Safe Digital Footprints: Online Safety for Middle Schoolers

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Safe Digital Footprints: Online Safety for Middle Schoolers

Grade 7Technology5 days

The 'Safe Digital Footprints: Online Safety for Middle Schoolers' project aims to empower 7th-grade students to become responsible digital citizens by exploring concepts like online safety, privacy protection, and the impact of digital footprints. Through activities such as analyzing digital footprints, creating privacy protection plans, and conducting online safety workshops, students learn to navigate and contribute positively to the digital world. The project, aligned with ISTE standards, encourages collaboration, creativity, and reflection, helping students understand the importance of digital citizenship and enhancing their ability to communicate and engage respectfully online.

Digital CitizenshipOnline SafetyPrivacy ProtectionDigital FootprintCreative CommunicationCollaborationRespectful Engagement

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Inquiry Framework

Question Framework

Driving Question

The overarching question that guides the entire project.How can we empower middle school students to be responsible digital citizens, ensuring they understand online safety, privacy protection, and the impact of their digital footprint while positively contributing to technology use and social media?

Essential Questions

Supporting questions that break down major concepts.

What is digital citizenship, and why is it important for students to understand?
How can students protect their privacy and personal information while using the internet?
What is a digital footprint, and how can it impact a person's future?
What are some common online threats and risks that students might encounter, and how can they be mitigated?
How can students responsibly and respectfully use digital technology in their daily lives?
What role does social media play in a student's digital life, and how can it be used positively?

Standards & Learning Goals

Learning Goals

By the end of this project, students will be able to:

Understand the key concepts of digital citizenship and why it is crucial for safe internet practices.
Identify effective strategies for protecting privacy and managing personal information online.
Analyze the concept of digital footprints and assess their impact on future opportunities.
Evaluate common online threats and devise strategies to mitigate these risks responsibly.
Demonstrate responsible and respectful use of digital technology and social media platforms.
Develop communication strategies to educate peers about online safety and responsible digital behavior.

ISTE Standards for Students

ISTE-2

Primary

Digital Citizen: Students recognize the rights, responsibilities, and opportunities of living, learning, and working in an interconnected digital world, and they act and model in ways that are safe, legal, and ethical.Reason: The project directly addresses learning about digital citizenship, which encompasses understanding rights, responsibilities, and online safety, aligning closely with this standard.

ISTE-6

Secondary

Creative Communicator: Students communicate clearly and express themselves creatively for a variety of purposes using the platforms, tools, styles, formats, and digital media appropriate to their goals.Reason: This project requires students to find effective ways to communicate their findings and safety strategies regarding technology use, supporting this communication standard.

ISTE-7

Supporting

Global Collaborator: Students use digital tools to broaden their perspectives and enrich their learning by collaborating with others and working effectively in teams locally and globally.Reason: Encouraging students to collaborate on research and solutions promotes global citizenship and teamwork skills, reflecting this standard.

Entry Events

Events that will be used to introduce the project to students

Digital Footprint Detective

Invite students to take on the role of a 'Digital Footprint Detective' by examining a fictional character's online presence. In the event, they investigate how seemingly harmless posts can influence perceptions and future opportunities, sparking curiosity about their own online behavior.

Tech Time Capsule

Students participate in creating a 'Tech Time Capsule' of current digital trends, online behaviors, and popular digital platforms. They’ll discuss and predict how these might evolve and impact future digital citizenship, engaging their interest and critical thinking about personal technology use.

Online Safety Escape Room

Create an 'Online Safety Escape Room' game where students must solve puzzles related to digital citizenship concepts to 'escape.' This immersive scenario challenges students to think critically about online safety in a fun, engaging manner.

Virtual Reality Expedition

Offer a 'Virtual Reality Expedition' that immerses students into various scenarios showcasing different aspects of online interactions and their consequences. By virtually stepping into these situations, students can better visualize the significance of digital actions and safety.

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Portfolio Activities

These activities progressively build towards your learning goals, with each submission contributing to the student's final portfolio.

Activity 1

Digital Footprint Analysis

Students will dive into understanding what a digital footprint is and how it can affect future opportunities. By analyzing a fictional character's online activities, they will learn to identify positive and negative aspects of their own digital presence.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Introduce the concept of a digital footprint and discuss its potential impacts on a person's future with the class.

2. Provide students with a fictional character's online profile activities to analyze.

3. Identify and evaluate elements that could positively or negatively impact the character's reputation.

4. Discuss findings with peers and suggest ways the character could improve their digital footprint.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA report detailing the analysis of the character’s digital footprint with suggestions for improvement.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with ISTE-2 (Digital Citizen) by recognizing the impact of a digital footprint.

Activity 2

Privacy Protector Plan

Students create a plan to keep their personal data safe online. This involves researching privacy settings on various popular digital platforms and developing a brochure to educate others.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Research privacy features available on different social media platforms and other digital tools.

2. Draft a guide highlighting key privacy settings users should be aware of.

3. Design a brochure that visually represents ways to protect online privacy.

4. Share and discuss the brochure with classmates to gain insights and feedback.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn informative brochure providing strategies for online privacy protection.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with ISTE-2 (Digital Citizen) focusing on privacy protection and ISTE-6 (Creative Communicator) for the creation and communication of the brochure.

Activity 3

Online Safety Workshop

Students will develop a workshop aimed at educating fellow students about common online threats and how to protect themselves. This will involve collaborative research and presentation building.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Identify and research common online threats and risks that students might encounter.

