6th+-+Living+Online


 * Course Description**

Living Online is an exploration of many of the ways in which people increasingly use internet connectivity for communication, whether it be to access information or to share it with others. Students will consider applications and issues related to email, blogs, wikis, social networks, file sharing, and searching online. While considering the positive and effective uses of these tools and processes, students will focus on leading a safe and ethical life online.

Students will:
 * develop skills in structured thinking and creative problem solving,
 * learn various tools and approaches to solving problems, and determine the most appropriate tool for the challenge at hand,
 * develop a greater appreciation for the increasing impact computers and computer science on our global society.


 * Essential Questions, overarching understandings**


 * Course Units**
 * 1) __General discussion__ of how we live online in the 21st century compared to the 20th century
 * 2) __Email__
 * password - how to change password, discuss reasons for private passwords (for accounts in general)
 * elements of an email - attachments, history, date, to, from, cc, bcc, size, etc
 * file management - sort, delete, bulk delete
 * customize account - icons, views, profile, signature, other
 * spam, unwanted messages, chain mail - things to look for, how to handle
 * maillists - edit Living Online maillist, how to recongnize a maillist, how to create personal maillists
 * FirstClass Client software - benefits of installing at home, how to install
 * 1) __Server__ - make sure all students have access with private password
 * 2) __Chat Exercise__
 * class chat in FC on IM Slang, emoticons
 * Send copy of entire chat to class
 * Discuss perils permanence of anything written or posted online
 * Who else could it have been sent to?
 * 1) __Urban Legends__
 * What are they?
 * Do you or your parents know of any?
 * Signs to look for
 * Snopes.com - how to look for truth or falseness of stories easily sent around via email
 * 1) __Online Terminology__ - helpful vocabulary presented as a hangman game (Quia)
 * 2) __Copyright__
 * What is a copyright? What types of work does it apply to? How has it become for difficult to enforce laws?
 * copyrightkids.org - review "What is Copyright?" together as a class
 * Read certain highlighted sections in "Definitions" (individually)
 * FAQ's
 * Take "The Copyright Challenge" - 22 questions, submit as you go for feedback & correct answers
 * 1) __Creative Commons__ and Photo Sharing
 * discuss various licensing options under Creative Commons
 * download and listen to/watch 2 videos demonstrating assignment
 * exercise - search for image under CC of a place you'd like to go or enjoyed visiting;
 * send copy of picture to teacher in an email, incl the following:
 * photo inserted in body of email (not attached)
 * URL of the photo
 * author of the photo, and the date uploaded into flickr
 * description of location and reason for choosing it
 * 1) __Posting content online__
 * exercise in blogging - appropriate format, puncuation, grammar in more formal setting than chat
 * Reply to: "If you were a musician, would you ever give your music away? If so, under what conditions? If not, why?"
 * Other questions, time permitting

Students should complete this course with the following skills and understandings:
 * Course benchmarks**


 * Navigate email with ease, customize personal account, and utilize helpful features
 * Know basic terminology associated with online learning and communication
 * Improved ability to detect strange or improper online behavior
 * Understand possible pitfalls of online communication
 * Have methods to determine truth or falseness of stories transmitted electronically
 * Understand the importance of keeping passwords private
 * Have the sense that anything posted online is in essence permanent
 * Understand the basics of copyright and creative commons licensing
 * Utilize a classroom blog appropriately for effective communication and sharing of ideas
 * Know the difference between a wiki and a blog

FirstClass Client email Copyrightforkids.org snopes.com quia.com edublogs.org flickr.com
 * Resources**

There is no formal individual assessment for this course. Participation, exploration, and enjoyment is encouraged.
 * Assessment**