Learning Resource Type

Classroom Resource

You Can't Escape

Subject Area

Digital Literacy and Computer Science

Grade(s)

9, 10, 11, 12

Overview

Even if you’re not actively using the Internet, someone else may be sharing information about you — intentionally or unintentionally. So, avoiding the Internet does not guarantee privacy.

The lesson elements in this module teach students about the privacy principle: “You can’t avoid having an information footprint by not going online”. 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/you-cant-escape/

Summary of Learning Objectives: Students can enumerate ways their offline activities generate data that is stored and shared online; students can communicate effectively with others about everyone’s information-sharing preferences.

Target Age: High school, college undergraduate.

Learning Objectives:

  1. Students can explain why abstaining from online activities is not an effective strategy for maintaining online privacy.
  2. Students can give examples of how someone’s information footprint could be impacted by the online activities of others, including how information about someone’s offline activities might end up online.
  3. Students can give examples of ways that information in someone’s digital footprint that was not created by them could still be used against them.
  4. Students can describe how they would apply privacy tools provided on social networking sites to minimize unwanted posts by others about their activities.
  5. Students can investigate what information is being shared about them online by devices and services they use and organizations they participate in, and use privacy settings or opt-out mechanisms to limit that sharing.
  6. Students can describe how they would approach discussing their privacy preferences with their friends and family to minimize unwanted information-sharing.
    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.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.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

    CR Resource Type

    Lesson/Unit Plan

    Resource Provider

    Other

    Resource Provider other

    International Computer Science Institute
    Accessibility
    License
    ALSDE LOGO