JSS 2 First Term

Lesson objectives

By the end of the week, learners should be able to:

1. Restate the CPU, memory, ROM and peripheral roles from First Term.
2. Expand the hardware categories with additional examples.
3. Distinguish operating-system software from application software again.
4. Name five operating-system functions for each criterion.
5. Sort thirty items into hardware, software and peopleware correctly.

Key vocabulary

• Peopleware: the people who design, operate and maintain computer systems.
• Software: the programs that tell hardware what to do.
• Application software: programs solving a user task.
• System software: programs running and managing the computer.
• Driver: a piece of system software that lets hardware talk to the OS.
• Utility program: a maintenance tool such as antivirus or disk cleanup.
• Network interface: hardware with a MAC address that joins a network.

Common misconceptions

• "Hardware and software belong in opposite piles only." Some items fit both categories depending on function.
• "A driver is not software." A driver is system software that enables hardware to communicate.
• "Peopleware is useless." Technicians, programmers and operators keep the system working.

Teacher activities

1. Starter: hold up a USB drive and a printed screenshot of an installer; ask whether either could be software.
2. Recap the five hardware categories and add two examples each.
3. Demonstrate one operating-system function with a live screenshot labelled step by step.
4. Run the thirty-item sorting task and require a reason for four of the hardest items.
5. Explain peopleware by listing roles in the room and linking each to a system job.
6. Close with the exit question distinguishing a driver from application software.

Student activities

1. State the five hardware categories again and name two additions each.
2. Fill the five operating-system functions with one to two examples each.
3. Complete the thirty-item sorting table with reasons.
4. Match three drivers to their hardware devices and name a utility program each.
5. Write two sentences linking each peopleware role to its system job.
6. Answer the exit question in one sentence.

Practical / learning evidence

A twenty-item hardware-software table with reasons, an expanded five-category hardware chart and a three-row peopleware role chart. Hand in all three sheets.

Resources and preparation

Printed item cards, blank sorting tables and a screenshot series for operating-system functions. Offline route: printed cards and blank tables; the sorting task needs no device. Verify no USB drives contain personal data for inspection.

Assessment for learning

Mark the twenty-item table for accuracy and reasons. Check the hardware chart covers five distinct categories. Inspect the peopleware chart for a correct link between each role and its job. Flag any misclassification and reteach briefly.

Inclusion and homework

Provide a larger-print item card set and allow oral completion of the reasons column. Extend confident learners with a twenty-item extension list and a sixty-second justification challenge. Homework: list five application programs on any device and state the task each performs.