b.3.1 network fundamentals
Connect the dots. Discover how computers link up to form Local Area Networks and Wide Area Networks and compare the shapes and structures that keep us all online.
Imagine a world where you had to carry a USB stick to your friend's house just to share a photo. Dark times, right? Network Fundamentals explains how we connect devices so they can talk to each other and share resources like printers or files. We look at the difference between a LAN (like your home Wi-Fi) and a WAN (like the massive network that connects banks across the world). You’ll also learn about Topologies—the physical shapes of networks, from the reliable "Star" shape found in most homes to the complex "Mesh" systems that blanket entire cities in Wi-Fi.
Ways in which computers can be connected together
Network fundamentals form the backbone of modern digital infrastructure. This progression maps the pedagogical journey from a basic awareness of connected devices at Key Stage 1 and 2, through to the complex architectural design of enterprise networks, virtual private networks, and software defined networking at Key Stage 5 and beyond. By explicitly linking theoretical concepts - such as network topologies and client server models - to hands on procedural tasks like diagramming and architectural evaluation, students develop the practical skills required to design, troubleshoot, and optimise real world connectivity solutions.
Last modified: March 20th, 2026
