Plugged into the Internet

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Objectives

• To examine who uses the Internet and what they are using it for.
• To discuss potential risks associated with use.

Method

1. Take a quick poll of the class to determine who has a computer at home. What proportion of this group uses the Internet at home and how many hours per week do they use it for? What does the class primarily use the Internet for? How does this compare with the national data?
2. What impediments do students experience in using the Internet?
3. Ask the class if their parents use the Internet as much as they do and if their parents' use of the Internet differs from theirs. Discuss what factors might contribute to a generation gap in Internet use.
4. Discuss what might be the signs of an Internet addiction. Ask the class if they know anyone who has an Internet addiction.
5. Discuss with the class if the Internet helps them to learn and if they are more productive in doing assignments when they use it. What problems are encountered when using the Internet as a resource for assignments?
6. Have the class discuss valuable techniques they have found to use the Internet for school assignments. Which sites did students find particularly valuable for their last assignment?
7. Ask the class if they have ever received threats or unsolicited flames. How did they deal with them? Discuss what would be a suitable response.
8. On the board, have the class list as many "Smileys" (ASCII characters that people use to communicate nonverbal information on the Internet) as they can think of and their meanings.
   e.g.,   :-) Smiling,
   

   &:( Bad hair day

Please e-mail comments or examples of how you used this exercise in your class.