e.+How+can+we+use+technology+in+an+effective+classroom+setting?

How can we teach students about protecting and understanding their privacy online?
//The first step is to talk to them about it. Yes, we may not comprehend // //every techno gadget that comes of the line but we do have something that is valuable... // //knowledge and experience. //  The first step to teaching our students about protecting themselves and understanding their privacy online is to talk to them about it. Sure, I know, it sounds simple enough but it is only something that is beginning to be addressed in schools. Student's may think it to be harmless fun (and it could be) but they must be made aware of the potential problems that a life online can have. Just as students need to be prepared for life out in the "real world", they must be prepared too for life in the digital world. They need to understand that it is possible to follow digital footprints, that not only friends have access to the personal details added to a social networking site and that, yes, future employers will see that picture of you drunk and skinny-dipping at Frank's cabin last weekend.

Take the time to discuss these issues with your classroom. Monitoring internet access is something that we can no longer do as parents and educators after a period of time and students must be able to distinguish for themselves whether their choices are in their best interests or not. Once students have a clear understanding of the risks of privacy and a more developed sense of digital morality and ethics they will be armed with not only the knowledge of how to use the internet, but how to use it with respect. These are some general ideas of how to approach the issues of privacy and personal responsibility within a high school classroom: = =

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__ Digital Privacy - Class Discussion Starters __
Start a discussion in your classroom about the difference between privacy in the real world and privacy in the online world...

- Is there a difference between the two? - Is there a need to protect our online privacy? Why or why not? - Is there somethings that you would not post on the internet? - Are there things you regret posting on the internet? - Would you change your Facebook or MySpace account, etc. if you knew your parent or guardian could see it? - How about your teacher? Your grandparent? Your boss? - Why does the audience make a difference?

 These questions and questions like these can be posed in small group settings but should always be brought back to the whole class for discussion.

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__** Research Projects on various aspects of Online Privacy: **__
Have students research various aspects of online privacy and online protection such as: - Identity theft <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Copyright infringement <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Spyware, Viruses, Trojan Horses <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Cyberbullying <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Digital Ethics <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">- Online Predators

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Students can present their topics as groups to the whole class using various forms of technology to demonstrate and exemplify their research and understandings.

__**<span style="color: #ff6700; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Problem-Based Learning: **__
<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Have students discuss in small groups varying situations of online privacy. <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;"> Groups will: <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;"> 1. Identify the problem <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;"> 2. Hypothesize possible causes <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;"> 3. Rationalize possible solutions <span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;"> 4. Share their discoveries with the class

<span style="font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 120%;">Try to find problems based on real-life examples rather than hypothetical ones. Students will be more likely to respond to concrete issues than created ones.

<span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">"The great potentials of the Internet will not be realized if basic trust <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">cannot be forged among participants"  <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">- Sissella Bok  <span style="color: #008000; font-family: 'Palatino Linotype','Book Antiqua',Palatino,serif; font-size: 130%;">//(Lying: Moral Choice in Public and Private Life)//

<span style="font-family: 'Arial Black',Gadget,sans-serif;">References & Sources