Environmental impacts of computing devices
I can describe how e-waste and data centres are impacting the environment.
Environmental impacts of computing devices
I can describe how e-waste and data centres are impacting the environment.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Data centres are large collections of servers used to store, manage and process data.
- Data centres consume vast amounts of electricity and require extensive cooling.
- E-waste is placed in landfills where chemicals leak into the surrounding environment.
Keywords
Electronic waste (e-waste) - includes discarded electronic devices like phones, laptops and batteries
Server - a computer that stores, manages and shares files, data and resources in a network
Data centre - facility that houses servers, storage systems and networking equipment to store, process and distribute data
Common misconception
Data is stored "in the cloud", so it doesn't really exist physically or have an environmental cost.
The cloud is a network of large data centres. These are real, physical facilities that consume huge amounts of energy and water, and generate significant e-waste.
To help you plan your year 10 computer science lesson on: Environmental impacts of computing devices, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your year 10 computer science lesson on: Environmental impacts of computing devices, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
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The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
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Explore more key stage 4 computer science lessons from the Computer Systems unit, dive into the full secondary computer science curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.
Equipment
Pupils do not require any specific equipment for this lesson.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
number of cycles per second, measured in gigahertz
onboard memory of the CPU, measured in megabytes
mini processor inside the CPU
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
e-waste in landfill
data centres
servers
discarded batteries