In teaching this segment of the unit you will need to explain to students what online profiling is, why it is being done, and who is doing it. This can be accomplished by giving them a handout of detailed information that you have researched from periodicals, books, newspaper articles or Internet sites on information privacy. PC Computing and Smart Computing are excellent sources for information. The privacy advocate and “Cookie Central” Web sites are also invaluable sources for information. The “Cookie Central” Web site not only gives you valuable information about cookies, but it also allows your students to create a simulated tracking profile. You can also do a simulated tracking profile on the “Privacy.net” Web site. You should also show your students the cookies that have been stored on the school computer to give more credibility to the lesson. Students will be amazed at the number of cookies that have been stored on the computer. Also, have students check the cookie files on their home computers. Next, show your students how the cookie settings can be changed. Explain that being able to change the cookie settings, will give Internet surfers control over whether cookies are placed on their hard drives. Inform students that cookies can also be deleted from their hard drive at any time. (See Lesson Plan 1) You can also give students a written assignment to improve their writing, reasoning and decision making skills. Possible topics: (1) Are Internet cookies violating my privacy, or do they make surfing easier? (2) Is profiling good or bad?
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