Classroom Resource

Identity Isn't Guaranteed

Subject Area

Digital Literacy and Computer Science

Grade(s)

9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

Creating an identity on the Internet or impersonating somebody else is often just a matter of a few clicks. Currently, there is no foolproof way to match a real person with their online identity. This means that you can never be sure with whom you are communicating and that someone could steal your online identity and impersonate you!

The lesson elements in this module teach students about the privacy principle: “Identity is not guaranteed on the Internet”. They are designed to be independent and flexible, so you can incorporate them into any size lesson plan. Student resources are available at https://teachingprivacy.org/identity-isnt-guaranteed/.

Summary of Learning Objectives: Students can explain why it is difficult to be sure who one is communicating with online; students can investigate and evaluate the legitimacy of services that want their personal information.

Target Age: High school, college undergraduate.

Learning Objectives: 

  1. Students can give examples of potential consequences of disclosing information online if the entity they’re sharing it with isn’t who they say they are.
  2. Students can give examples of “weak points” that might allow someone to steal their identity, and examples of what that person could do with the stolen identity to compromise their privacy.
  3. Students can explain how “phishing” works, and describe how they should respond to messages they suspect of phishing.
  4. Students can give examples of methods they could use to verify someone’s identity online and can explain the shortcomings of those methods.
  5. Students can give examples of methods they could use to verify the authenticity of apps, sites, and services that request their personal information, and can explain the shortcomings of those methods.
  6. Students can describe some of the basic precautions they can take to keep their accounts secure from hackers and identity thieves.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 09-12

DLCS18.HS.R1

Identify, demonstrate, and apply personal safe use of digital devices.

Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.HS.R1

Knowledge

Students know:
  • how to safely use digital devices.
  • that failure to use digital devices safely can have an impact on access at school as well as the protection of personal data.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • identify personal safe use of digital devices.
  • demonstrate personal safe use of digital devices.
  • apply personal safe use of digital devices.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • it is important to protect personal data when sharing information on the internet.
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.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 09-12

DLCS18.HS.12

Describe how sensitive data can be affected by malware and other attacks.

Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.HS.12

Vocabulary

personal data, malware, cyber attacks

Knowledge

Students know:
  • how malware works.
  • how sensitive data can be affected by malware and other attacks.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • identify when a computer issue is potentially caused by malware.
  • remove malware from a computing device.
  • explain ways to protect computing devices from malware.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • malware is harmful to computing devices and personal data.
  • software exists to remove malware from computing devices.
  • software exists to protect computing devices from a malware attack.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 09-12

DLCS18.HS.14

Compare ways to protect devices, software, and data.

Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.HS.14

Vocabulary

computing devices, software, and data

Knowledge

Students know:
  • that it is important to protect data, software, and devices.
  • why it is important to protect data, software, and devices.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • compare ways to protect devices.
  • compare ways to protect software.
  • compare ways to protect data.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • multiple methods exist to protect data, software, and devices.
  • some methods are more effective than others at meeting specific criteria.
  • it is important to evaluate option for protection of data, software, and devices.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 09-12

DLCS18.HS.16

Identify laws regarding the use of technology and their consequences and implications.

Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.HS.16

Vocabulary

  • net neutrality
  • hacking
  • intellectual property
  • piracy plagiarism

Knowledge

Students know:
  • technology changes at a rapid rate.
  • all things that are possible with technology may not be ethical.
  • that laws exist or are created to encourage individuals and entities to operate in an ethical manner.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • identify laws relative to the use of technology.
  • identify consequences of violating laws relative to the use of technology.
  • identify implications of laws relative to the use of technology.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • technology changes at a rapid rate.
  • all things that are possible with technology may not be ethical.
  • that laws exist or are created to encourage individuals and entities to operate in an ethical manner.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 09-12

DLCS18.HS.17

Discuss the ethical ramifications of malicious hacking and its impact on society.

Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.HS.17

Vocabulary

  • white hat hacking
  • black hat hacking
  • information
  • ransomware

Knowledge

Students know:
  • that not all people use technology in a legal or ethical manner.
  • that software and processes are created to elicit personal data for negative purposes.
  • that the negative behaviors associated with technology have impacts on society.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • identify malicious hacking.
  • discuss ethical ramifications of malicious hacking.
  • discuss the impacts on society of malicious hacking.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • that not all people use technology in a legal or ethical manner.
  • that software and processes are created to elicit personal data for negative purposes.
  • that the negative behaviors associated with technology have impacts on society.
Digital Literacy and Computer Science (2018) Grade(s): 09-12

DLCS18.HS.20

Evaluate strategies to manage digital identity and reputation with awareness of the permanent impact of actions in a digital world.

Unpacked Content

UP:DLCS18.HS.20

Vocabulary

  • digital identity

Knowledge

Students know:
  • that often individuals are judged by their publicly visible online presence prior to meeting people in person.
  • that strategies exist to manage what is publicly posted online about you.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • identify both positive and negative posts online.
  • identify consequences associated with negative online posting.
  • manage their digital identity and minimize negative repercussions.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • data posted online may not remain private.
  • all data shared online will have some impact on one's digital identity.
  • one must be mindful of the data attached to one's digital identity.
Link to Resource
https://teachingprivacy.org/module-8-identity-isnt-guaranteed/

CR Resource Type

Lesson/Unit Plan

Resource Provider

International Computer Science Institute
Accessibility
License

License Type

Attribution

Approved Date

ALSDE LOGO

This site may contain links to other websites or content belonging to or originating from third parties or links to websites and features in banners or other advertising. Such external links are not investigated, monitored, or checked for accuracy, adequacy, validity, reliability, availability, or completeness by us. WE DO NOT WARRANT, ENDORSE, GUARANTEE, OR ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ACCURACY OR RELIABILITY OF ANY INFORMATION OFFERED BY THIRD-PARTY WEBSITES LINKED THROUGH THIS SITE.
Alabama Learning Exchange © 2002-2023 by Alabama State Department of Education is licensed under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International

Design by Adaptive Theme