The 6 tech skills expected of all incoming freshmen - four

In 2005, I outlined five skills classroom teachers should expect all incoming high school freshman to have mastered. Eight years ago. Time for an update. I'll look at each skill, one per day, and add a 6th skill area - Managing one's online presence. Each skill is accompanied by a set of expectations, a performance task, and an evaluation checklist. Changes to the 2005 document are in bold. (This one was called E-mail Use and is now Online Communications)

E-Mail Use Online Communications
 

Expectations:

I can communicate effectively online using a variety of tools. I have an e-mail account that I use on a regular basis to communicate with teachers, other students, and people who might be considered experts in areas in which I am doing research. I know proper e-mail “netiquette” and safety precautions. I send and open e-mail attachments. I have an address book and signature file. I can participate in online discussions on official school forums (Moodle, Edmodo, Schoology, etc.) I can use the comments feature within online documents to give and receive suggestions to the work.  I can:

1. Access and open my school e-mail account.
2. Identify my e-mail user name, mail server domain name, and password.
3. Check and configure e-mail settings.
4. Get new mail.
5. Open, read and delete a message.
6. Send a message.
7. Reply to a message, forward a message, print a message and find a saved message.
8. Create an address book.
9. Set up a mailing list.
10. Create a signature file.
11. Organize and store sent and received messages.
12. Send, receive and open attachments
13. Participate in online classroom discussion forums.
14. Enable and use the commenting feature in online documents like GoogleDocs.
15. Understand e-mail online “netiquette” and safety including:
    1. Privacy issues.
    2. Spam/spoofing.
    3. Virus threats in attachments.
    4. Importance of a signature file.

Assignment

Send an e-mail to the teacher giving you this assignment. Attach a word-processed document or link to an online file that answers the following questions:

1. What does the concept “limited right to privacy” mean in school and business settings?
2. What precautions should one take when opening an attachment and why?
3. What do “spam” and “spoofing” mean and how do you protect yourself from them?

Logon to the class discussion forum and add your response to these discussion item:

1. Should the same rules that apply to verbal harassment in school apply to online communications? Why or why not?

Assessment checklist

• Your name, your teacher’s name, class name and hour is in the e-mail message.
• The message includes a signature.
• The e-mail message includes a message indicating that it includes an attachment.
• The attached document adequately answers questions regarding safe and ethical use.
• The online forum comment was  relevant and thoughtful.