Have you ever thought about what happens to everything you do online? Today, we’re going to learn about something called digital footprints. These are like the trails you leave behind when you visit websites, post on social media, or do anything else on the internet.
Mr. Brian Van Dijk is a teacher at Bookser Middle School. He wants to show us how important it is to be careful about our digital footprints. To do this, he searches for his own name online. He finds that there are other people with the same name, but his professional profiles, like his Twitter page and his work with Google Teacher Academy, show up at the top. This is because he manages his online presence carefully to make sure it looks professional and matches his goals.
To help us understand digital footprints better, Mr. Van Dijk has a fun activity called “Choose a Host.” Imagine you’re a producer for a talent show, and you need to find a new host. A private investigator has gathered information about two candidates, Linda and Jason, from the internet.
In groups, you’ll read through their profiles and decide if they would be good hosts. You’ll look for clues about whether they work well with others and if they’re honest. Each group will list the strengths and weaknesses of both candidates, using evidence from their profiles. You’ll have 15 minutes to discuss and take notes before sharing your decision with the class.
As you look at the profiles, watch out for any inconsistencies. For example, if someone says they’re single but their profile shows something different, it might make you question their honesty. After discussing in groups, you’ll share your conclusions with everyone. Think carefully about the evidence and how it shapes your opinions.
At the end of the activity, one group will present their choice and explain why they picked that candidate. The students did a great job figuring out the profiles, and it was interesting to see how tough it was to choose between Linda and Jason.
One smart student pointed out that even if you delete something from the internet, it might still be out there somewhere. This is a big reminder that we need to be careful about what we share online because our digital footprints can last forever.
So, remember to think before you post or share anything online. Your digital footprint is important, and it can affect your future!
Keep a diary for one week, noting down all your online activities. At the end of the week, review your entries and reflect on what kind of digital footprint you are creating. Discuss with your classmates how you can make your online presence more positive and secure.
In pairs, create short role-playing scenarios where one person acts as a digital detective and the other as a person with a digital footprint. The detective will ask questions to uncover the footprint, and together you’ll discuss how to improve or maintain a positive online presence.
Create a poster that illustrates the concept of a digital footprint. Use drawings, magazine cutouts, or digital images to show both positive and negative footprints. Present your poster to the class and explain the choices you made.
Analyze a fictional online profile provided by your teacher. Identify potential red flags and positive aspects of the profile. Write a short report on how this person could improve their digital footprint and share your findings with the class.
Participate in a class debate on the topic: “Are digital footprints more beneficial or harmful?” Prepare your arguments and evidence beforehand, and engage in a respectful discussion with your classmates to explore different perspectives.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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[Music]
Today, we’re discussing digital footprints, which refer to the history of your online activities across various websites.
My name is Brian Van Dijk, and I teach at Bookser Middle School in the Santa Clara Unified School District. In this lesson, I will demonstrate my digital footprint by searching for myself online.
When I Google my name, I notice that there is another person with the same name. However, my professional profiles, including my Twitter page and Google Teacher Academy, are prominently displayed. I want my students to understand the importance of managing their digital footprints and ensuring that their online presence reflects professionalism and aligns with their goals.
Today, we will engage in an activity called “Choose a Host,” where students will act as producers for a fictional talent show looking for a new host. The executive producer has hired a private investigator to gather information about the candidates online.
In your groups, you will read through profiles of two candidates, Linda and Jason. You will need to make inferences based on the information provided and assess whether these individuals work well with others and demonstrate honesty.
Each group will compile a list of strengths and weaknesses for both candidates, supported by evidence from their profiles. You will have 15 minutes to discuss and take notes before coming together to reach a group decision, which will be shared with the class.
As you analyze the profiles, pay attention to any inconsistencies. For example, if a candidate claims to be single but has conflicting information, that raises questions about their honesty.
After the group discussions, we will share our conclusions. I encourage you to think critically about the evidence and how it informs your opinions.
At the end of the activity, one group will present their decision and provide reasons for their choice.
The students did an excellent job navigating the complexities of the profiles, and it was interesting to see how challenging it was to choose between the two candidates.
One insightful comment from a student highlighted that even if you delete something from the internet, it can still exist somewhere. This reinforces the idea that we must be cautious about what we share online, as our digital footprints are permanent.
[Music]
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This version removes any potentially sensitive or inappropriate content while maintaining the essence of the original transcript.
Digital – Related to technology or electronic devices – Many students use digital tools like tablets and computers for their homework.
Footprints – Traces or marks left behind by someone – When you use the internet, you leave digital footprints that show where you’ve been online.
Online – Connected to or available through the internet – We can find a lot of information online to help with our school projects.
Profiles – Descriptions or accounts of someone’s personal details on a website – It’s important to keep your online profiles private to protect your information.
Evidence – Information or facts that help prove something – We need to find evidence to support our ideas when writing a report.
Honesty – Being truthful and sincere – Honesty is important when sharing information online to ensure others can trust you.
Activity – Something that you do, especially for enjoyment or as part of learning – Our class did an online activity to learn about internet safety.
Analyze – To examine something carefully to understand it better – We should analyze the information we find online to make sure it’s accurate.
Share – To give or exchange information with others – It’s fun to share interesting articles with friends, but always check if they’re true first.
Decision – A choice made after thinking about different options – Making a good decision about what to post online can help keep you safe.
