The timing of this track couldn't have been more timely. I just attended to NY SS Conference in Syracuse and there was a great deal of emphasis on "news sources" and teaching students how to critically analyze information that is being presented to them in a variety of media formats by a variety of "authors". It made me realize that although I touch on this topic within many of the cross-curricular units I do with classroom teachers, I feel that I need to spend a week or even a 2 week unit on this with my upper levels. I feel that this track was perfect for wrapping my head around what I would like to design and what information and resources I feel are appropriate for my 5th & 6th graders.
I started off by reading Vicki Davis's article on "What your Students Really Need to Know about Digital Citizenship". She provided "9 Key Ps" of digital citizenship. I thought that these were nice building blocks for starting a unit myself, but I wanted to more practical tools and lesson ideas that I could use with the younger kids to teach of these "key P's". That is when I decided to look at "A Great Guide on Teaching Students About Digital Footprint". I loved how this article really laid out how you might introduce the topic and continue on with different key lessons and ideas. Although I might not use each of the videos and ideas, the article definitely provided me with the framework I was looking for to begin designing a two week lesson. I really want to have a powerful impact on my students. I want this to be eye-opening for them. So, instead of starting with the Common Sense Media clip on digital citizenship, I would start by using the youtube clip with the "Amazing Mind Reader". I feel that would create more of a shock factor for them. I would have students view this video first, as if they were close reading. Then I would have them watch it again this time I would have them annotate it with Videoant (Click this link to get the one I created to use with my class https://ant2.cehd.umn.edu/qebqvqsogs). I would ask them to record their thoughts and questions that they have when they are watching.
I also would want to start the unit with a question that would get them thinking about their digital footprint and then get them to see that it is way bigger than they think. I think I would use either of these questions to start the unit (before showing any videos): "If we were to look you up online what would we learn about you?" or "Is there anything online that you wouldn't want your teacher or parent to know about you ?", both of which were mentioned in "A Great Guide to Teaching Students about Digital Footprint". Then I would use the next suggested video, Youth and Media- Digital Dossier,