Learning to "Be Internet Awesome!" with Google

Happy Hump Day, y'all!

I wanted to take a moment to talk about an awesome new Internet Safety curriculum guide recently released by Google in conjunction with a number of organizations, including iKeepSafe, ConnectSafely, and the Family Online Safety Institute.

The title of this curriculum resource is Be Internet Awesome, and their mission (as stated on their website) is:

To make the most of the Internet, kids need to be prepared to make smart decisions. Be Internet Awesome teaches kids the fundamentals of digital citizenship and safety so they can explore the online world with confidence.

I just started using this program this week with my older students in the lab (3rd-5th graders), and we're all really enjoying it.  It provides me with content that I can work into my Google Classroom with my students, like the assignment pictured below (click to enlarge) that I developed by using part of an activity page included in the free Curriculum Guide.

My assignment used the information about Tyler to stimulate some discussion about our digital footprints. 

My students really enjoyed guessing what we could assume about Tyler based on his online activity, and I think getting hear a true description of Tyler (found in the curriculum guide alongside this activity) helped to drive home the point of my lesson: our digital footprint tells a story about us to others.  We can help shape that story by sharing things responsibly so that others won't make assumptions about us that are untrue or hurtful.  We also talked about how colleges and employers look at your digital footprint to get a picture of who you are, too.  I love being able to drive home what I'm teaching with real world connections!

In addition to this excellent curriculum guide packed with activities, a really neat game was developed to go along with the lessons.  It's called Interland, and it allows students to play interesting and challenging games that correspond with the various units of the Be Internet Awesome program.

Interland's color-coded worlds correspond directly to the curriculum guide's sections.

My kids can't get enough of this game.  It looks like a real video game and challenges them, all while reinforcing the content we're covering in our lessons.  It's been a real hit this week (we've been exploring Mindful Mountain), and I'm pumped to explore the other worlds alongside of my students.

Being Internet Awesome, as described in the curriculum guide, is broken down into 5 components:

1. Be Internet Smart: Share with Care

2. Be Internet Alert: Don't Fall for Fake

3. Be Internet Strong: Secure Your Secrets

4. Be Internet Kind: It's Cool to Be Kind

5. Be Internet Brave: When in Doubt, Talk It Out

I love how this program breaks down being a good digital citizen into such relatable pieces.  I'm always excited to implement new and exciting materials, and this program is helping to reinvent the same old "Internet Safety Unit" that I've been using for the past few years.  Check it out and see what you might be able to implement!  What are you most intrigued or excited by?  Comment below--I'm excited to hear about what you think.

I'll share more about our adventures using this great new curriculum resource in my computer lab over the next few weeks.  Until then, keep on keeping on!