Elizabeth's+Lesson+Plan


 * Title:** The Basics of Blogging: Staying Safe


 * Subject:** How to blog (and use the Internet in general) safely


 * Grade Level:** 9-12


 * Time Duration:** 50 minutes


 * Overview:** Since students will keep their own blogs and be reading blogs, including their instructor's, as part of their course, it is necessary to teach them proper blog “netiquette”.


 * Objectives/Goals:** After the lesson, students will be able to demonstrate safe blogging practices by responding to different scenarios they might encounter as a blogger or a reader of blogs.

Computer and Internet Access Copies of the “Pledge to Be a Safe Web Surfer”
 * Materials:**


 * Activities and Procedures:**

1. Students are instructed to go to the Microsoft Safety Tips on Blogging website and read along while the teacher goes over the “Basic Guidelines for Bloggers” section.

2. Students then follow the instructor to the ProBloggerwebsite and follow along while the teacher goes over the “Lessons in Blogger Security”. Open dialogue and discussion while going over both of these sites is encouraged.

3. Next, students are provided with a hardcopy of the @“Pledge to Be a Safe Web Surfer”. The class discusses each aspect of the pledge, each student signs the pledge, and the pledges are collected and kept on file by the teacher.

4. Finally, students are randomly assigned a scenario:

A) On your blog, an anonymous reader has posted an offensive comment. What actions will you take? What actions could you have taken to prevent this? B) Your friend is reading a blog post that angers him. His finger is on the mouse and he’s opening a window to write a comment. What advice do you give your friend? C) You’re checking up on comment responses to your blog when you notice that one of your readers has become very upset by something you wrote. You’re surprised by this, because you had not intentions to write anything hurtful or incendiary. What action should you take? Is there anything you could have possibly done to prevent this from happening? D) You have a frequent commenter on your blog. In his most recent comment, he’s mentioned that he lives in your area and he’d like to meet up to discuss blogging. What is your reponse? Should you have done something to prevent this from happening? If so, what?

Encouraged responses include:

A) First of all, delete the comment without responding and change your settings to block posts from this individual in the future. When beginning a blog make sure that your settings don’t allow anonymous posts. B) If something you read makes you emotional, do not post a response to it immediately. Step away from the computer and take some time to cool down. Once you can think rationally, if you feel you can write a logical, calm response, do so, but have it checked over by a teacher or parent first before posting. You want to be sure you do not overreact or offend the blog owner. C) Respond to the commenter and let them know you did not intend any offense. Keep in mind when you’re writing your blog that it’s a worldwide forum. Do not say anything on it that you would not say in public. Give your opinion, yes, but keep an eye on your tone. When in doubt, have a teacher, parent or unbiased friend read over your post before making it. D) Do not meet with anyone who contacts you online. Report this occurrence to a parent and your teacher. Make sure that when you set up your blog, all privacy settings are in place so that your information isn’t visible to just anyone.

5. Once all the scenarios are reviewed, the rest of the class period should be spent as a question and answer session for students to discuss any inquiries they have about blogging or Internet safety in general. The Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office, ed. “For Kids Only: Pledge to Be a Safe Web Surfer”. January 22, 2008. __Protecting Our Kids__. Retrieved October 29, 2009. []
 * Sources: **

Rowse, Darren. “Blog Stalkers- Personal Safety for Bloggers”. February 7, 2006. __ProBlogger__. Retrieved October 29, 2009. []

“Safety Tips on Blogging”. 2009. __Online Safety__. Retrieved October 29, 2009. []


 * Blogging Permission Letter:**

 Dear Parents and Guardians,

Starting in the spring semester, Miss Kamerzel’s AP English Literature class will begin creating, and then maintaining their own Weblogs on the Internet. Students will be assigned various writing prompts corresponding with the literature we’re reading (specifically, //Hamlet//, various poems from Keats, Coleridge, Shelley, and Wordsworth, Chopin’s “The Storm”, Sophocles’ //Antigone//, and various essays from Emerson and Thoreau). They will be expected to respond to these prompts via their Weblogs and comment on their classmates’ responses as well. A Weblog, or blog for short, is basically a journal kept on the Internet. When you post a new entry in this journal, it’s called “blogging” and the term for someone who keeps a blog is a “blogger”. Entries are arranged in chronological order starting with the most recent, and if the author of the blog chooses, others may comment on his or her blog entries.

To ensure a safe Internet experience, students must agree to the following:

-Usernames and passwords will be shared only with the teacher and parents. -Blogs will be used for school-appropriate material only. Keep blogs positive and view them as an extension of the classroom. -If a comment on their blog makes them uncomfortable, they will not respond, but instead report it directly to their teacher. -Should a student misuse their blog or their ability to comment on others’ blogs, the teacher has the right to take their blogging privileges away.
 * - **** Never offer any personal information ** including their last name, contact information, home address, phone numbers, e-mail address, last names of friends or relatives, instant messaging names, age, or birth date.

Before your child may start blogging, we are asking for you and your child to discuss the above information and sign the attached form. Please return the form to Miss Kamerzel as soon as possible.

I have read and understood these blogging terms and conditions. I agree to uphold them.

student’s signature and date:

parent’s signature and date:

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Miss Kamerzel at elizabeth.kamerzel@mail.aventalearning.com

Sincerely,

Miss Kamerzel