1.2 Memory & Storage: Main Memory

1.2.1 Primary Storage

A lesson themed on Primary storage/Main Memory, designed to comply with the new OCR Computer Science Spec (J277).

Lesson Objectives

1. Explain what memory is and how computer systems use it.
2. Explain the difference between volatile and non-volatile memory.
3. Investigate advantages and disadvantages of memory.
4. Investigate what Virtual memory is and how it works.

Lesson Activity Overview

1. Short Memory Exercise (Slide 4/5)
2. Literacy Task (Key Words: Main Memory, Volatile Memory, Non-Volatile, Memory, RAM, ROM, Virtual Memory)
3. Question for Primary Memory (Slide 11)
4. Physical demonstration of Disk Thrashing using Clapping (Slide 17)
5. Questions for Virtual Memory (Slide 18)

Included Resources

1. Lesson PowerPoint
2. Unit 1.2 Keyword Dictionary (Literacy Task)