Hello! I’m Elaine Germany, and I teach computer technology at Henry World School in Denver, Colorado. In my classes, we talk about important topics like cyberbullying, internet safety, privacy, and social networking. Our goal is to learn how to stay safe while using the internet.
Today, let’s dive into a lesson about privacy. We explored a lesson called “Secret Sharer,” which helps us understand what information is okay to share and what should be kept private, especially when it involves other people. To make the lesson engaging, I like to connect it to real-life situations. For instance, I conduct fun surveys where students stand up or sit down based on their answers. This makes everyone more active and gets them thinking about the questions. For example, I might ask who has their own cell phone. Those who do will stand, while others sit.
We also discuss social media. I ask questions like whether they have accounts on platforms like Facebook and if they tag friends or share pictures online.
Next, we dive into the lesson by examining three different scenarios. Students think about whether the actions in these scenarios were appropriate and how they might have acted differently. These scenarios are relatable, and students often say, “Yeah, that happened to me.”
We then break into groups, and each group reads and discusses a different scenario. Afterward, they present their scenario to the class. One scenario involves an eighth-grade girl named Allison, who plays a game called Virtual Runway, where she picks outfits for a paper doll.
I love using these case studies because they resonate with students. Even if they haven’t experienced the exact situation, they often share similar stories or experiences, which helps them connect with the material.
Teaching digital citizenship is an ongoing effort. I constantly remind students to make responsible choices and to think about how their actions affect themselves and others. For example, I ask them to raise their hands if they’ve taken pictures of friends during activities and discuss better choices in those situations.
I encourage students to share what they’ve learned. One student mentioned the importance of getting permission before sharing someone else’s information. Another shared a personal experience about being tagged at a sleepover, which led to a discussion about the consequences of their online actions.
Overall, my goal is to create a safe environment where students feel comfortable sharing their experiences and learning from one another. By doing this, we can all become better digital citizens and make the internet a safer place for everyone.
Imagine you’re in a situation where you need to decide what information to share online. Create a short skit with your classmates to act out this scenario. Discuss as a group what information is safe to share and what should remain private. This will help you practice making smart choices about privacy.
Read a scenario about online behavior and discuss with your group whether the actions were appropriate. Think about how you would handle the situation differently. Present your thoughts to the class and listen to others’ perspectives to learn from each other.
Create a poster that illustrates the key principles of digital citizenship. Use drawings, slogans, or examples to show how to be a responsible digital citizen. Display your poster in the classroom to remind everyone of the importance of safe online behavior.
Participate in a debate about the pros and cons of social media. Take a side and use examples to support your arguments. This will help you understand different viewpoints and the impact of social media on privacy and safety.
Keep a journal where you reflect on your online interactions. Write about a time when you had to make a decision about sharing information. Consider what you learned from the experience and how it will influence your future online behavior.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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Thank you! My name is Elaine Germany, and I teach at Henry World School in Denver Public Schools, Colorado. I teach sixth, seventh, and eighth grade computer technology. We discuss topics such as cyberbullying, internet safety, privacy, and social networking, focusing on how to stay safe online.
Today, we’re going to talk about a lesson on privacy. I taught a lesson called “Secret Sharer,” which discusses what to share and what not to share about other people. I try to make real-world connections with the students. I like to conduct surveys where I have them stand up or sit down, which gets them more active and encourages them to think about the questions. For example, I ask how many of them have their own cell phones; those who do remain standing, while others take a seat.
I also ask questions about their social media usage, such as whether they have Facebook or other social networking accounts, and if they engage in tagging others or sharing pictures.
Next, we move into the lesson where they look at three different case scenarios. From these scenarios, they answer questions about whether the actions taken were appropriate and how they might have acted differently. The case scenarios are effective because students can relate them to their own lives, often saying, “Yeah, that happened to me.”
We then break into groups, and each group reads and discusses a different case scenario. Afterward, each group presents their scenario to the class. One scenario involves an eighth-grade girl named Allison, who plays a game called Virtual Runway, where she picks outfits for a paper doll.
I appreciate the case studies in this lesson because they resonate with the students, even if they haven’t experienced the exact situation. They often share similar stories or experiences, which helps them connect with the material.
Teaching digital citizenship is an ongoing effort. I constantly remind students to make responsible choices and to consider how their actions affect themselves and others. For example, I ask them to raise their hands if they’ve taken pictures of friends during activities and discuss better choices in those situations.
I encourage students to share what they’ve learned. One student mentioned the importance of getting permission before sharing someone else’s information. Another student shared a personal experience about being tagged at a sleepover, which led to a discussion about the consequences of their online actions.
Overall, I aim to create a safe environment where students feel comfortable sharing their experiences and learning from one another.
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This version maintains the essence of the original transcript while removing any informal language and ensuring clarity.
Digital Citizenship – Digital citizenship refers to the responsible use of technology and the internet by people of all ages. – Example sentence: Practicing good digital citizenship means being respectful and kind when communicating online.
Privacy – Privacy is the right to keep personal information safe and secure from others. – Example sentence: It’s important to protect your privacy by not sharing your passwords with anyone.
Cyberbullying – Cyberbullying is the use of digital devices to bully or harass someone repeatedly. – Example sentence: Schools teach students how to report cyberbullying to help keep everyone safe online.
Internet Safety – Internet safety involves taking steps to protect oneself from online dangers. – Example sentence: Using strong passwords and not talking to strangers online are important parts of internet safety.
Social Networking – Social networking is the use of websites and apps to connect with friends and family. – Example sentence: Many people use social networking sites to share photos and updates with their friends.
Scenarios – Scenarios are imagined situations used to help understand or solve problems. – Example sentence: In class, we discussed different scenarios to learn how to respond to cyberbullying.
Responsible Choices – Responsible choices are decisions made with careful thought about the consequences. – Example sentence: Making responsible choices online means thinking before you post or share information.
Social Media – Social media are platforms where people create and share content or participate in social networking. – Example sentence: Social media can be a fun way to stay in touch with friends, but it’s important to use it wisely.
Sharing – Sharing is the act of giving others access to your information or content online. – Example sentence: Before sharing a photo online, make sure you have permission from everyone in it.
Learning – Learning is the process of gaining knowledge or skills through study or experience. – Example sentence: Online resources can be a great way to continue learning about new topics outside of school.
