The Power of Digital Footprints Lesson

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The Power
of Digital
Footprints

DIGITAL CITIZENSHIP | GRADE 7

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Essential Question

How might our digital

footprints shape our future?

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Define the term "digital footprint" and explain how it can
affect our online privacy.

Analyze how different parts of our digital footprint can lead others to draw conclusions -- both positive and negative -- about who we are.

Use the Take a Stand thinking routine to examine a dilemma about digital footprints.

Learning Objectives

1

2

3

Match

Match the following digital footprint detail and the images that match from the video.

• Searched

• Copied

• Shared

• Broadcast

• Permanent

lighthouse

copy machine

whispered

football stadium big screen

marker

• lighthouse

• copy machine

• whispered

• football stadium big screen

• marker

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KEY VOCABULARY

Digital footprint

All the information online about a person posted
either by that person or by others, intentionally or
unintentionally

Persistent

Lasting a long time

Remember
this

Word Cloud

Using only one word, how does it make you feel knowing that everything you do online is stored and can be searched for, shared, or even broadcast?

" What you do online is different from what you do in person because the audience who sees your online activity is invisible. " 

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KEY VOCABULARY

Invisible audience

Unknown or unanticipated people who can see information about you posted online.

Remember
this

Open Ended

For example, imagine a friend from preschool you haven't talked to in years follows you on Instagram and is part of your audience. What if he shows your posts to his mom? Or takes a screenshot to send to his cousin? Or, what if you don't realize that your Instagram posts are getting saved and archived, and they pop up years later once you've forgotten about them?

Who is all part of the "invisible audience" that you probably weren't thinking about when you made a post.

Who might be part of the "invisible audience" that would search for information about you or posted by you online?

Categorize

Options (15)

• old friends

• colleges or schools you might apply to

• possible employers

• scholarship committees

• leaders of groups or organizations you want to join

incorrect judgments

incomplete information

misinterpret posts

• family members

• social media followers

• local community members

biased opinions

assumptions

rumors

stereotypes

Organize these options into the right categories

Invisible Audience could include...

People Perceptions (thoughts)...

Digital Footprint and Reputation

Truth Be Told Activity

Imagine that you work for a media company, TalentScout.

Your job is to find a host for a new web-based reality show that will be seen by millions of teens. The show,  called Truth Be Told, is about what happens in situations where people lie rather than tell the truth.

As part of your search, you go online to dig up information about the candidates, Iliana Williams and Drake Casey.

Online Search results for Iliana Williams (page 1)

Online Search results for Iliana Williams (page 2)

Poll

After looking through the search results, would you hire Illiana as the host for the web-based show, called Truth Be Told?

• Yes, I would hire her

• I am not sure

• No, I would no hire her

Online Search results for Drake Casey (page 1)

Online Search results for Drake Casey (page 2)

Online Search results for Drake Casey (page 2)

Poll

After looking through the search results, would you hire Drake as the host for the web-based show, called Truth Be Told?

• Yes, I would hire him

• I am not sure

• No, I would no hire him

Open Ended

Now that you have seen both candidates for the job. Who would be your final choice for the host of the show, Truth Be Told?

Why did you choose this person?

After looking at both candidates, the executive producer chose Iliana to be the host.

Truth Be Told

However... After she was hired, someone anonymously sent a screenshot of a conversation to TalentScout.

Take a look at the next slide!

Truth Be Told

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Chat App

Document No.6: Private Chat
Description: Private chat between Iliana and anonymous friend
Search notes: Received by anonymous sender

Hey I saw your blog, I thought you hated cooking?!! 😜

Oh yah I don’t LOVE it...I made it because the Truth Be Told application

wanted people to have a blog or something to show you have an audience online.

Isn’t that like cheating tho?....

No, why would it be? I’m just doing it for the job application.

If I’m hired they don’t need to know I can barely make toast! Who cares!

GROUP ACTIVITY

Take a Stand

Open Ended

TAKE A STAND

After seeing the new evidence, do you think that Iliana should be fired? Why or why not?
Explain your perspective.

Poll

What do your classmates think? Everyone vote on Illiana's fate.

• FIRE her!

• Keep her

• Talk to her then decide

Open Ended

How does this dilemma remind you of other situations we've
explored in class or that you've seen, heard about, or experienced?

Open Ended

• What if the show was not Truth Be Told, but something else? Would it make a difference what Iliana posted?

Open Ended

• Is it important that Iliana represent herself truthfully online? Why or why not? Are there other situations where it wouldn't matter if she represented herself untruthfully?  

Open Ended

• What if someone hacked into her account to get the messages? Should this change the decision of the producers? 

Your digital footprint is somewhat in your control and also somewhat out of your control.

You can make decisions about what you post about yourself and what you send to others.

However, your footprint, what you post, and what others see about you can have a big impact on your life.

So it's important for you to think carefully as you share online and add to your digital footprint.

Drag and Drop

How might you be able to monitor and shape your digital footprint.

Placeholder

​,

Placeholder

,​

Placeholder

.

Drag these tiles and drop them in the correct blank above

think before you post

review your privacy settings

perform a search on yourself

Ignore your online presence

Share personal information with everyone

Never check your social media accounts

Use the same password for all accounts

Post without considering the consequences

Multiple Choice

Which activity makes up a digital footprint?

• Joining an after-school club.

• Playing on a sports team.

• Posting messages or comments on social media.

• Writing in a journal.

Poll

How confident do you feel in being able to shape your digital footprint? 

• I feel very confident.

• 
  I feel somewhat confident.

• 
  I do not feel confident.

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