CyberSmart! : Lesson Plans : Savvy Talk

Savvy Talk

Download Student Activity Sheet(s) for printout in PDF Format

Overview
Students explore the benefits of online chatting and messaging and consider scenarios in which they might feel uncomfortable or, inadvertently, give away private identity information. They discuss safety rules to apply when sending messages in cyberspace.

Objectives

		Describe positive aspects of online chatting and messaging
		Explain that people in cyberspace are not always who they seem to be
		Recall rules for safe chatting and messaging

ISTE^® National Technology Standards

Performance Indicators # 2 and 3

Site Preview

No Internet site is used in this lesson.

Online Resources

Visit sites providing background information on Chat and Message Safety.

Materials

Activity sheets (3)

Introduce

		Ask: How do you safely handle strangers who phone, knock at your door, or approach you on the street? Students should describe some rules for protecting themselves from people whose intentions, good or bad, are simply unknown. Rules should include being polite, but not giving out private identity information, and walking away from strangers who make them uncomfortable.
		Point out that the rules for dealing with strangers in cyberspace are very similar.

Teach 1

		Distribute Activity Sheets 1 and 2.
		Have students complete the pages individually or in small groups and then share their responses with the rest of the class. NOTE: Postpone discussion until students have read and applied the information on Activity Sheet 3.

Teach 2

		Distribute Activity Sheet 3 for students to read. Discuss the positive online experiences possible in cyberspace, including staying in touch with friends and family, and sharing special interests with people from around the world.
		Ask: What kinds of facts about you are considered private identity information? (any information that can be used to find a person in the real world-including full name, address, telephone number, social security number, school name, school address, the names of sports teams, teachers' names, and so on)
		OPTIONAL: Point out that to "cyber" is shorthand for engaging in cybersex-a form of fantasy sex that takes place in private chat rooms.
		Make sure students fully understand the safety rules listed by asking them to make up a scenario in which they would apply each rule.

Teach 3

Have students revisit Activity Sheets 1 and 2 and discuss how their answers might be improved. Guide students to consider the following in their discussion.

Should Kaylee be nervous? Cybering is risky behavior because it takes place in private, unmonitored chat rooms. Flirting with strangers is also risky since Kaylee cannot know who she is really talking to and what his or her intentions may be. Reiterate that students should listen for that "safety alarm" bell indicating they are in an uncomfortable situation.
Questions about teachers' names: Kaylee should give only the first initial of her teacher's name. Revealing more could help a stranger identify and locate her.
Kaylee's assumptions about HipHopMike: She might have assumed he was her age because he liked the same music as she does. Point out how easy it is to forget that the person online is a stranger, especially after you have chatted for a while.
Safety advice for Kaylee: Students should show their understanding of the rules on Activity Sheet 3.
Why Daryl hesitates: He should know that his street address is private identity information and can be used to find him. For this reason, he should ask his parents' permission.

		Ask: What are some positive reasons to chat and send messages in cyberspace?
		Ask: Why should you remember that people in cyberspace are not always who they seem to be? (to stay alert about protecting private identity information from people who are strangers)
		Ask: What are the rules for safe chatting and messaging?

Extend
The following activity can be added for students who completed this lesson in a previous grade.

Invite students to share chat experiences in which they were asked for personal or private information. Allow them to explain how they would handle the problem, now that they are more knowledgeable about safety issues.