Provide information to learners about what targeted ads are and how they shape our online experiences

About This Module

This curriculum module is based on takeaways from series two of NYC Digital Safety training videos. You may use this module by:

• Including it in your pre-existing public workshops
• Combining it with other NYC Digital Safety modules to make a longer data-privacy focused workshop
• Sharing the handout with library users at various service points

Downloadable presentation slides and a facilitation guide can be found below.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module, learners will be able to:

• Define targeted ads
• Describe how targeted ads work
• Use best practices to manage targeted ads

Lesson Plan

This lesson plan is also included in the downloadable facilitation guide below. You are welcome to use any and all of this, or adapt it as you see fit.

This module will take approximately 50 minutes to complete. You can combine this module with others (notably the module on Ad Settings) for a longer learning experience.

Introduction and welcome

​​Greet learners and review the plan for this module

Defining targeted ads

Provide a brief definition of targeted ads and see if anyone has any questions or anything to add

Discussion: Views on targeted ads

Ask your learners to discuss and share their views and perspectives on targeted ads in small groups. Have them share their views to the entire group

Targeted ads and their implications

Explore what targeted ads are and what are some of the issues and implications posed by targeted ads. Pause for questions.

Benefits and drawbacks of targeted ads

Review the pros and cons of targeted ads and see if anyone has anything to add to these lists

Activity: Viewing targeted ads on social media

Put learners into pairs so they can discuss this activity together. Have them pull up a social media site and examine the targeted ads they are seeing. Have everyone share their impressions

Wrap up, final tips, and final questions

Review the closing thoughts and share the suggested resources. See if anyone has any final questions

Next Steps

Download the materials below for use in your workshop or at service points throughout your library.

If you plan to create a longer privacy-focused workshop using these materials, here is a link to Google slides. Feel free to make a copy if you’d like to add these slides to any other deck.

And please let us know how it went! Use this form to share your feedback on this module. We’d love to hear from you.

Share information about cookies, including how they work, their benefits and drawbacks, and ways to avoid tracking cookies

About This Module

This curriculum module is based on takeaways from series two of NYC Digital Safety training videos. You may use this module by:

• Including it in your pre-existing public workshops
• Combining it with other NYC Digital Safety modules to make a longer data-privacy focused workshop
• Sharing the handout with library users at various service points

Downloadable presentation slides, a facilitation guide, a handout, and instructions for a fun challenge can be found below. The handout from this module has been translated into Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Russian, and Spanish.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module, learners will be able to:

• Define cookies
• Describe the uses of cookies online, include benefits and drawbacks
• Identify methods for avoiding tracking cookies

Lesson Plan

This lesson plan is also included in the downloadable facilitation guide below. You are welcome to use any and all of this, or adapt it as you see fit.

This module will take approximately 60 to 65 minutes to complete and includes an activity and time for discussion.

Welcome and introduction

Greet learners and review the plan for this module

Define cookies

Provide a brief definition of cookies and see if anyone has any questions or anything to add

What cookies do and the types of cookies

Provide an overview of different types of cookies and how they function. See if anyone has any questions

Discussion: Opting Out OF cookies

See if learners will alter their approach to cookies based on what you have presented so far

What cookies contain

Explain what cookies contain and what tasks they perform

How to manage cookies

Review the suggestions for managing cookies, as well as the pros and cons of these approaches

Activity: Cookie Memory Challenge

Allow your learners to test what they’ve learned with a matching and sorting game

Activity wrap-up

Conclude this activity with a brief discussion about what people learned and their takeaways

Wrap up, final tips, and final questions

Review the closing thoughts and share the suggested resources. See if anyone has any final questions

Next Steps

Download the materials below for use in your workshop or at service points throughout your library.

If you plan to create a longer privacy-focused workshop using these materials, here is a link to Google slides. Feel free to make a copy if you’d like to add these slides to any other deck.

And please let us know how it went! Use this form to share your feedback on this module. We’d love to hear from you.

Introduce learners to algorithms, including what they are, how they work, and why they matter for our online experiences

About This Module

This curriculum module is based on takeaways from series two of NYC Digital Safety training videos. You may use this module by:

• Including it in your pre-existing public workshops
• Combining it with other NYC Digital Safety modules to make a longer data-privacy focused workshop
• Sharing the handout with library users at various service points

Downloadable presentation slides, a facilitation guide, and a handout can be found below. The handout from this module has been translated into Chinese, Haitian-Creole, Russian, and Spanish.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this module, participants will be able to:

• Define algorithms
• Analyze the effects of algorithms
• Discuss how algorithms work and how they shape online experiences

Lesson Plan

This lesson plan is also included in the downloadable facilitation guide below. You are welcome to use any and all of this, or adapt it as you see fit.

This module will take approximately one hour and twenty minutes to complete and includes a guided activity and time for discussion. If you have less time, you may consider making the guided activity something that learners do later on their own.

Introduction and welcome

Greet learners and review the plan for this module

Defining algorithms

Share a working definition of algorithm

Discussion: what do you already know about this topic?

Hold an open conversation with learners about what they’ve heard about algorithms so far

How algorithms work and where we can see them in action

Review different aspects of algorithms, how they work, and where we can see them in our online lives. Pause to see if anyone has anything else to add to these lists and examples

Pros and cons of algorithms

Share different pros and cons of algorithms and see what else your learners have to add here

Activity: discuss personal feelings towards algorithms

Divide your learners into small groups. Have them discuss the questions listed on the accompanying slide deck about their feelings towards algorithms. Bring everyone back together to share what they discussed in their groups

Ways to manage algorithms

Review the list of ways to manage algorithms, and the effects those choices can have on our online experiences. Pause to see if anyone has anything else to add or any questions

Activity: Testing out algorithms

Put your learners into pairs so they can discuss this activity together. Have learners use their guided handout to explore algorithms by running searches with different tools and comparing the results

Wrap up, final tips, and final questions

Review the closing thoughts and share the suggested resources. See if anyone has any final questions

Next Steps

Download the materials below for use in your workshop or at service points throughout your library.

If you plan to create a longer privacy-focused workshop using these materials, here is a link to Google slides. Feel free to make a copy if you’d like to add these slides to any other deck.

And please let us know how it went! Use this form to share your feedback on this module. We’d love to hear from you.