Commonly Thoughtless Behaviors #1 (Group Discussion)

1) In a group of four, take turns reading this excerpt (emphasis mine) from the article The Stupid Things You Do Online (And How to Fix Them) by Adam Dachis.


2) Once your group has read the article, discuss ways that you have experienced this behavior.


3) Decide on one person to compose a comment to this blog post that summarizes your group's discussion.


4) Use the class comment guidelines.  Include each group member's name and class number in the post.


5) Read others' comments.  Respond when appropriate.

The Stupid Things You Do Online (and How to Fix Them)

by Adam Dachis


The internet can bring you a lot of joy, but it can also turn into a world of pain the moment you make one stupid mistake. Perhaps you've been feeding the trolls, using "password" as your password, or selling your soul for access to a "free" web app. Your dumb mistakes can come back to bite if you aren't careful. Here's how you can save yourself from yourself online.

Stupid Thing #1: You Undervalue Your Personal Data

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Most of the web has the appearance of being free, but when you sign up for Google services or a Facebook account you're potentially handing over a much more valuable commodity: your personal information.

Companies want this information because it can be used to target more relevant ads to you. The more relevant the ads, the more likely you're going to buy. Although advertisements aren't necessarily all bad, because it's often preferable to see ads for things we actually want. 

You shouldn't stop using the services you love just because they have a hidden cost, but it's important to understand that free services aren't really free. You are paying with your right to privacy, and that can feel a little invasive.

Fortunately, you can have your cake and eat it too. If you don't like targeted ads based on your search history, you can just utilize your browser's Do Not Track options. Facebook now offers lots of ways to set the level of privacy you want to maintain, which is great, but with all the options it can be tough to learn and get just the way you want. Our always up-to-date guide to managing your Facebook privacy can get you up to speed.

One of the first things you should do with Facebook is prevent apps from using your personal data as much as possible. Signing up for an app can provide the developers with much more information than you may realize as the apps will take information they don't necessarily need. To find out what each app is doing and limit its reach, just click the downward-facing triangle in the upper-right hand corner of your Facebook page and choose "Account Settings." From there click the Apps tab and click the "Edit" link next to any app. You'll see a list of what it is allowed to do plus the information it can access. Some stuff will be required for the app to function, but you'll almost always find something that isn't. Click the "Remove" link to revoke the app's permission to access that information.

Source

SOPA and PIPA

Step 1:
Open a Word Document.

Step 2:
Research SOPA and PIPA.  Compile facts, professional opinions, and figures into your word document.  Keep track of where you get all information by creating a "Works Cited" page.

Step 3:
Pick either SOPA or PIPA to write about.  Just pick one.  Not both.  Pick a stance (do you agree or disagree?).

Step 4:
Answer the following question in your word document:
) What does SOPA (or PIPA) do?
) Who came up with the idea?
) Who supports the idea?
) Who is against the idea?
) What will happen if SOPA (or PIPA) passes?
) What will happen if SOPA (or PIPA) fails?
) What is your stance in regards to SOPA (or PIPA)?
) What should be done to take action on this subject?

Step 5:
Make sure that your paper and file have descriptive and appropriate titles, and that you have included your name and a works cited page.  Have a neighbor proofread your paper, to be sure it makes sense, and that you have not made any mistakes.  Add their name at the bottom like this: "Proofread by Mr. LaTorre"

Step 6:
Send the document attached to a professional email to teacherlatorre@gmail.com

EULA

-Using Microsoft Word, an internet browser, and Microsoft Outlook, complete the following assignment.

-Open and save a Word document using the class file saving guidelines.

-In the header, include your name, class, and a title.

-Answer these questions:

1. What is a EULA?
2. Who benefits from a EULA?
3. Why do companies need EULAs?
4. Bonus question! Why are EULAs so dang hard to read and understand?

-Choose one of the following EULAs to study:

Google Apps EULA (Difficulty = Hard)

Facebook EULA (Difficulty = Medium)

Apple (iTunes) EULA (Difficulty = Advanced)

Twitter TOS (Difficulty = Medium)


Tips for reading a EULA:

When reading a book, you read from the beginning to the end without skipping. Because there is so much complicated information in a EULA, you should use a different approach to avoid becoming overwhelmed.

