Civil discourse and netiquette

A curriculum for critical thinking and web research

Skill level: Beginner, Intermediate, AdvancedSchool level: Middle school (11–13 years old)

High school (14–18 years old)

Prerequisite skills needed

Students need to have basic computer use skills, such as the ability to launch Internet Explorer®, type into search boxes, and navigate the Internet. Students need to have basic email skills, as well.

Description of plan

Teachers instruct students on the proper rules of web manners, otherwise known as netiquette, to help ensure that students follow appropriate guidelines when using the Internet. Teachers develop a project within their content area aligned to their state/district standards that asks students to conduct their research using the Bing™ search engine.

Rationale for lesson

Students use the web as a primary means of communication with family, friends, and individuals they meet on the Internet. However, many do not have knowledge of or follow the rules of etiquette for appropriate communication on the web.

Essential concepts / questions

Essential question for teachers:

How can I ensure that students know and apply the rules of proper netiquette?

Essential question for students:

What is netiquette, and how do I apply these rules to my use of the Internet?

This plan is part of acritical thinking and web

research curriculumdeveloped by the International

Society for Technology in Education(ISTE) and Microsoft.

www.microsoft.com/education/criticalthinking

This plan is part of acritical thinking and web

research curriculumdeveloped by the International

Society for Technology in Education(ISTE) and Microsoft.

www.microsoft.com/education/criticalthinking

National Educational Technology Standards (NETS)

NETS-T

4A: Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources.

NETS-S

3B: Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media.

Teacher preparation

Teachers should familiarize themselves with the Bing (http://www.bing.com) search engine.

Teachers should work with the lab coordinator or media specialist to determine lab logistics, level of access per student, and seating arrangements.

Teachers should familiarize themselves with the rules of netiquette and how those rules apply to the project on which students are working.

Management issues

Teachers must consider student arrangement in labs and how students will be held accountable to apply the rules of netiquette.

Instruction

Teachers should review and model rules of netiquette with students and provide opportunities for students to apply the rules.

Student activities / guidance

Students write a definition of netiquette. Prior to sharing the actual definition with the students, teachers may have students brainstorm what they think the word means. Begin with the question: “What is etiquette?” as a warm-up exercise.

Students individually write responses to the following questions:

How would you define appropriate “online behavior”?

How would you define inappropriate “online behavior”?

Student activities / guidance (continued)

After students have individually recorded their responses, place them in groups of three to five and have them compare their responses with those of the others in their group. As a group, students create a chart of appropriate and inappropriate online behavior. Students may use a T-chart organizer for this purpose.

Next, students use the site “Netiquette 101 for new netizens” (http://www.microsoft.com/hk/athome/security/online/netiquette.mspx) to individually complete “Civil discourse - Student worksheet: What is netiquette?”

After students have completed “Civil discourse - Student worksheet: What is netiquette?”, they return to their original small groups to compare their responses. Students review the chart created at the beginning of class to make additions/revisions. As a class, students use the group charts to create a class chart, titled “Rules of netiquette.” Consider posting this chart to the school wiki or blog or even to the class website.

Assessment

Class chart: “Rules of netiquette”

Students’ responses on “Civil discourse - Student worksheet: What is netiquette?”

Related resources and tutorials

Bing User Guide: How to use Bing

http://www.nirmaltv.com/2009/06/01/bing-detailed-user-guide

Digital citizenship and creative content: A complete curriculum

http://www.digitalcitizenshiped.com/

Netiquette 101 for new netizens

http://www.microsoft.com/hk/athome/security/online/netiquette.mspx

See the “Plagiarism” lesson plans for ideas and guidelines.

See the “Citing web sources” lesson plans for ideas and guidelines.

Closure and reflection

Questions for closure and student reflection when reviewing student activity and learning :

What is netiquette?

How do the rules of netiquette apply to you?

If responsible netiquette is not used when communicating online, what problems might occur?

Why is it important to have rules of netiquette in the 21st century?

Teacher reflection questions

Were there any unforeseen management issues?

Which elements of the lesson were effective?

Which elements of the lesson should be adjusted for next time?

Are students able to apply the rules of netiquette independently?

Supplementary materials

Netiquette guidelines

“Civil discourse – Student worksheet: What is netiquette?”

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