Unit 2.1. Educate: Communication

2.1. What is Digital Communication?

Digital Communication:   electronic exchange of information.

One of the significant changes within the digital revolution is a person’s ability to communicate with other people. In the [1800s], forms of communication were limited. In the 21st century, communication options have exploded to offer a wide variety of choices (e.g., e-mail, cellular phones, instant messaging). The expanding digital communication options have changed everything because people are able to keep in constant communication with anyone else. Now everyone has the opportunity to communicate and collaborate with anyone from anywhere and anytime. Unfortunately, many users have not been taught how to make appropriate decisions when faced with so many different digital communication options."

Lesson Topics

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

2.1.a. Email

2.1.b. Texting

2.1.c. Cell Phones

2.1.d. Chat rooms, blogs, wikis

Lesson Format

• Facilitator lesson script

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 video and write your response to the essential question 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.

2.1.a. Email Scams

Video: View this YouTube video on "Email Scams."

Essential question: Do you know the real trick to avoiding email scams? (Hint: delete!) Has it ever happened to you or someone you know?

Think/Ink and Discuss

2.1.a. Email Pledge

Review these resolutions and take the pledge!

"10 EVERY DAY E-MAIL ETIQUETTE RESOLUTIONS FOR 2012."

2.1.b. Texting Dangers

Video: View "Don't Text While Walking."

Essential question: Okay, maybe this was staged. But could it happen? The last mistake was the last he'll ever make.

Think/Ink and Discuss

2.1.b. Texting: Good in the classroom?

Video: Watch this YouTube video, "Teacher welcomes texting in class."

Essential question: If you can't beat 'em, join 'em. How does this clever teacher uses texting for learning? What other subjects could texting could be a good thing?

Think/Ink and Discuss

2.1.b. Texting / Sexting

Video: View, "Dangers of Sexting: What Teens Need to Know."

Essential question: This is a tricky subject. Does talking about it make it worse? What can you do? Read "Teen Sexting Tips" for some answers.

Think/Ink and Discuss

2.1.b. Texting / Sexting

Video: View this YouTube video, "The Scoop on Sexting."

Essential question: It was just a joke! Or is it? Does the laughter turns to tears? Do you know someone who has been hurt by sexting?

Think/Ink and Discuss

2.1.c. Cell Phones

Video: View this video on "Cell Phone Etiquette."

Essential question: This video shows things we've all done at the wrong time. What was your worst cell phone goof?

Think/Ink and Discuss

2.1.c. Cell Phone Addiction

Video: Watch this YouTube video, "Mobile Phone Addiction."

Essential question: Think of the many ways you use your cell phone. How many of the addiction criteria do you meet? Is it possible you are addicted to your cell phone? Are you willing to change?

Think/Ink and Discuss

2.1.c. Cell Phones: Bad in school?

Video: View this YouTube video, "Teacher breaks student's phone."

Essential question: Why do you think the teacher finally got to the breaking point? Who should be punished, the student---or the teacher? If you were the teacher, how would you control student use of cell phones in the classroom?

Think/Ink and Discuss

2.1.c. Cell Phones: Good in school?

Video: Tell your teacher to view this short YouTube video, "Mobile learning: iPhone," to get some terrific ideas for learning with cell phones.

Essential question: Pick a school subject. Can you create an assignment using your cell phone? And then share it with a teacher!

Think/Ink and Discuss

2.1.c. Cell Phones

Web site: Read about "Cell Phones"

Essential question: The BIG switch! Pretend you are a parent. What would you tell your child about cell phones?

Think/Ink and Discuss

2.1.d. Chat Room Dangers

Video: View the first 2 minutes of this NSTeens video about chat rooms called "Tracking Teresa."

Essential question: Real or imagined? Do you understand that information posted in one area of the Internet can be tracked across a variety of Web sites? Can you remove personal information?

Think/Ink and Discuss

2.1.d. Chat Rooms

Web site: Review netiquette and general rules of chat rooms at: "Netiquette Minding Your P's and Q's Online in Chat Rooms." 

Essential question: Why don't kids care? Do you resent hearing more rules, more rules, more rules? What could happen that would change your mind?

Think/Ink and Discuss

2.1.d. Chat Room Predators

Video: View this YouTube video, "Teen Chat Rooms?"

Essential question: What is the message? Who do you think created this video? Is there a spelling error that diminishes the message, or does it matter?

Think/Ink and Discuss

2.1.d. Chat Room, Blog, Wiki

Web page: Use Dictionary.com to look up chat room, blog, and wiki.

Essential question: What do they have in common? How are they different? Which one is more used by predators and why?

Think/Ink and Discuss

2.1.d. Wikipedia and research

Video: View this YouTube video, "Using Wikipedia for Academic Research."  

Essential question: Why is Wikipedia bad for research? Why is it good? (Think about finding subtopics vs. finding information.)

Think/Ink and Discuss

2.1.d. Using blogs for research

Video: View this YouTube video, "How to Evaluate Blogs for Academic Research."   

Essential question: Can you summarize this longer video? What's a good way to determine whether a blog can be used for research?

Think/Ink and Discuss