First, scroll quickly over the whole document, reading the section headings only. Try to identify one or two section headings that you are interested in, or may already know something about. For example, "Registration and Account Security" may be more relevant to you than "Special Provisions Applicable to Developers/Operators of Applications and Websites" You can skip sections that you think may not apply to you, and just focus on particular sections.

Once you have decided on a section, just read the whole section first to try to get an overview. Don't get stuck on words you don't understand.

-After deciding on a EULA, choose three sections of the EULA to focus on. For each section, answer these questions:

1. How does this section apply to you?
2. Does reading this section change your future use of this product?
3. Why or why not?

-After completing your document, ask a classmate to proofread it, then type their name at the bottom, like this: "Proofread by Jim Fallor"

-Save, and attach to a professional email to teacherlatorre@gmail.com with the subject line "EULA"

Cyber Bullying Group Project Overview

In small groups (3 members), you will conduct a project to learn more about cyberbullying.  You may focus on causes, effects, history, culture, awareness, technology, or other aspects of cyberbullying.  The learning in this project will not be guided by the teacher - each group will need to be their own guide (I am available to help you when you need it, however).

Project goals:

• Collaborate using Google Documents and email.
• Discover more about cyber culture.

Project components:

• Proposal
• Action
• Presentation
• Works Cited
• Reflection

Grading:

• Each of the project components will be graded according to whether the group each individual follow instructions.
• Group members will assign each other collaboration grades
• Individuals will assign themselves an overall grade
• The teacher will assign an effort and participation grade

COPPA

COPPA Assignment

You discussed COPPA (Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act) with your parents when you completed the Google account assignment last week.

Note that the Google account that your parents created for the assignment last week is theirs, and they are choosing to allow you to access that account.

Step 1:
-Open a Word document, and save using save procedures (YourNameCOPPA.doc)
-Create a Works Cited page in MLA format.

Step 2:
-Come up with at least two questions to answer about COPPA, and write them in your document.
-Add your title, name, and class to your paper in the header.

Step 3:
-Research COPPA using any resources you have, including the resources that Mrs. Doyle showed us.
-As you collect information about COPPA, add it to your research paper.  Be sure to add every source you use to your Works Cited page!

Step 4:
Once you have collected enough information to answer your two questions, write your answers in essay form at the top of your document.

Step 5:
Repeat steps 2 through 5 as many times as necessary.

Step 6:
-Proofread your document (Make sure it looks professional)
-Ask a classmate to proofread your document, and allow them to type their first and last name at the bottom of your document like this:

Proofread by: Their Name

Final Step (to be completed no earlier than the last ten minutes of class):
-Save your document (Ctrl + S)
-Attach your document to a professionally written email to teacherlatorre@gmail.com

Cyberbullying Reflection (Individual)

Your reflection should be written on a Word document then sent as an attachment to teacherlatorre@gmail.com.
Use the same format that your group used for the Proposal.
Please include:
-An appropriate file name
-Date
-To
-From
-What happened?
-Was this a success? Why or why not?
-Include a compliment to one of your group members for something they helped your group to accomplish.
-Finally, assign yourself, your group members, and your group over all a grade (A-D). Defend and explain your decision. It should look like this:

[example]:
Grade
Mr. LaTorre (me): A-
I worked hard but there was one day I was tired and did not help out as much.

Phillip Group guy: A+
Phillip did a ton of work, and even got some things done outside of class.

Gene Group guy: B-
Gene wanted to do another topic, and it took all day to get him to help. Eventually he was really good at doing research and adding it to our project.

Group Grade: A
We worked well together even though we had some disagreements. We learned a lot about cyberbullying, and were able to compile our facts into a presentation that made sence and was educational to others.

Online Identity Email Assignment

1) Create a draft message in your email program, with a subject heading of "Online Identity Questions".

2) In a professional email to teacherlatorre@gmail.com, answer the following questions:

-How is your personal information useful to people who know you personally?

-How is your personal information useful to people you meet in person for the first time?

-How is your personal information useful to people you meet through the internet?

-How is your personal information useful to companies?

3) Proofread your email and send.