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Computer networks are based on passing messages from computer to computer. This sounds simple in principle, but in practice all sorts of contention and bottlenecks can occur.
This activity gives some first hand experience of such issues, with a game for a group of students.
Photos from Live Shows
 The Routing and Deadlock game in action, from a poster at a conference in Japan. The Routing and Deadlock activity can also be set up as a board game. A nice variation of the orange game was developed independently by Gottfried Vossen and Richard Bell. Rather than have labeled oranges, the children have different fruit (banana, apple, orange etc.), and t-shirts that show which fruit they should end up with. The photo shows the "children's university", a monthly event in Muenster, Germany. Gottfried Vossen is demonstrating the routing problem to an audience of around 650 children.
Other Resources
Curriculum Links
This is a group investigation that requires communication and co-ordination between students.
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Mathematics Level 1: Statistical Investigation
- Conduct investigations using the statistical enquiry cycle: posing and answering questions; gathering, sorting and counting, and displaying category data; discussing the results.
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Technology Level 1: Planning for practice
- Outline a general plan to support the development of an outcome, identifying appropriate steps and resources.
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Health and Physical Education Level 1: Identity, sensitivity, and respect
- Demonstrate respect through sharing and cooperation in groups.
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- Level I (Grades 3-5) Topic 11: Develop a simple understanding of an algorithm, such as text compression, search, or network routing, using computer-free exercises.
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