficient, safe and future‑proof school networks.