Subject: Instructional Technology
1. Topic-
E-mail Safety
 
2. Content-
Vocabulary terms: Spam, virus
 
3. Goals: Aims/Outcomes-
1. Students will demonstrate an understanding of spam e-mail.
2. Students will demonstrate an understanding of how to avoid spam e-mail and viruses that may be attached to spam e-mail.
 
4. Objectives-
1. Students will create a collaborative quiz game about e-mail safety in which they correctly demonstrate knowledge of what is considered spam.
2. Students will demonstrate a strategy for avoiding opening spam e-mails through incorporating a quiz question related to this subject.
 
5. Materials and Aids-
-Student laptops with Internet access
-LCD projector (optional)
-Email safety project rubric
-Email safety project video
-Sample e-mail safety project
-E-mail safety project template (optional)
 
6. Procedures/Methods-

A. Introduction-

Ask students to name clues that will tell you if an e-mail is good or bad to open. Responses might include the following: it is bad if you don't know the sender, it is bad if the subject sounds too good to be true, etc.
 

B. Development-

Explain that "spam" is unwanted e-mail, and that it is a good idea to check the sender and the subject before opening an email. Explain that spam is sent for multiple purposes. "Spammers" could be trying to sell something, get credit card information, or harm your computer. Explain that avoiding spam is one way that you can avoid getting a computer virus - be sure to explain to students that spam and virus are not synonymous. Rather, spam can be "poisoned" with a virus, just like how the canned meat Spam won't necessarily get you sick, but it could if someone with a virus licked it before you ate it!
 

C. Practice-

Students will complete a "Think, Pair, Share" activity in which they write a question about the definition of spam and a question about how to avoid spam. Students will "share" with a partner, and partners will help them to identify any misinformation.
 

D. Independent Practice-

Students will access the "E-mail Safety Project" template (note: this is optional; depending on the time allotted for this assignment and student ability, students could create their own E-mail Safety Project from scratch). Students will create two questions about spam e-mails and will hyperlink correct and incorrect answers.
 

E. Accommodations (Differentiated Instruction)-

-Email safety project video (for students who require major scaffolding through step-by-step instruction).
-Email safety project example (this will provide a concrete model for students).
-Email safety project template (this will help students who work at a slower pace)
 

F. Checking for understanding-

The teacher will circulate among groups of two while working. Final project will be assessed using the E-mail safety project rubric.
 

G. Closure-

Students will share their projects with another group for feedback. If time allows, the teacher can have students share what they have learned through this lesson.
 
7. Evaluation-
E-mail safety project rubric
 

This Lesson Plan is available at (www.teacherjet.com)