Get+Media+Smart

=__What is the Internet?__= __About the Internet__ __Internet Dictionary for Kids__ __Internet Infrastructure__

__The Core Rules of Netiquette__ __Netiquette Review__ Review the core rules above & then take this quiz: Netiquette Quiz

=__Can You Believe Everything You Read on the Internet?__= Many people think of the World Wide Web as a giant public library; they assume that the information they find online is just as reliable as the information they find in most books in print. That isn't always true, however. Most books are checked by editors and publishers before they go to print. Although not all non-fiction books are accurate or complete, most publishers won't spend money printing books that are unreliable or poorly written. Web pages, however, can be created by anyone with the proper technology tools. Web pages reflect only the ideas of their creators. If the Web page is created by an expert in a particular subject, the information is probably reliable. If it's created by someone with only an uneducated opinion to share, the information is usually not worth reading. How can you tell the difference between a Web page containing reliable facts and one containing uneducated opinions? You can't always tell just by looking at them. But you can look for clues that will help. Ten C's for Evaluating Sources

__Evaluation Form__ Republic of Molossia Feline Reactions to Bearded Men Killer Cats Hunted Human Ancestors
 * Use the above form and visit the following websites. Complete one form for each site.**

Based on your evaluation, what conclusions did you draw about each of those sites?

A good website for checking out Internet scams & hoaxes: Snopes

__Email__
Communicating by e-mail is fast and convenient. Sometimes, however, it's hard to tell what people mean just by reading their words. Even if you don't realize it, when you talk to someone face-to-face, their expressions and body language tell you a lot about who they are and about the meaning of their words.

When you communicate with someone by e-mail, however, you have few clues about who they are. An adult can pretend to be a child, a predator can pretend to be a friend. Annoying behavior, such as flaming, spamming, and bad language is also more common on e-mail; some people forget polite behavior when no one can see their faces. You can help keep e-mail safe and pleasant for everyone by learning and following some simple E-mail Tips.

Even communicating by e-mail with people you know can be difficult. For example, if a friend tells you that he "loves" school while making a funny face, you know he's being sarcastic; but if the same friend e-mails you that he loves school, can you tell if he's being honest or sarcastic? Not always! So some e-mailers use symbols, called emoticons, to help make the meaning of their words clearer. Emoticons help avoid online miscommunication. Explore some of the most common Emoticons and then complete the Name that Emoticon worksheet. When you are done, try to make up a few emoticons of your own!

Acronyms are another technique that e-mail users employ to make e-mailing faster and easier. An acronym is a word formed from the first letters of all the words in a longer phrase. (BTW, BTW is an acronym for By The Way!) Explore some acronyms that many people use when communicating by e-mail, and then complete the Name That Acronym worksheet. When you are done, try to make up some acronyms for the phrases you use a lot!

Emoticons Acronyms

=__Safety Online__= “Cyber” is another word for the “online” world you are participating in when you use the Internet. > world as your friends who live in the same town. > >
 * It is important to understand and commit to not sharing personal information with anyone you meet online. This includes your real name, address, phone number, financial information, passwords, or other private information.
 * You should talk openly with your parents about what you see online and should always tell them if anyone asks for personal information or makes you feel uncomfortable.
 * You must commit to follow the family rules set up to keep everyone safe while online. They are:
 * When asked by friends or strangers, online or offline, never share Account IDs and Passwords.
 * Don't reveal any personal identity information in your Screen Names, such as your birthday, hobbies, hometown or school.
 * In any information exchange, like e-mail or chat, never give any personal information about yourself or someone else.
 * Don't share photos of yourself, your family, or your home with people you meet online.
 * Never open e-mails that come from unknown sources DELETE them.
 * If you receive mean or threatening comments online, don't respond. Log off and report the activity to your parents.
 * Nothing you write on the Web is completely private. Be careful what you write and to whom.
 * Never make plans to meet an online "friend" in person.
 * WHEN IN DOUBT: Always ask your parents for help. If you're not sure, log off.
 * Use the WWW Decision Tool to make wise choices. (see steps below)
 * It is important to understand that whatever you post or send into cyber space can often be viewed just as easily from strangers in another part of the
 * The internal “WWW Decision Tool” is a good reminder to protect your personal information and remain in the drivers seat with how much information you share with others when online.**
 * W –Who is asking for this personal information?**
 * W –What information is being requested?**
 * W – Why do they need this personal information?**


