CYBERSMART! LESSON PLAN - DO THE RIGHT THING

Download the 'Do the Right Thing' Student Activity Sheets (1&2) (PDF)

• Overview
  Students learn that they should apply the same ethical principles in cyberspace that guide them in face-to-face situations.

• Objectives
  • Recognize computer files, including Web sites, as property to be respected
  • Explain that behavior in cyberspace should be the same good behavior used in face- to-face situations
  • Give an example of how the "Golden Rule" can be applied in cyberspace

• Introduce
  • Describe the following to students: A sixth grader bullies a third grader on the playground of a public park. What should you do about it? (Stop the bully, ask an adult to help stop the bully or report the bully to a police officer, teacher or parent.)
  • Add: That evening you are chatting in cyberspace. One girl bullies another girl and threatens to make her lose all her friends. What should you do?

• Teach 1
  • Distribute Activity Sheet 1.
  • Make sure students understand that all of the behaviors on the left are unethical or wrong. Then have them complete the sheet by writing what they think about the behaviors on the right. NOTE: Postpone discussion until students have read and applied the information on Activity Sheet 2.

• Teach 2
  • Distribute Activity Sheet 2.
  • Explain that there are many ways of expressing the "Golden Rule", such as "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" or "treat others as you wish to be treated", and then invite students to express it in their own words.

• Teach 3
  • Have students revisit Activity Sheet 1 and make changes or additions. They should recognize that all the behaviors on the right are unethical as well.