Digital Footprint Quest: Level Up Your Online Presence

8th Grade Lesson 45 minutes

Digital Footprint Quest: Level Up Your Online Presence

claire haja

1-pager

Purpose

This lesson aims to engage students in understanding and managing their digital footprints through interactive, real-world activities. By participating in a digital footprint scavenger hunt and self-assessment, students will analyze the impact of online behaviors and develop strategies for responsible internet use. The lesson encourages students to reflect on their online presence, set personal improvement goals, and foster a supportive digital community through awareness campaigns.

Learning goals

Students will analyze the concept of digital footprints, understanding how online behavior impacts reputation and privacy. They will develop skills in tracking and assessing their own digital presence, aligning their actions with responsible decision-making principles. Through collaborative projects, students will create strategies to enhance privacy and combat cyberbullying, fostering a positive online community.

Standards

Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.7: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.4: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
ISTE Standards for Students - 2b: Students engage in positive, safe, legal and ethical behavior when using technology, including social interactions online or when using networked devices.

Plan

Week 1	Day 1
Activities	Begin the lesson by discussing what a digital footprint is and its significance. Use resources like 'The Online Footprint: What You Leave Behind' from NetSmartz to provide examples of both positive and negative digital footprints. Engage students by asking them to share any personal experiences or thoughts on how their online actions might impact their reputation and privacy. (10 minutes) Divide students into small groups and assign each group a fictitious character profile. Instruct them to conduct a scavenger hunt to identify and document the online presence of their character using pre-prepared, fictional social media posts and online activities. Encourage students to analyze the impacts of these online behaviors on the character’s reputation and privacy, fostering a discussion on responsible online actions. (15 minutes) Guide students to perform a digital footprint self-assessment using a checklist that includes tracking their own online activities over the past week. Provide a reflection sheet for students to document their findings and thoughts on how their actions align with responsible decision-making principles. Encourage them to consider what strategies they might implement to improve their digital footprint. (10 minutes) Facilitate a class discussion where students can share insights from their self-assessment and the scavenger hunt. Encourage them to brainstorm strategies for maintaining privacy on social media and combating cyberbullying. Guide students to collaboratively develop a list of actionable steps they can take to enhance their online behavior, emphasizing empathy, privacy, and positive interactions in digital spaces. (10 minutes)
Deliverables
Preparation