At a Glance
In this lesson the students will learn about how the file system works on the computer, the difference between using "save" and "save as", and how to save their file into the personal folder on the network server.
Grade Level: 1-3
Time Required: 45 minutes Curriculum Connection: Technology |
Vocabulary:
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Tech Skills:
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Planning Ahead
Resources
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Preparation
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Instructional Plan
Describe The Technology
Explain to the students that when they “save” their work on a computer, it allows them to get to it again in the future because the computer is writing the information on the hard disk - sort of like it’s writing it in a book. When it “deletes” information, it’s like erasing the information from the book. It is helpful if you can open up a computer and show them the hard disk or show them a photo of one.
Explain to them that sometimes the hard disk the computer is writing to isn’t on the computer they’re sitting at. It could be on another computer – just like a book might be at another desk, another room, or in the library. When you ask to pull up a file that you’ve saved in your personal folder, the computer knows which computer to go to. That’s why when students save a file in their personal folder, they can sit at any computer and access it. That’s also the reason they can’t access the folder when the network is having problems. I usually show them the network cables coming from their computers and describe where the wires run to. I also tell them where the "server" is located. If we have time at the end of class, I take them on a "field trip" through the school and show them the network equipment and the server. It helps them visualize what's happening.
The Filing Cabinet
The file system enables people to store information on the computer in an organized manner. The computer file system is designed a lot like a physical filing cabinet system. But unfortunately, most students have never used a filing cabinet or other filing system. We'll start with an activity designed to give them some experience with a “physical” filing cabinet. Have everyone put their name on a piece of paper or draw something and then ask them to put it inside their file. Show them how to find the folder with their grade on it and then find their personal folder inside of it.
"Save" Versus "Save As"
After they understand how a physical filing system works, then you'll do an exercise that illustrates how the computer saves a file to a folder. Hand someone a sheet of paper with a picture on it (you need to copies of it, hand them one of them). We'll pretend that they just created that drawing. Now ask them to save it in their folder. That person will come to the filing cabinet and find the folder with their grade on it and then inside that folder they'll look for a folder with their name on it. They will put their drawing in their folder. I usually have an application up that the students are familiar with and show them that saving on the computer is similar. You look for the folder with your grade on it, open it, and then look for your folder.
Then say "Oh no, you forgot to put your name on the document after you filed it?" Pull the paper out and the person adds their name to it. Do the same with the file on the computer. Ask them "After the document's been initially saved on the computer and then you start making changes to it again, are you working on the original document or a copy?" The answer is "a copy". Then ask "If I put my name on it and I "save" it again, are both copies saved or have I deleted the original and just saved the one with my name on it? The answer is - the original is deleted and the saved copy has my name on it.* Ask "What if we use "Saved As" and give the file a new name?" The answer is - you'd have two files, the original without your name and the new file with your name. So you use Save As, when you want to keep the original file and save the new file with a different name.
Computer Activity
Finally ask the students to create a drawing on the computer and store the file in their personal folder on the network. Then ask them to use "save as" and save it to someone else's folder. Sometimes we'll tailor this exercise based on what's going on that day. Someone from the class was sick that day and we had everyone write her get well messages. First they saved it in their own folder and then saved a copy for her in her folder.
Explain to the students that when they “save” their work on a computer, it allows them to get to it again in the future because the computer is writing the information on the hard disk - sort of like it’s writing it in a book. When it “deletes” information, it’s like erasing the information from the book. It is helpful if you can open up a computer and show them the hard disk or show them a photo of one.
Explain to them that sometimes the hard disk the computer is writing to isn’t on the computer they’re sitting at. It could be on another computer – just like a book might be at another desk, another room, or in the library. When you ask to pull up a file that you’ve saved in your personal folder, the computer knows which computer to go to. That’s why when students save a file in their personal folder, they can sit at any computer and access it. That’s also the reason they can’t access the folder when the network is having problems. I usually show them the network cables coming from their computers and describe where the wires run to. I also tell them where the "server" is located. If we have time at the end of class, I take them on a "field trip" through the school and show them the network equipment and the server. It helps them visualize what's happening.
The Filing Cabinet
The file system enables people to store information on the computer in an organized manner. The computer file system is designed a lot like a physical filing cabinet system. But unfortunately, most students have never used a filing cabinet or other filing system. We'll start with an activity designed to give them some experience with a “physical” filing cabinet. Have everyone put their name on a piece of paper or draw something and then ask them to put it inside their file. Show them how to find the folder with their grade on it and then find their personal folder inside of it.
"Save" Versus "Save As"
After they understand how a physical filing system works, then you'll do an exercise that illustrates how the computer saves a file to a folder. Hand someone a sheet of paper with a picture on it (you need to copies of it, hand them one of them). We'll pretend that they just created that drawing. Now ask them to save it in their folder. That person will come to the filing cabinet and find the folder with their grade on it and then inside that folder they'll look for a folder with their name on it. They will put their drawing in their folder. I usually have an application up that the students are familiar with and show them that saving on the computer is similar. You look for the folder with your grade on it, open it, and then look for your folder.
Then say "Oh no, you forgot to put your name on the document after you filed it?" Pull the paper out and the person adds their name to it. Do the same with the file on the computer. Ask them "After the document's been initially saved on the computer and then you start making changes to it again, are you working on the original document or a copy?" The answer is "a copy". Then ask "If I put my name on it and I "save" it again, are both copies saved or have I deleted the original and just saved the one with my name on it? The answer is - the original is deleted and the saved copy has my name on it.* Ask "What if we use "Saved As" and give the file a new name?" The answer is - you'd have two files, the original without your name and the new file with your name. So you use Save As, when you want to keep the original file and save the new file with a different name.
Computer Activity
Finally ask the students to create a drawing on the computer and store the file in their personal folder on the network. Then ask them to use "save as" and save it to someone else's folder. Sometimes we'll tailor this exercise based on what's going on that day. Someone from the class was sick that day and we had everyone write her get well messages. First they saved it in their own folder and then saved a copy for her in her folder.
Assessment
The teacher should check to make sure the electronic files the students created were stored in their proper folders.