Unit 1.2. Respect: Access

1.2. What is Digital Access?

Digital Access:  full electronic participation in society.

Include everyone and exclude no one: "All people should have fair access to technology no matter who they are.  Places or organizations with limited connectivity need to be addressed as well. To become productive citizens, we need to be committed to equal digital access."

Lesson Topics

Each numbered section in the right column begins a 20-minute lesson with the following topics:

1.2.a. Acceptable Use Agreement (AUA)

1.2.b. Online Tools for People with Disabilities

1.2.c. Filtering

1.2.d. Internet Censorship

Lesson Format

1. Video: View the video or Web page

2. Essential question: The student facilitator poses the question or issue you are to consider

3. Think / Ink: Individually think about your personal reaction to the essential question and write your response on your Journal page. 5 minutes.

4. Discuss: Participate in a class discussion comparing your response to that of other students. 5-10 minutes.

5. Conclusion: The facilitator can summarize and present a possible consensus to the question, or decide to disagree. 2 minutes. Collect student Journals.

Lessons

1.2.a. Acceptable Use Policy (AUP)

Activity: Here is a sample template for an AUP. Click on the link: Student Acceptable Use Policy. Here is simplified example of an actual district policy: click RUSD-AUA to view. Your teacher can provide access to the AUP for your school or district. 

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Essential question: Please read and discuss each section. Do you think your district's AUA is trying to control your access to the Internet? Is this fair? Why or why not?

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Think/Ink and Discuss 

1.2.b. Online Tools for People With Disabilities

Video: “Broadband helps those with disabilities." 

Essential question: Do you know anyone for whom access to technology would improve the quality of their lives? Consider senior citizens, children with disabilities, or wounded veterans who have trouble getting around. How would having a device benefit their lives?

Think/Ink and Discuss 

1.2.c. Internet Filtering

Web page: Read the opening section of this Wikipedia article, "Content-control software."  

Essential question: Access denied! Is that not fair, or is it good protection? List some good things about Web filtering and some bad things. Are YOU being blocked? By whom?

Think/Ink and Discuss

1.2.c. Internet Filtering and Censorship

Video: View this YouTube video, “Internet Censorship and The Filter Bubble.”  

Essential question: Did you have any idea that your Internet activity is being tracked and then used to control your access to Internet content? Should you have full Internet access with no filters at all?

Think/Ink and Discuss

1.2.d. Internet Censorship

Video: This YouTube video, "Good, Internet Censorship," is so astonishing, and so much information is given at a rapid pace, that you may have to view it twice.

Essential question: Compare and contrast what is happening in other countries regarding Internet access to the relatively small amount of filtering in the U.S. seen in the previous lesson. What is your opinion of censorship around the world?

Think/Ink and Discuss

1.2.d. Internet Censorship

Web page: Read the opening section of this Wikipedia article, "Internet censorship." 

Essential question: "Please control yourself!" When someone said that to you, was it in your best interest? If Internet censorship is controlling your access to the Internet, is it in your best interest? Does it violate your rights, or protect you from harm?

Think/Ink and Discuss