Workshop 8 ADSI.

READING 1
READING 2,
Basic Networking
In the simplest explanation, networking is just computers talking to each other. They do
this by sending data packets using various protocols and transmission mediums such as
ethernet cable or Wi-Fi connections. Computers must also know how to find other
computers on the network. To put it briefly, every computer on the network needs a
unique address so messages know where to go after they are sent.
Networks exist for many reasons including:
• distributed computing in a client-server or peer-to-peer networking architecture
• centralized data security and authentication
• elimination of risk of computer downtime.
• combining computers into a single domain to facilitate groupware applications and
system administration tasks
• communication and fun!
The types of networks you deal with on a daily basis include local area networks (LANs)
and wide area networks (WANs).
Many people today have LANs in their schools, offices, and even their homes. LANs are
especially good for sharing Internet access and commonly used files and databases.
Users can also connect to wide area networks ( WANS ) as well, which are just large LANS
spread out over several physical locations. The Internet itself is basically a large WAN, with
each node on the network having it's own unique IP address.
As you may have read in books or seen in movies, security considerations play a large role
when designing networks. Technology such as firewalls can both block and filter
unwanted network traffic. Virtual private networks (VPNs) are used to connect remote
users to office networks without jeopardizing security. VPNs use strong data encryption to
hide data as it is moving between routers over the Internet.
Networking is not something you can master in a week or even a month. Hundreds of
books have been written about the subject and many more hundreds will come in the
future as technologies mature and evolve. If you work on networks for a living, you are
called a network engineer, and you will probably take certification exams by networking
companies such as Cisco.
There are other kinds of networking as well which are not always between PCs and
servers. An example is Bluetooth technology, which is optimized for networking between
common consumer electronics such as mobile phones, mp3 players, and similar devices.
Okay that's it for now! This is just a basic introduction to networking. You will find a lot
more networking vocabulary to master in other units of English 4 IT, and many more on
the way.
SPEAKING ACTIVITY (LINK)

Please listen to and practice the 5 sentences below. Then follow the instructions below.

1, A hardware geek is constantly upgrading components in his computer to achieve more

performance

2, The geek purchased new software for his computer almost every weekend

3, A computer needs to be replaced or upgraded regularly or it will become obsolete

4, The international company stored their customer information in a central database in Brussels.

5, Examples of popular applications include Microsoft Word, Adobe Photoshop, and Mozilla
Firefox
UNIT 1: WRITING ACTIVITY

Please choose ONE question to answer.

Available Questions

When did you start learning English? What is the hardest part about learning English?
How good is your spoken and written English?

How good are your IT skills? What is your best IT skill? Describe what you want in
your IT career.

Material prepared by

Teacher Henry Lenis

SENA. Regional Antioquia

La Salada.