Avatars+and+Internet+Safety

== =Personal vs. Private Information:=

Using Avatars to Teach Internet Safety -- // Susan Oxnevad //

 * **Curriculum area:** Internet Safety
 * **Grade level:** 4-5

**Overview:**
Students will distinguish between personal vs. private information, then create avatars and pen names for participating in online projects. Students will write and publish a story about their avatars.

**Objective:**
Students will
 * distinguish between personal vs. private information.
 * create avatars and pen names to protect their identities when publishing and collaborating online.
 * agree to follow publishing safety rules and web etiquette.
 * publish a story that includes only personal information

**Tool or technology:**

 * Build an Avatar Playlist
 * Windows 7 snipping tool
 * Choice of publishing tools:
 * VoiceThread, a tool for holding online conversations about media
 * Google Presentation, PowerPoint online, part of Google Apps, access through your district email
 * Blogger, a web log
 * Wikispaces, an interactive website in which members contribute

**NETS-S: National Education Technology Standards for Students**
[|View standards covered]

** Whole Group Discussion: **
>
 * 1) **Personal vs. Private** information. Use CyberSmart handout as a //guideline for discussion//,View handout
 * 2) Discuss "Live and WorldWide" on the web.
 * 3) What's an avatar? An avatar is an online identify used to allow users to have a personality while protecting private information. Brainstorm places on the Internet in which avatars are used. (Gmail, FaceBook, Student Projects)
 * 4) Discuss Publishing Safety Guidelines and Web Etiquette

Hands on Activity:
If you don't have time or access to computer, please consider assigning this as a fun homework task. BuildYourWildSelf is a very easy tool to use and students should be able to complete it independently. >> media type="custom" key="21684642"
 * 1) Create an avatar
 * 2) Create your avatar..
 * 1) Take a snapshot of your avatar. How do I take a snapshot?
 * 2) Save the avatar snapshot in a location for easy retrieval. (Computer desktop, flash drive)
 * 3) Create a pen name. Use something you can remember and spell, but please **do not** use your real name. Be creative!
 * 4) Suggestion for teachers: Use a Google Form to collect information about students' pen names vs. real names. See example

Writing choices:

 * 1) Write a story about "Your Wild Self Avatar" Be sure to include only personal information.
 * 2) Write a story from your avatar's point of view.

*Publishing options: Choice for Teachers - Choose 1 Activity:
See additional resources below after choosing your tool.
 * Upload the avatars to VoiceThread and ask students to read them. View sample
 * Upload the avatars and stories to Google Presentation and publish.
 * Create a discussion blog and allow students to respond to questions and ideas through the comments section of the blog, using their avatars and pen names. View sample
 * Use this activity to kickoff a wiki project. Students can write and publish stories in a wiki, then later upload the avatars to the profile page of a wiki and introduce a discussion to introduce their avatars. View sample

Additional resources:
>> >> >>
 * Voicethread
 * Video: What is a VoiceThread
 * VoiceThread directions
 * Wikis
 * Video//:// Wikis In Plain English.
 * Wikispaces, directions
 * Blogger
 * Video: Blogger In Plain English
 * Blogger directions
 * Google Docs,
 * Video: Google Docs In Plain English
 * Google Presentation Directions