Digital Literacy Through Blogging and Multimedia Writing
Sample Lesson 1: How to Start a Blog Safely and QuicklyPart 1 – Safety First (privacy precautions and digital footprints)
Activity 1: Predict! Predict! Predict!
This activity is divided into three sections, 1a, 1b, and 1c. Each one of them asks you to think about the future and input your answers (so you don’t forget them). Please do the sections in the order that is given.
Activity 1a – Predict
To get started, please complete this quick prediction survey:
Activity 1b: View & Predict
Watch this short (2:30) video of the amazing mind reader. At 1:46, you will be given an opportunity to predict the ending.
Activity 1c:
Next, please take the interactive video quiz. (It does not count for marks!) After answering each question, the correct answer will be revealed and, after viewing the entire interactive video, you can watch an explanation video for more feedback.
Feedback Video for 'What Do YOU Know about Online Privacy?' (tap/click to view)
To gain some additional insight about online privacy, please watch the feedback video below. When doing so, please try to remember what your original answer was and reflect on what you hear in the feedback so you can better understand the realities of online privacy.
When you build your blog, it will be “out there” and live on the internet, so it is extremely important for you to remember and respect those realities.
Activity 2: View Two More PSA’s
Now that you seen the Public Service Announcement (PSA) with the fake mind-reader and learned the “magic behind the magic,” please watch two more PSA’s that focus on similar content. After reflecting on all three PSA’s, please complete the PSA Survey form. Be sure to read your classmates’ responses by clicking on the link that appears at the bottom after you have submitted your own response.
Activity 3: Read, Vote and Discuss How to Name Your Blog
You will be setting up a blog for this lesson and you need to decide if you will use your real name or a pseudonym for this blog.
Please click here to read a brief and important article about how to name your blog by Alex Halavais. After considering his stated risks and advantages, please complete a brief survey. You will be able to compare your answers to those of our classmates after you submit your own. And, if you would like to initiate a more in-depth debate of this controversial topic, please feel free to do so by using the comment section on The Great Blog Name Debate page.
Activity 4: Google Yourself
Please do a Google search using your own name and see what comes up. Take a quick look at some of the links and then, after reflecting on all that we have covered so far in this lesson, post your thoughts about privacy, digital footprints, and the blog you are about to build in the space below. (just double click or tap anywhere on the cityscape to begin)
Background Photo Credit: