This afternoon, Year 4 was exploring how data packets work. 

They have been busy this half term learning all about networks and how we can send files across different networks (the journey of a file). Children have confidently talked about the process of sending information from network to network: first it goes via the wireless access point (router) your device is connected to, then it travels to the network switch. This then sends it to the server, which checks the information before sending it back to the network switch, ready for it now to be sent via the recipient’s router and to their device. 

We talked about how it is quicker and more efficient for data to be broken down into smaller pieces (labelled with the correct IP address) and sent separately, than it is for the system to try and send the whole file as one piece. A little bit like if we moved house, we would pack and label multiple boxes rather than trying to fit everything into one big box. 

Children were all given an image to send to a different computer, and had to split the image into separate data packets before sending them through the switch. Year 4 managed this activity with maturity and wonderful teamwork, demonstrating a good grasp of a high-level computing concept.