Digital Literacy
Middle School Lessons
Below are Digital Literacy Lessons for Middle School
Week 2 - Be Smart!
Choose 2 or more lessons that you think will be best for your students.
From Common Sense Media
Students explore the idea that anyone can publish on the Internet, so not all sites are equally trustworthy. They need to carefully evaluate the sites they use for research, and then decide which ones they can trust. As a class, students discuss how print materials are published. Then they compare and contrast this process with publishing on the Internet, learning that there are no built-in checks for accuracy or quality on the Internet. Therefore, they must use their own criteria to judge the trustworthiness and usefulness of websites.
From Common Sense Media
Students learn that to conduct effective and efficient online searches, they must use a variety of searching strategies rather than relying on a single source. Students learn a five-step method for planning and carrying out an online search. Students then apply what they have learned to a scenario in which they pretend they are employees in a workplace, searching for information for their job.
From Common Sense Media
Students explore the concept of fair use, apply it to case studies, and create an original work of fair use.
From Common Sense Media
Students are introduced to copyright, fair use, and the rights they have as creators. Students first watch a video of young writer who talks about posting and protecting her original work online. Students then learn key vocabulary terms that will help them conceptualize issues surrounding creative work and copyright. Finally, students explore the copyright history of the “Happy Birthday” song and create an original happy birthday song of their own.
From Common Sense Media
Students reflect on their responsibilities as creators and users of creative work. Students view and discuss the video vignette, a documentary-style story of a young creator who uses video and music clips to make his own creations. Students then read case studies and discuss the particular ethical challenges that a “cut and paste” digital culture poses with respect to creative work.
From Common Sense Media
Students are introduced to the concept of gender stereotypes, in an online & offline context. Students discuss stereotypes about boys and girls: where they come from, how we learn them, & why they can be restrictive. Students identify and discuss gender stereotypes in the “Dress Up Your Avatar” feature of a kids' virtual world.