Media Awareness

Learning to Surf the Internet with "Jo Fool and Jo Cool"

Description of Website:
This website is an online activity for students in which they take a look at several different websites, and evaluate them. When viewing the websites, students ask such critical questions as:
1. What kind of website is this?
2. What decisions do they have to make?
3. What should they be looking out for?
It is a neat website to teach students how to look critically at the information and websites that they find on the internet, and to evaluate whether they are accurate sources of information.

Curriculum Connections:
Grade: Six
Subject: English Language Arts
Unit: Media Messages
As a part of this unit, students will learn how to make positive decisions and choices when looking at a critical part of our society - the internet. Students will learn how to look critically at websites to evaluate them, learning to become critical thinkers and problem solvers.

How would I use this site?
I would have students complete this online activity in pairs. Prior to the lesson, students would have begun "Media Journals". As we progress through the unit on Media Messages, students will have many opportunities to write thoughts, answers, opinions, etc. in their media journals. In this particular activity, students will use their media journals to record their observations as they progress through the online activity. Following the activity, I would have students get into discussion groups, where they could discuss their findings, and talk about personal experiences are stories with the internet, as well as why it is important to learn to evaluate websites. Students will also discuss the dangers associated with "unsafe" internet surfing.

How would this website benefit students?
As media/internet is playing a bigger and bigger role in students' lives every day, it is so crucial that students become "media literate" and learn how to use the internet. There are many dangers associated with the internet, especially when students are not aware of some of the unreliable websites that are out there. By completing this online activity and discussing with their fellow classmates, I feel students will gain a better understanding of why it is so important for them to be careful on the internet, as well as give them the critical thinking tools so they know 'how' to be careful. I think learning to use the internet is a skill that is often overlooked by both teachers and parents. Students need to be critical of what they are viewing on the internet, and realize that not all information is accurate just because it is online! This is an important media literacy tool. In addition, what better way to deal with this topic than by using an online activity?