2. Form teams and assign each member a specific threat or risk to focus on.

3. Develop a collaborative presentation or skit demonstrating how to handle these threats.

4. Conduct a small workshop for other classes to educate them on online safety.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityAn online safety workshop presented to fellow students.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with ISTE-2 (Digital Citizen) and ISTE-7 (Global Collaborator) for teamwork and educating others about online safety.

Activity 4

Positive Digital Engagement Campaign

Students will create a campaign promoting respectful and responsible use of technology and social media. This includes creating posters, social media posts, and videos to spread their message.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Research the importance of respectful digital engagement and successful existing campaigns.

2. Plan a campaign that includes various media formats like posters, social media posts, and videos.

3. Create content following the campaign plan ensuring each media piece reinforces the central message.

4. Launch the campaign within the school and gather feedback from peers.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA multimedia campaign promoting positive digital citizenship within the school community.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsAligns with ISTE-2 (Digital Citizen) and ISTE-6 (Creative Communicator) by encouraging the creation of digital media for educational purposes.

Activity 5

Digital Citizenship Reflection Journal

Students will maintain a reflective journal throughout the project to track their learning journey and personal growth as a digital citizen.

Steps

Here is some basic scaffolding to help students complete the activity.

1. Create a journal entry outlining initial thoughts on digital citizenship.

2. Regularly update the journal with learning reflections after each activity.

3. Include personal goals for digital citizenship and self-assess progress over time.

4. Complete a final reflection summarizing insights gained and future intentions as a digital citizen.

Final Product

What students will submit as the final product of the activityA reflective journal documenting personal growth and understanding of digital citizenship.

Alignment

How this activity aligns with the learning objectives & standardsSupports ISTE-2 (Digital Citizen) by fostering self-awareness and metacognition in understanding digital citizenship.

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Rubric & Reflection

Portfolio Rubric

Grading criteria for assessing the overall project portfolio

Digital Citizenship Mastery Rubric

Category 1

Understanding Digital Citizenship

Evaluates students’ conceptual understanding of digital citizenship, including online safety, privacy, and digital footprints.

Criterion 1

Conceptual Knowledge

Assesses students’ understanding of key digital citizenship concepts such as digital footprints, online safety, and privacy.

Exemplary

4 Points

Demonstrates sophisticated understanding of digital citizenship concepts, effectively analyzing nuances of online safety and privacy impacts.

Proficient

3 Points

Demonstrates thorough understanding of digital citizenship, accurately addressing online safety and privacy issues.

Developing

2 Points

Shows emerging understanding of digital citizenship with some inconsistencies in addressing online safety and privacy.

Beginning

1 Points

Shows initial understanding with minimal recognition of online safety and privacy concepts.

Criterion 2

Digital Footprint Analysis

Evaluates ability to analyze digital footprints and assess their implications.

Exemplary

4 Points

Thoroughly analyzes digital footprints, identifying complex impacts and devising innovative improvement strategies.

Proficient

3 Points

Accurately analyzes digital footprints, identifying key impacts and suggesting reasonable improvement strategies.

Developing

2 Points

Partially analyzes digital footprints with limited identification of impacts and basic improvement suggestions.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to analyze digital footprints with minimal identification of impacts.

Category 2

Creativity and Communication

Assesses the creativity and effectiveness of students’ communication in developing brochures, campaigns, and workshops.

Criterion 1

Creative Communicator Skills

Measures the clarity and creativity of communication through digital media projects.

Exemplary

4 Points

Demonstrates exceptional creativity and clarity in producing digital media that effectively educates and engages audiences.

Proficient

3 Points

Produces clear and creative digital media that effectively communicates ideas to the target audience.

Developing

2 Points

Produces digital media with partial creativity and clarity, inconsistently engaging the audience.

Beginning

1 Points

Produces media with minimal creativity and clarity, struggling to effectively engage the audience.

Category 3

Collaboration and Participation

Evaluates student collaboration and active participation in group activities and discussions.

Criterion 1

Teamwork and Engagement

Assesses students' contributions and interactions within team-based tasks and discussions.

Exemplary

4 Points

Exhibits leadership and active engagement, fostering a collaborative team environment.

Proficient

3 Points

Actively contributes to team efforts, demonstrating effective collaboration skills.

Developing

2 Points

Participates in team activities with moderate engagement, contributing sporadically.

Beginning

1 Points

Requires support to engage and contribute effectively within a team.

Category 4

Reflective Thinking

Assesses students’ ability to engage in metacognitive reflection about their learning and growth in digital citizenship.

Criterion 1

Reflection and Self-Assessment

Evaluates depth of reflection and self-assessment in understanding digital citizenship growth.

Exemplary

4 Points

Engages in profound reflection, articulating sophisticated insights and comprehensive self-assessment.

Proficient

3 Points

Provides clear and thoughtful reflection with adequate self-assessment of growth.

Developing

2 Points

Shows basic reflection skills with limited self-assessment and insight articulation.

Beginning

1 Points

Struggles to reflect meaningfully, requiring support to assess personal growth.

Reflection Prompts

End-of-project reflection questions to get students to think about their learning

Question 1

What are the most significant insights you gained about digital citizenship during this project?

Text

Required

Question 2

How capable do you feel about protecting your privacy online after completing this project?

Scale

Required

Question 3

Which digital safety strategy do you consider most effective for middle school students, and why?

Multiple choice

Required

Options

Regularly updating privacy settings

Being cautious about sharing personal information

Using strong and varied passwords

Reporting suspicious activities

Educating peers about online risks

Question 4

Reflect on the impact of your digital footprint and how it might affect future opportunities. Have your perceptions changed after participating in this project?

Text

Optional

Question 5

How likely are you to continue practicing and promoting positive digital citizenship after this project?

Scale

Required