Media Literacy Lesson Plan Ideas: The Internet

1. Pick a topic and have students brainstorm ways to find information about the topic on the Internet. Without trying these ways, which do they think will work best? Is one search good enough? What if you don’t find anything? Does that mean that no information exists? Divide the students into groups and try the search a few different ways using the group suggestions. Are the results different? How can they tell which websites are better or more accurate than others?


2. Divide students into groups and assign each group a different search engine (e.g.: Google, Yahoo, Vivisimo, Ask, etc.) and then pick a common topic for all groups to research. For example, have the students research Leonardo DaVinci. As a group, brainstorm and agree on the search terms. Then have each group perform the search using their respective engine. Have each report their findings on the topic to the group. Make a chart or Venn Diagram of similarities and differences. Which engine do they think is the best? Why? Try a different topic and see if “the best” is still the best.


3. Make a list of important information topics such as health information, word meanings, grammar questions, historical facts and dates, biographical information, entertainment, and news. Have students share which websites they use and/or trust for this type of information. Start a discussion of where they think they should go for answers to important questions. Is it always easier or better to use the Internet or are there other sources that are equally, or more, reliable? Have the students create an information sheet for each topic so that other students can also access the information.


4. Have a group of students create Instant Messenger accounts and special personalities to go with them. Distribute the list of user names to the whole group. Then, have them spend time talking to each other without revealing their true identity. See if they can recognize their classmates through their disguises. Then discuss the techniques they used to act like someone else. Was it easy or hard? Can they ever be sure they know someone they’re chatting with online? Why or why not?


5. Teach your students how to create web pages. Use a simple helper application such as Google Pages, Front Page, Netscape Composer or Dreamweaver. Assign connected topics such as famous artists or landmarks.
   
   Then, have the groups link to other pages on the Internet and to each other (it may be useful to create a visual diagram of how their pages are connected). Have the groups update the sites and check for dead links and new links. Discuss the design choices and issues as they create their pages. Ask them what they think about using lots of colors, images, etc. Can they access the pages at home? Does anyone have any problems?
   
   If the students are motivated, have them create a usability study where they observe other students, parents, or teachers to navigate their pages. If so, how could their sites be improved?

 

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