There are three objectives for this lesson. The first is that students will be able to identify some of the benefits of sharing information online. I was pleased to see that while explaining the risks of the internet, this lesson would also explain the benefits of internet. The second objective for the lesson was that students will be able to reflect on the risks of sharing inappropriate information (oversharing) online. Finally, the third objective of the lesson was to have the students be able to think critically about what they choose to post and share about themselves online. I thought that this lesson would an essential lesson for high schoolers are frequently crazed about social media.
The materials for this lesson include both technological and non-technological resources. The technological resources include a video about a girl who shared information online which she later regret. This is used for one of the major activities in the lesson. The other technological resource is an option; the students can use a blog to record their thoughts at the end of the lesson. The non-technological resources are discussion guides for viewing the video. Also, if students do not use a blog for writing, they can use a journal of some sort.
The main activity in the lesson is to watch the video about a girl sharing information online and regretting the decision. The students watch this video as a class, then the students break into groups of 4-5 and discuss the video as well as some case studies about sharing information online. After the students discuss in their group, the whole class discusses these topics. This type of activity would be an excellent ice break activity at the start of a semester. The students would have the chance to get to know one another while discussing a topic to which they can all relate. The teacher is given two choices of videos to show the the class.
To assess the students the teacher can ask three questions and have the students respond in writing either on a blog, or in a journal. The questions include: "What are some examples of people sharing in a rewarding way?", "What things can you do to minimize oversharing in your life?" and "How can you create a positive digital footprint?" These questions allow the teacher to asses the students' understanding of the learning objectives.
In my classroom I think this would be a lesson done either at the start of the semester, or prior to starting a research unit. As previously explained, the discussion elements to this lesson make a create icebreaker to starting an English class. It allows the teacher to establish protocol for classroom discussions and group work while working on an easily accessible topic. It also allows students to get to know one another in a less academic sense. This lesson could also be part of a larger unit dedicated to digital citizenship to prelude students using internet research and resources for a research unit. In this lesson I would definitely have the students use a blog to answer their assessment questions. This would be an excellent way to model an appropriate form of sharing information online. In my classroom I would also have the students perform the Extension Activity for this unit. This activity allows the students to make their own videos warning against the dangers of oversharing on the internet. I feel this extension activity would not only incorporate more technological skills for the students to learn, but also make the dangers of oversharing much more relatable to the students.
