I have been asked by Digital Society teachers to share lesson plans and ideas. So here’s the first one in what I hope to be a series. As I put up ideas and lessons, I aim to add more tags.
Unpacking “Cancel Culture” or “Digital Divide” using DigSoc Concepts
The learning intention (LI) of the lesson is: To help students gain a deeper understanding of a complex term by exploring its various dimensions through predefined concepts.
Success Criteria (SC) [What success might look like at the end of the lesson]
- I have participated in a structured approach to exploring complex terms: Digital Divide and/or Cancel Culture.
- I have engaged in active participation and presentations.
- I have developed my critical thinking by analyzing predefined concepts.
- I am developing skills that allow me to exploring the interconnectedness of concepts.
TUNING IN
Introduce the terms “Cancel Culture” and “Digital Divide” to the class.
Explain that the goal of the activity is to explore the different facets of these terms using the DigSoc concepts.
Organise students into groups.
Step 1
There are 7 Digital Society concepts:
- Change
- Expression
- Identity
- Power
- Space
- Systems
- Values and ethics
The task is for each group to take a concept and a term (round 1 CANCEL CULTURE) in order to:
- Explain the concept’s relevance to the term which should include examples.
- Outline any connections they can make to other concepts.
Step 2
The groups present/share their links to the concepts of CANCEL CULTURE
Encourage other students to ask questions, share insights, and suggest connections between the presented concept and others.
Step 3
As concepts are presented and discussed, students create a concept map on the whiteboard or on butchers’ paper.
Students draw lines connecting the concepts that have relationships or dependencies. This visual representation will help students see how the concepts interconnect to form a comprehensive understanding of “Cancel Culture”.
Step 4
Synthesize Insights
After all the concepts have been presented and discussed, lead a class discussion. Encourage students to reflect on how these concepts collectively contribute to a holistic understanding of “Cancel Culture.”
Summarise
Each groups summarizes the discussion by highlighting key takeaways. Emphasize how the different concepts together provide a multifaceted view of the term.
Step 5
REPEAT Steps 1-4 with Digital Divide
Examples
Cancel Culture and Power
The concept of power is linked to cancel culture, as those with a significant social influence or platform have the ability to amplify the effects of cancelling individuals or ideas.
For example:
Consider a well-known celebrity who makes a controversial statement on social media. If this statement is perceived as offensive by a large number of people, those individuals might use their collective power to call for a boycott of the celebrity’s work, sponsorships, or endorsements. Through the interconnected nature of social media, their voices can reach a wide audience, and the pressure they exert can result in significant consequences for the celebrity’s career and reputation.
In this scenario, the power lies with the group that initiates the cancelling process. Their ability to mobilize others and influence public opinion showcases how cancel culture leverages the power of social media and collective action to shape consequences for individuals or ideas deemed objectionable.
Digital Divide and Space
The concept of space is connected to the digital divide, particularly in terms of how geographical locations and physical environments can influence access to technology and digital resources.
Example: Rural vs. Urban Digital Divide
In many regions, there exists a significant digital divide between rural and urban areas. Urban environments typically have better technological infrastructure, including high-speed internet connectivity and access to advanced digital devices. This enables urban residents to easily access online education, job opportunities, government services, and various forms of digital content.
However, in rural areas, the lack of robust technological infrastructure can create a substantial gap in digital access. For instance, a student living in a remote village might have limited or no access to high-speed internet, making it challenging to participate in online learning or access educational resources available on the internet. Similarly, individuals in rural areas might face difficulties in accessing telehealth services or online job applications due to inadequate connectivity.
The concept of space, in this case, refers to the geographical locations where people live—whether they reside in urban centers with strong digital infrastructure or in rural areas with limited access. This spatial divide directly contributes to the digital divide, as individuals in different spaces experience varying levels of digital inclusion and participation.
Full disclosure: I did use ChatGPT as a starting point for the examples and then edited.
Thanks for this very insightful piece of work and it has really helped me see how well to breakdown a term and relate with the 7 concepts. I will attempt the task with my students.