CyberSmart! : Lesson Plans : Good Messaging Manners

Good Messaging Manners

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

Overview
Students learn guidelines for good manners in cyberspace, including tips for E-mail, instant messages, chat, and message boards.

Objectives

		Explain that new ways of communicating necessitate consideration of how people may react
		Describe good manners common to all messages in cyberspace
		Give examples of good manners specific to E-mail, chat, and instant messaging

ISTE^® National Technology Standards

Performance Indicator # 2

Site Preview

No Internet site is used in this lesson.

Online Resources

Visit sites providing background information on Netiquette.

Materials

Activity sheets (3)

Introduce

		Ask: What are some ways you can communicate in cyberspace? (E-mail, instant messaging, chat rooms, message boards)
		Ask: Which of these communication methods are usually one-to-one? (E-mail and instant messaging) Which are usually group communications? (chat rooms and message boards)
		Tell students to keep this distinction in mind when thinking about the reasons for the good manners tips in this lesson.

Teach 1

		Distribute Activity Sheet 1.
		For each of the tips listed, have students predict some possible consequences for people who do not follow them.
		Make sure students understand what is meant by a "flame war." Flame wars are the cyberspace equivalent of a playground "put down" or bullying session. On the playground, they may lead to a physical fight. Because this can't happen in cyberspace, some people are more prone to be rude than when they are face to face.

Teach 2

		Distribute Activity Sheets 2 and 3.
		Have student complete the sheets, reminding them to also consider the general tips when answering the questions.

Teach 3

Ask volunteers to share and discuss their responses with the class. Guide students to consider the following in their discussion:

Juanita's forwarded E-mail: Students might say that Juanita had some very strong, angry words for Elisa. She had confided an incident that embarrassed her and now all their friends know about it and are teasing her. Juanita might tell Elisa that the next time she wants to forward a message, she should ask the sender first.
Sean's chat room: Sean has several options. He can leave the chat room and find one that is more civilized. He can ignore the offender and suggest that everyone else does, too. Depending on the chat room, he may be able to report the offender.
Jared's instant messaging: Jared does not know the reason Samantha is not replying. He has no visual cues to let him know whether Samantha has been called away from the computer, is busy sending a message to someone else, is working on a homework assignment that required all of her attention, or is angry with him. An angry, impatient response from Jared is inappropriate to the situation. Not knowing what is really going on, Jared should use good messaging manners and stop sending the same message repeatedly.
Malcolm's message board: Malcolm has no way of knowing if Derek's posting was an innocent error, or if Derek was purposely posting inaccurate messages as a mean joke. In response, Malcolm might post a very angry message about Derek for everyone who visits the message board to read. However, it would be good messaging manners to assume it was an innocent mistake and calmly inform Derek of its consequences.

		Ask: Why do good manners vary depending on the method of communication? (because new methods of communicating may create new situations that are not encountered in other methods)
		Ask: What are some good manners tips common to all kinds of messages?
		Ask: What is a good manners tip especially for E-mail? For instant messaging? For chat? For message boards? Refer students to the lists on Activity Sheets 2 and 3.

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

Have students review the good manners tips taught in this lesson, share experiences of good or bad manners encountered in cyberspace, and then add tips of their own to those already listed.