Classroom resources

A lesson about how things are shared online from Azoomee

Learning objective

To be able to explain that information can spread quickly and widely online, even when sent privately.

Success Criteria:

• I can identify ways in which things could spread online

• I can plan ways in which I will minimise my information being spread online

• I can debate the pros and cons of posting online with my classmates

The lesson

Starter: 5/10 Min

Introduce the name of the episode which will be watched as part of the lesson (My Popstar Disaster). What does the class think that the video will be about? Watch the video and ask the children to discuss the video in pairs and what theme/topic the class might be looking at today. Discuss what happened to the main character in the video and how a piece of content she shared privately suddenly spread quite quickly online.

Main: 10/15 Min

Give each child a post-it note. Make sure that one of the post-its is differentiated from all the others by marking a star on the back. Ask all the children to pretend that this post-it is their phone and they don’t have any contacts yet. Ask each child to get the signature of 2 other children on their post-it. Also ask them to make sure that they have written their name onto at least one other person’s post- it. As a result, each child should have 2 names on their own post-it. Once seated again, ask all the children to turn over their post-it. Who has the star on the back? That child has decided to send a joke video or photo to the two contacts on their post-it (you can decide what the content of said video or photo might be based on what is the most appropriate context for your class). Said contacts are then asked to stand. They each send it to their 2 post-it contacts so those two children should stand up. Both of these children have decided to send it to the 2 contacts on their post-it because they think it’s okay. After all, “X sent it to me so they must want people to see it!”. Those children’s ‘contacts’ should now stand up. Continue this process until most or all of the class is standing up (if contacts are repeated, it’s fine, as it demonstrates that content can be sent many times over). Reiterate the point of how this activity shows that just sending a photo to close friends can quickly be shared with lots of other people in a matter of moments.

Final Task: 10 Min

Initiate a classroom discussion/debate about the benefits of staying in control of your information and deciding where and how to post certain things. Some questions you may wish to use for your debate: “When things spread with or without your permission can you know who might actually see it now or in the future? Imagine, friends of friends, Teachers, complete strangers, etc.” “Do you think there is anything wrong with having images or photos public for everyone online to see? What might happen if someone didn’t like what you posted?” “Someone may want to become famous online, but is it okay if their information spreads without them knowing who is spreading it or how it’s spreading? ” You may wish to record this debate or just parts of it to use on your school website as part of Safer Internet Day in order to extend the discussion.