Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

Computer Science Principles Unit 4 Chapter 1 Lesson 6: The Cost of Free

Subject Area

Digital Literacy and Computer Science

Grade(s)

9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

This lesson focuses on the economic and consumer concerns around apps and websites that collect and track data about you in exchange for providing you a service free of cost. Often the quality of the service itself is dependent on having access to data about many people and their behavior. The main takeaway of the lesson is that students should be more informed consumers of the technology around them. They should be able to explain some of the trade-offs between maintaining personal privacy and using innovative software free of cost.

Students will be able to:
- explain how and why personal data is exchanged for the use of free software.
- explain some of the privacy and economic tradeoffs involved in the collection and use of personal data.
- describe the ways and reasons organizations collect information about individuals.
- read and critically evaluate a data privacy policy.

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    Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 09-12

    DLCS18.HS.11

    Model and demonstrate behaviors that are safe, legal, and ethical while living, learning, and working in an interconnected digital world.

    Unpacked Content

    UP:DLCS18.HS.11

    Vocabulary

    • ethics
    • digital world
    a.
      cookies
    • virus
    • malware
    • packet sniffing
    • spyware
    • phishing
    b.
    • browser history
    c.
    • personal data
    d.
      data mining
    • digital marketing
    • online wallets
    • personal information
    • data accessibility
    • passwords.
    e.
    • cyberbullying
    • harassment
    • sexual communication
    f.
    • online safety

    Knowledge

    Students know:
    • safe, legal, and ethical behaviors for online behavior.
    a.
    • tracking methods are often used to improve digital tools and advertising.
    • hazards exist when unknown entities have access to a user's digital habits.
    b.
    • methods to counteract the use of tracking.
    c.
    • that often, end-user licensing agreements (EULA) are often written to protect the entity that created the digital tool, rather than the user of the digital tool.
    • that EULAs and terms of service agreements can grant access to the user's personal data.
    • that personal data can include images, posts, personal information (phone number, address, birth date, access to friends), and browsing data.
    d.
    • often there exists an inverse relationship between online privacy/personal security and convenience.
    e.
    • that inappropriate digital behavior can have physical, legal, and ethical consequences.
    f.
    • that negative digital behaviors can have lasting consequences.
    • that some behaviors are illegal.
    • strategies to lessen the impact of negative digital behaviors and assess when to apply them.

    Skills

    Students are able to:
    • interact digitally while exercising safe, legal, and ethical behaviors.
    a.
    • identify tracking methods used to gather data.
    • identify hazards that exist when tracking methods are used.
    b.
    • list techniques to avoid tracking.
    • apply techniques to avoid tracking.
    c.
    • interpret the terms of EULAs and terms of service agreements.
    • make an educated decision to agree to EULAs and terms of service agreements.
    d.
    • weigh the risks of using a digital tool to one's personal security.
    • identify potential risks to using various digital tools.
    • evaluate a digital tool's security.
    e.
    • identify inappropriate digital behaviors.
    • identify consequences of inappropriate digital behaviors.
    f.
    • identify negative digital behaviors.
    • share strategies to to lessen the impact of negative digital behaviors.

    Understanding

    Students understand that:
    • because the Internet can be such a persisting environment, it is vital to interact with safe, legal, and ethical behaviors.
    a.
    • entities use tracking methods to make products more appealing to their users.
    • hazards exists when tracking data can be tied to individual users.
    b.
    • privacy can be violated when tracking is used.
    • techniques exist to mitigate the effects of tracking methods.
    c.
    • nothing is free—you often give up data to use digital resources for no charge.
    • it is important to educate yourself on EULAs and terms of service agreements.
    d.
    • free digital tools can compromise one's privacy and security.
    • it is important to be aware of what one is trading for use of a service.
    e.
    • inappropriate digital behavior can have physical, legal, and ethical consequences.
    • consequences of inappropriate digital behaviors can have life-altering consequences.
    f.
    • digital identity is tied to online digital behavior.
    • negative digital behaviors can have lasting consequences.
    • some digital activity is illegal.
    Link to Resource

    CR Resource Type

    Lesson/Unit Plan

    Resource Provider

    Code.org
    Accessibility
    License

    License Type

    Custom
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