Level: Grades 9 to 12

About the Author: Matthew Johnson, Director of Education, MediaSmarts

Duration: 2 - 3 hours

This lesson is part of USE, UNDERSTAND & ENGAGE: A Digital Media Literacy Framework for Canadian Schools.

Overview

In this lesson, students learn that their online presence is like a resume that can help them – or hurt them – in their future personal and professional lives. The lesson begins by having students do a self-appraisal of their online resume. Students will review steps for limiting the negative impact of things they’ve posted online. Students then think about people whom they consider to be heroes or role models, identify the characteristics that make them admire these people, and discuss what those people did in order to be seen so positively. Finally, students learn tools and strategies for consciously building a positive online brand and develop a communications plan for doing so.

Learning Outcomes

Students will:

• Reflect on their online presence
• Consider the effect their actions have on themselves and others
• Learn and practice tools for mitigating a negative online presence and building a positive one
• Create and put into action a detailed action plan for building a positive online presence

This lesson and all associated documents (handouts, overheads, backgrounders) are available in an easy-print, pdf kit version.