Secondary School Curriculum
This curriculum is designed for secondary school students to build upon their foundational digital literacy skills and engage with more complex topics. The focus is on developing sophisticated critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and a deep understanding of the digital landscape. The lessons are designed to be discussion-based, project-oriented, and relevant to the challenges and opportunities they face online.
Module 1: Advanced Information Literacy
- Lesson 1: Deconstructing Complex Arguments
- Objective: To analyze and evaluate the structure, evidence, and rhetoric of complex arguments in online content.
- Activities: Analyzing opinion articles, political speeches, and documentaries to identify logical fallacies, rhetorical devices, and the quality of evidence.
- Lesson 2: The Architecture of Misinformation
- Objective: To understand the techniques and motivations behind the creation and spread of disinformation and propaganda.
- Activities: Case studies of historical and contemporary propaganda campaigns, creating their own “positive propaganda” for a social cause.
- Lesson 3: Navigating Filter Bubbles and Echo Chambers
- Objective: To understand how algorithms and personalization create filter bubbles and echo chambers, and to develop strategies for breaking out of them.
- Activities: Using tools to visualize their own social media filter bubbles, actively seeking out and engaging with diverse perspectives on a controversial topic.
Module 2: Ethical and Responsible Digital Citizenship
- Lesson 1: The Ethics of Online Identity
- Objective: To explore the complexities of online identity, including anonymity, authenticity, and the performance of self.
- Activities: Debates on the pros and cons of online anonymity, creating and reflecting on their own online personas.
- Lesson 2: Digital Activism and Social Change
- Objective: To understand the role of social media and digital tools in social movements and political change.
- Activities: Researching and presenting on a case study of digital activism, planning a digital campaign for a school or community issue.
- Lesson 3: Data Privacy and Surveillance
- Objective: To understand the ways in which their personal data is collected, used, and monetized, and to learn how to protect their privacy.
- Activities: Using privacy-enhancing tools and settings on their devices and accounts, analyzing the privacy policies of popular apps and websites.
Module 3: Creating and Curating in the Digital Age
- Lesson 1: The Creator Economy and Digital Entrepreneurship
- Objective: To explore the opportunities and challenges of creating content and building a personal brand online.
- Activities: Developing a plan for their own YouTube channel, podcast, or blog, interviewing a local digital creator.
- Lesson 2: Remix Culture and Intellectual Property
- Objective: To understand the legal and ethical issues surrounding remixing, sampling, and appropriation in digital culture.
- Activities: Creating their own remix or mashup, debating the future of copyright in the digital age.
- Lesson 3: Building a Positive Digital Legacy
- Objective: To reflect on their own digital footprint and to develop a plan for building a positive and professional online presence.
- Activities: Creating a personal branding statement, developing a portfolio of their best work, and cleaning up their social media profiles.