Rockingham County Public Schools

Overview

Focus

Evaluation of web sites, Protecting your identity, Instant messaging/chatting

Objectives

• The students will demonstrate knowledge of email safety, viruses, chat rooms, and predators.
• The students will learn how to evaluate websites for accuracy and bias.
• The students will understand steps to take to protect their identity.

Terminology

blogging, chatrooms, cyberstalking, file sharing, filter, instant messaging, phishing, social networking, viruses, spyware

Activities

• Discuss the computer safety rules that are posted in the lab and the division Acceptable Use Agreement.
• Class presentation: Cyber Character/Network Ethics by RCPS ITRT Joe Showker
• CyberSmart Lesson for discussing guidelines for good manners when using email, instant messaging, chat and message boards (no Internet connection required)
  • Download student activity worksheet PDF
• Watch the Tracking Teresa video to see how personal information can be located even when it is not given out directly.
• Use the Chat Danger website or play ID the Creep to learn how to keep safe while chatting online.
• View Netsmartz video clips on predators and discuss how to stay safe: Julie's Journey, Amy's Choice
• CyberSmart Lesson for identifying high quality websites
  • Download student activity worksheet PDF that includes a site evaluation form
  • Good website for evaluating
• Use Harrisonburg City Schools' Internet Research website to explore information on how to evaluate search results, how to use advanced search skills, evaluating website reliabiliity, and evaluating website bias.

Additional Resources

• CyberSmart Lessons and discussion ideas for 6, 7, 8
• NetSmartz Internet Safety Pledge for Middle and High School - English or Spanish
• Netsmartz Real Life Stories
• NetSmartz online resources page
• Inquiry on the Internet: Evaluating Web Pages for a Class Collection
• Active Reading: Learning to Think Like Fact Checkers
• Search Me (Not): Developing Profiles of Literary and Historical Figures by Imagining Their Web Searches

Related Standards Of Learning

• C/T 6-8.3 (a,b)
• C/T 6-8.4 (a,b)
• C/T 6-8.5 (a,b)