Digital Citizenship & Saftey - Lesson Two: Digital Footprints

Lesson TWO: Digital Footprints

What tracks are you leaving behind?

Now that you have spent considerable time exploring and reflecting on your overall use of digital media along with the responsibility that digital citizenship requires, in this lesson you will examine your digital footprint — the digital tracks you leave behind.

ESSENTIAL QUESTIONS

Students: As you continue on this journey, learning what it takes to embody the role of a positive digital citizen, it is crucial that you routinely ask yourself the following essential questions:

What is a digital footprint?
How does my digital footprint affect what others think of me?

Learning OBJECTIVES

You will...

gain an understanding of what a digital footprint is and how it relates to your behavior online and offline.
learn that you have a digital footprint and that information from it can be searched, copied and passed on, and seen by a large, invisible audience.

Learning Goals

You will...

know how to consistently monitor what your digital footprint consists of.
understand the implications that your digital footprint has on your reputation.
assess the digital footprints of others, forming a consensus with supported evidence from your findings.

step one: learn

Consider the following question as you watch the video below:

What is tracked from your digital media usage?

A digital footprint is the compilation of all the digital tracks one leaves behind. This includes but is not limited to websites visited, "liking" someone's post on Instagram or a similar social media application, commenting on a YouTube video, chatting while online gaming, or publishing a blog post (a blog is a logging of one's thoughts visible to others online). Every single thing you do online is tracked in some way, shape or form. Of course, this is not to scare you from using digital media, but rather prepare you for the responsibility that it comes with.

I—Mr. Wohl—will be the first to tell you that digital technology is awesome and it affords us with many incredible things — i.e., learning how to do new things by watching YouTube videos, connecting with people all over the world via social media, retrieving ground breaking news as it's happening, and sharing thoughts and opinions about your favorite sports teams. Nevertheless, with the widespread access of digital technology comes immense responsibility.

STEP TWO: DISCUSS

Here's another video for you to watch. Pay close attention to all of the different types of things that help to make up Andy's digital footprint or digital dossier. Of note, the word "dossier" is used interchangeably with "footprint."

Once you are finished watching the video, respond to the brief discussion prompt on our Google Classroom page. To get started, click on the topic titled, "Lesson Two Discussion" and answer the questions provided. Please thoroughly review the scoring rubric, which is also embedded below.

Collaborative Discussion Scoring Rubric - Lesson Two

STEP three: Analyze

Now it's time to have some fun. For this next assignment, we'll pretend that I am a television station executive and have hired you and your classmates as producers for our extremely popular television show, "Trillion Dollar Footprint" or "TDF" for short, where teens compete in a nationwide talent show. TDF is looking to hire a new host for the show and based on applications and personal statements from many applicants, you have narrowed the candidates down to two: Linda and Jason.

I have hired a private investigator to dig up whatever they can about the candidates online. They created a profile for both candidates, which includes the most important documents they could find (Common Sense Education, 2015). I have passed along these profiles to you (embedded below).

Based on what's included within the profiles, you must choose which candidate should host the show. However, be careful how you choose since your job depends on it!

Note: You will be working in teams of three for this assignment. I have emailed you with your team members' contact information so that you can collaborate accordingly.

Follow these steps to get started:

Check your Gmail for an email that I've sent you with the subject line "Trillion Dollar Footprint teams." This email will include your team members' contact information. In the email, you'll also notice a hyperlink to Doodle — an online meeting availability tool. We will use Doodle to coordinate a common time to host a Google Meet virtual meeting that you'll be participating in to discuss your findings with your team members. It is imperative that you complete the Doodle form ASAP. To do so, simply click on the link and select which dates/times work for you. Upon completing the form, I will email you an invitation to your Google Meet virtual meeting.
Independently read through the candidates' profiles (embedded below). Take your time and jot down any notable findings. You will need your notes for the next part of the assignment.
Check your Gmail for an email with the subject line "TDF - Google Meet virtual meeting." You must be present for your scheduled meeting. To participate in the meeting, simply click on the link within the email and it will take you directly to Google Meet, a virtual meeting application. Of note, I will also be present for your team's scheduled meeting to facilitate the conversation and keep things moving along.

Candidate Profiles

Trillion Dollar Footprint CANDIDATE PROFILES.pdf

Virtual Meeting Guidelines

Be prepared to discuss the following questions during your Google Meet virtual meeting:

Which candidate do you think should be TDF's new host? Why? (Be sure to provide reasons and supporting details)
Do you think the candidate that you’ve selected will be honest? Why or why not?
Do you think the candidate that you’ve selected will work well with others? Why or why not?
Who helped to shape each candidate's digital footprint?
Can you tell what a person is really like offline based on what you find online?
What are some types of information that make up someone’s digital footprint?

Virtual Meeting Discussion Scoring Rubric

Prior to your scheduled virtual meeting, make sure you give Google Meet camera and microphone access. This video gives a quick tutorial on how to do so.

References:

Common Sense Education. (2015) Trillion dollar footprint (6-8). Retrieved from https://www.commonsense.org/education/lesson/trillion-dollar-footprint-6-8

Common Sense Education. (2013, August 12). What's in your digital footprint (Video). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4P_gj3oRn8s

Digitalnatives. (2008, August 8). Youth and media - digital dossier (Video). Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79IYZVYIVLA

Google Sites

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