L1: Digital Footprint

Subject: ICT                                                Class: VIII                                 Duration: 150 Minutes 

Topic: Digital Footprint                                                                                  Strand: Safety and Ethics

Competency: Maintain a positive digital identity and digital footprint while using social media to exhibit responsible and ethical use of online communication platforms.

Objectives: At the end of the lesson, each child should be able to:

● define digital footprint.

● identify various elements of the digital footprint.

● recognize the potential risks of digital footprint.

● discuss strategies for managing and protecting personal digital footprint.

Prior Knowledge:

● Basic understanding of internet usage and online activities

● Familiar with common online platforms and social media

● Fair knowledge of online identity

Lesson Description

In this lesson, students explore the concept of digital footprint and learn about the different elements that contribute to their online presence. Through engaging activities and discussions, students understand the potential risks associated with their digital footprint and develop strategies for managing and protecting their personal information online. The lesson incorporates hands-on activities such as searching for their own names on the internet, analyzing different scenarios, and collaborating in groups to develop solutions. By the end of the lesson, students have a solid understanding of their digital footprint and are equipped with strategies to make informed decisions about their online presence in the digital world.

Introduction

Direct students to open a browser such as Google Chrome and search for their own names on the internet.

Then ask the following questions.

1. What online information or search results do you discover when you search for your name? - Facebook account, Instagram, etc.

2. What can you conclude about your online presence? - We are all searchable online.

Introduce the lesson by playing this video “What is Digital Footprint” and explain the topic “Digital footprint” by stating that it refers to data that is left behind when users have been online. Further inform that digital footprints are visible to organizations with whom you may have no relationship, whose interests' conflict with yours, and over whom you often have no control.

Learning Experiences

Activity 1: Recognizing the elements of digital footprint

Engage the class by posing the question “Share the websites you frequently visit or have visited in the past week.” on an interactive online platform like Slido. Create a word cloud with their responses.

Highlight the larger words in the word cloud emphasize that these are the websites students visited most frequently. Explain that all the websites listed in the word cloud, including social media posts, search history, online transactions, and emails sent, contribute to their digital footprint. These are known as the elements of a digital footprint.

Activity 2: Analyzing the risks of digital footprint.

Divide the students into five groups and assign a digital footprint scenario to each group for them to analyze the risk associated with each case using Google Jamboard.

Example Scenario 

Scenario 1: Posting personal information online.

A student shares their full name, address, phone number, and email address on a social media profile without considering the potential risks of sharing personal information online.

Scenario 2: Sharing photos.

A student uploads and shares photos of themselves and their friends engaging in various activities on a public social media platform without realizing the potential visibility and consequences of those photos.

Scenario 3: Making online purchases.

A student uses their parent's account details to make an online purchase from a seller on Facebook. The student then shares a screenshot of the transaction with the seller without realizing that the seller may not be trustworthy, leading to their account information being compromised and misused.

Scenario 4: Using online profiles.

A student creates a profile on a professional networking platform but includes inappropriate or unprofessional content, such as offensive language or controversial opinions, which negatively impacts their online reputation and potential career opportunities.

Scenario 5: Search history

A student conducts online searches on sensitive or controversial topics without realizing that their search history is logged and can be accessed by others, potentially affecting their privacy and reputation.

Using Google applications such as Google Jamboard to describe the scenarios. Share the link with the students and instruct them to visit the frames that contains the scenario assigned to them. Instruct each group member to jot down the potential risks associated with the scenario described using a sticky pad.

Activity 3: Managing and protecting personal digital Footprint.

Instruct the students to reflect on the digital footprint scenario discussed in Activity 2, and ask them to write down at least two strategies for managing and protecting their personal digital footprint in the padlet as well their notebook.

Let at least three students share their answers with the class and supplement their answers by stating the following points.

● We must think before we share anything online.

● Use strong and unique passwords.

● Adjust privacy settings.

● Limit personal information.

● Manage personal profiles.

Assessment/Closure

Instruct students to visit the following web pages and video links to understand about the digital footprint better.

● “Digital Footprint”

● “Tips for Managing Digital Footprint”

● “Think Before You Share”

● “How to be a responsible digital citizen”

After going through it, tell the students about the online quiz which shall be made available on the class website in the Quiz tab. 

Summarize the lesson by mentioning the following key points to ensure that all the lesson objectives have been fulfilled.

Key points:

● A digital footprint refers to the trail of digital information or data that a person leaves behind when they use digital devices and interact online.

● Digital footprints are created by various online activities, including

○ websites visited,

○ social media posts,

○ search history,

○ online transactions, and

○ emails sent.

● Digital footprints can have potential risks, such as

○ sharing personal information online without considering the implications,

○ uploading and sharing photos without considering visibility, making online purchases without checking security measures,

○ creating unprofessional online profiles, and

○ conducting sensitive searches that can be logged and accessed by others.

● Strategies for managing and protecting personal digital footprints include

○ thinking before sharing,

○ using strong and unique passwords,

○ adjusting privacy settings,

○ limiting personal information, and

○ managing personal profiles.

Do It Yourself

1. Have students research real-life examples of individuals or companies facing the consequences (positive or negative) due to their digital footprint and create presentations or posters to share their findings with the class.

2. Instruct students to write a reflection essay on the potential risks and benefits of their own digital footprint, and how they can proactively manage and protect it. Publish this article in their blog account for future reference.