Rationale

I have chosen to develop a system for the 5th grade, broken up into 6 sessions. Sessions will be one per day for Monday-Friday of the week of the program, and there will be an additional session held each evening; only one of the night sessions need be attended. The daily sessions are for the students themselves; one of the five evening sessions should be chosen by each of the children's parents for attending with their student. This is so that the "sensitive" topics of "dangers" of computers and the Internet can be discussed with parents present, so that it is informative to both child AND parent.

This program is designed to address the seven questions of concern as posed by the instructor. These questions (and the answers thereto) are as follows:

1. What are the special problems of ethics and conduct that are potentially associated with using a computer in grade schools?
Organization, misuse (being too rough, especially), keeping their attention. Accidentally or unknowingly acting unethically, being prey to many predators' violations, a general naivete about "proper use".

2. How would you propose to teach a code of computer ethics/conduct/practice to students in grade schools?
It would have to be well-outlined, well-structured, graphical, and very interactive. Plenty of examples.

3. What specific topics would you address?
Piracy/Copyrights, Netiquette, Security (including importance of not giving out passwords, etc.), Privacy, Dangers, "Internet & Computers in a General Sense".

4. How would you present these topics in a manner that grade school students would understand, appreciate, and remember?
Again, it would have to be graphical and interactive. Scenario-type situations.

5. When is it inappropriate to introduce issues that may arouse a student's interest in a topic?
When not enough time or emphasis is given to discussing the impropriety of the subject. For example, stating that it is easier to find "bad" or "adult" material on the Internet than to find anything else, without covering the (im)morality and (il)legality of use, especially by minors.

6. Should these topics be addressed in a single class or should they become a part of several classes when specific topics are covered? For example, should Netiquette be a part of a class on the Internet, or a part of a more general class?
Several classes, broken up. This doesn't overwhelm them with all the information at once, and it leaves more room for interaction and questions. Allows for more specificity.

7. Develop lesson plan(s), including purpose, objectives, topical overview, activities, readings, and assignments or either grade 5 or grade 8.
I have developed for grade 5. I could "see" a greater deal of the utilities than for grade 8. For instance, a graphic of a pirate for the "Piracy" section, etc. ... things that really wouldn't be appropriate for eighth-graders. Activities would include scenario-work: "What should you do in this case?"

Last updated 98/11/20