 * Internet Safety Game**
 * Safety Land**

__Advertising Tricks__
> Marketing firms use this theory to place ad elements where they will catch your eyes. There will be an element to lead your eyes in, something catchy in the middle, and the logo or message will frequently appear in the lower-middle area to the right. > > **Light Works:** Human eyes tend to look towards a lighter color. Where are the lighter colors? Or is light color used to draw the eye to the product? > Turn the ad upside down. Where do your eyes go within the advertisement? Can you still notice the "Z" form? > > The same techniques are used to place elements in newspaper or magazine stories and other non-ad print applications. Right-side placement is considered superior and right-page advertising frequently costs more than left-page advertising. In an article, the more compelling photos tend to appear on the right pages. Pass out ads and/or articles and ask students to find how the "Z" form is utilized. Note: the "Z" form appears over two-page spreads for many articles. > > Food Advertising Tricks
 * //Discover the secrets of selling//**
 * Advertising tells people about a product or service and it usually focuses on the good parts of it in an effort to get people to buy it.
 * **The "Z" Form:** select any of the ads to demonstrate how eyes track over an ad. According to one theory, if you learned to read left-to-right (English, Spanish, French, etc.), your eyes will scan over the page from left-to-right in a "Z" form unless a design element directs your attention elsewhere.

Visit the following website & then answer the questions: Food Advertising Photos

Create Your Own Ad Design a Cereal Box
 * How do the images of the food look so appealing?
 * What is a food stylist?
 * Why would a food company be interested in using a food stylist?
 * 1) Collect some magazines, newspapers, etc. to review current sales ads
 * 2) Do you notice any of the above tricks in the ads you've reviewed?
 * What is the target audience for a particular box of cereal? For example, Special K is aimed at health-conscious women; Fruity Pebbles is aimed at young children. Why do you think so?
 * What marketing techniques are used to sell this cereal to that target group?
 * What images or special offers are included on the box of cereal that might be appealing to consumers?
 * Have the class compare and contrast images used on cereal boxes aimed at adults versus those aimed at children. What do they notice?

What's in an Ad? Be the Ad Detective!

__Buying Smart__
//**See through the sales pitch**// Question the Commercial What's in the Shopping Bag? Gather pictures of items that are for kids (games, toys, foods, etc.) Answer the following questions: Hot or Snot? The Cost of Cool Hunting for Cool Is the Price Right?
 * What item(s) are pictured on the package?
 * What item(s) are actually in the package?
 * What item(s) (if any) are pictured on the package that aren't in the box? Are there extra food items? Extra toys?
 * How does the size of the package compare to the size of what is inside the package? What message does the size of the package send?
 * Who is this item targeted to? What evidence from the package lets you know who the target audience is (e.g. color, font, cartoon characters or gender of people shown using the product)?
 * What words and images are used to attract your attention?
 * Do you think you would like or dislike this product? Why or why not?
 * If it is a food product, do you think it's nutritious? Why or why not? How would you find out for sure whether it is or isn't nutritious?

__Your Entertainment__
//**Go behind the scenes of TV, music, & magazines**// Money and Music Take the TV vs. Life Quiz Create a Pop Star Watch the Britney Spears' commercial for Pepsi featured on **Don't Buy It** at [] Consider the following: Cover Model Secrets Are You Plugged In? Violence in the media: Answer the following questions.
 * Who do you think might enjoy this commercial?
 * Have you ever heard any of your favorite musical artists in a television commercial? If so, what product were they selling?
 * Do you think the commercial was effective?
 * What is violence? Is violence about guns? Fights? Threats?
 * What do you think is appropriate for kids their age to watch?
 * What about a younger person? And why? How might the reason be different for a two-year-old child than a nine-year-old kid?
 * Why might you be concerned about violence?

__What You Can Do__
//**Make a difference in the media**// Get Involved Learn More Meet Some Teen Heroes