Technologies · Foundation · Digital Citizens · Term 3

Sharing Online: What's Safe?

Students will learn about appropriate and inappropriate information to share online, focusing on personal safety and privacy.

• ACARA Content Descriptions
• AC9TDEFK03

About This Topic

At Foundation level in the Australian Curriculum Technologies strand, students identify personal information that is safe or unsafe to share online. They sort details like favorite foods or school names as safe, while learning full names, home addresses, phone numbers, passwords, and personal photos are private. This content meets AC9TDEFK03 by building early awareness of digital safety and privacy rules.

Students connect these ideas to everyday online activities, such as chatting in class apps or sharing drawings. They understand risks: strangers might use personal details to find them, passwords protect accounts like secret locks, and photos can spread without permission. These lessons foster habits of caution and respect for personal boundaries in digital spaces.

Active learning suits this topic perfectly. Sorting cards, role-playing chat scenarios, or drawing personal safety posters lets students practice decisions hands-on. Group discussions during activities clarify rules through peer input, making abstract privacy concepts concrete and memorable for young learners.

Key Questions

1. Differentiate between information that is safe to share online and information that is not.
2. Explain why we should never share our password with anyone.
3. Analyze the potential risks of sharing personal photos online.

Learning Objectives

• Classify online information as safe or unsafe to share based on privacy guidelines.
• Explain the importance of password secrecy for protecting personal online accounts.
• Analyze the potential consequences of sharing personal photos without consent.
• Identify personal details that should be kept private online.

Before You Start

Identifying Personal Details

Why: Students need to be able to recognize what constitutes personal information before they can determine if it's safe to share.

Basic Computer/Tablet Use

Why: Familiarity with how to interact with digital devices is necessary to engage with online sharing scenarios.

Key Vocabulary

Personal Information	Details about you that, if shared, could help someone find or identify you. Examples include your full name, address, or phone number.
Password	A secret word or phrase that protects your online accounts, like a key that only you should have.
Private	Information that is meant only for you or a select few people, and should not be shared widely, especially online.
Safe to Share	Information that is general and does not identify you personally, such as your favorite color or a fictional character.

Watch Out for These Misconceptions

Common Misconception

It's safe to share photos if a friend asks.

What to Teach Instead

Photos can be forwarded to others, including strangers. Role-play chains of sharing helps students see how control is lost. Group discussions build consensus on privacy rules.

Common Misconception

Passwords are like names, okay to tell friends.

What to Teach Instead

Passwords grant access to accounts, so they must stay secret. Hands-on lock crafts and promise circles reinforce exclusivity. Peer coaching in pairs clarifies the 'never share' rule.

Common Misconception

Online sharing is the same as talking face-to-face.

What to Teach Instead

Online info lasts and spreads widely. Sorting activities contrast real-life and digital sharing. Collaborative scenarios reveal permanence, helping students adjust expectations.

Active Learning Ideas

Sorting Game: Safe Sharing Cards

Prepare cards with examples like 'favorite color' or 'home address'. Students work in small groups to sort cards into 'safe to share' and 'unsafe' baskets. Follow with a whole-class share-out where groups explain one choice each.

25 min·Small Groups

Role-Play: Online Chat Scenarios

Pairs draw scenario cards, such as 'a new friend asks for your photo'. One student responds safely, the other coaches. Switch roles and debrief what made responses safe or risky.

30 min·Pairs

Password Lock Craft

Students draw or build paper locks labeled with 'My password is secret'. In a circle, they share a class chant: 'Passwords stay with me, never share the key'. Display crafts as reminders.

20 min·Whole Class

Photo Share Sort

Show printed photos or drawings of self, family, home. Individually sort into 'share online' or 'keep private' zones, then pairs compare and adjust based on class rules.

25 min·Pairs

Real-World Connections

• Children's librarians at public libraries often teach digital literacy classes, showing young patrons how to use online resources safely and what information is okay to share when creating accounts for educational games.
• Parents use password managers, like LastPass or 1Password, to store complex passwords securely for various online services, demonstrating the real-world importance of keeping passwords private.

Assessment Ideas

Quick Check

Present students with cards showing different pieces of information (e.g., 'My favorite food is pizza', 'My home address is 123 Main Street', 'My password is cat123'). Ask students to hold up a green card if it's safe to share and a red card if it's not safe to share, explaining their choice for one example.

Discussion Prompt

Pose the question: 'Imagine you drew a picture of your pet and want to show your teacher. Is it okay to post that picture on a public website where anyone can see it? Why or why not?' Listen for students to articulate concerns about who might see the picture and what it reveals.

Exit Ticket

Give each student a small piece of paper. Ask them to write down one thing they learned about keeping information safe online and one question they still have.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I teach Foundation students about safe online sharing?

Use simple visuals and examples tied to their lives, like sharing favorite games versus home details. Start with sorting activities to categorize info, then role-play decisions. Reinforce with class rules posters and daily reminders during device time. This builds habits through repetition and fun.

Why should young kids never share passwords?

Passwords protect personal accounts from misuse, like someone changing settings or seeing private messages. Compare them to house keys: only family holds them. Teach through stories of 'secret codes' and crafts, emphasizing trust only in known adults, not even best friends.

What risks come from sharing personal photos online?

Photos reveal identity, location, or routines, which strangers might exploit. They can spread beyond intended viewers. Guide students to share drawings instead of real images. Activities like photo sorts help them spot risks and choose safer options confidently.

How does active learning help teach online privacy to Foundation students?

Active methods like sorting cards or role-playing chats make rules tangible for pre-readers. Students physically manipulate examples, discuss in pairs, and act out choices, which boosts retention over passive listening. Peer feedback during group shares corrects misconceptions instantly, building intuitive safety habits.