30 Days
Individual
Progressive
Overview: Students commit to a month-long journey of privacy improvement, with each week focusing on a different aspect of digital privacy. This ongoing project helps students build sustainable privacy habits while documenting their experiences and insights.
Weekly Focus Areas
Week 1: Audit and Clean Up
- Complete comprehensive privacy audit of all digital accounts
- Delete unused apps and accounts
- Review and adjust privacy settings on all platforms
- Document "before" state with screenshots (for personal reference)
Week 2: Strengthen Security
- Update all passwords using strong, unique combinations
- Enable two-factor authentication on all accounts that offer it
- Review and remove unnecessary app permissions
- Set up password manager (if parent approves)
Week 3: Mindful Sharing
- Practice the "pause before posting" rule for all content
- Consider long-term implications before sharing
- Review past posts and remove anything concerning
- Discuss digital boundaries with friends
Week 4: Advocacy and Education
- Teach a family member about privacy protection
- Create a privacy tip for peers
- Research and implement one new privacy tool
- Reflect on overall privacy transformation
Weekly Journal Template
Complete this reflection each week:
- This Week's Actions: List 3-5 specific privacy improvements you made
- Challenges Encountered: What was difficult? What took longer than expected?
- Surprises and Discoveries: What did you learn this week?
- Impact Assessment: How do these changes make you feel? More secure? Frustrated? Empowered?
- Next Week's Goals: What do you want to focus on next?
Teacher Tips
Create a class progress board where students can anonymously share general insights (not personal account details). Weekly check-ins help maintain momentum. Offer bonus points or recognition for completing the full 30 days.
3-5 Hours
Individual or Pairs
Research & Design
Overview: Students select a privacy policy from a commonly-used platform and create a translation that middle schoolers can actually understand. Using plain language, visual aids, and real-world examples, they break down complex legal text into digestible information.
Project Steps
- Choose Your Platform: Select a privacy policy from an app or website you use (Instagram, TikTok, Roblox, YouTube, Discord, etc.)
- Read Thoroughly: Carefully read the entire privacy policy, highlighting confusing terms and important sections
- Identify Key Information: Extract the most important details about data collection, usage, and user rights
- Create Translation: Rewrite the policy in plain, middle-school-appropriate language
- Add Visual Elements: Create infographics, charts, or diagrams to illustrate key concepts
- Develop Examples: Include real-world scenarios showing how the policy affects actual users
- Format for Sharing: Create a one-page fact sheet, video presentation, or interactive website
Translation Framework
Your privacy policy translation should answer these key questions:
What Data Does This Company Collect?
Break down into categories:
- Information you provide directly (account details, posts, messages)
- Automatically collected information (device data, location, usage patterns)
- Information from third parties (other apps, websites, data brokers)
How Do They Use Your Data?
- To provide and improve the service
- For advertising and marketing
- To personalize your experience
- For security and fraud prevention
Who Do They Share It With?
- Third-party advertising companies
- Analytics services
- Other users (what's public vs. private)
- Law enforcement (under what circumstances)
What Choices Do You Have?
- Privacy settings you can control
- How to delete your account
- How to request your data
- How to opt out of certain uses
Presentation Options
Choose a format that effectively communicates your translation:
- One-Page Fact Sheet: Colorful infographic-style document with key points and visuals
- Video Presentation: 3-5 minute video explaining the policy with animations or demonstrations
- Interactive Website: Simple webpage with sections, images, and clickable elements
- Comic or Graphic Novel: Visual storytelling approach showing how the policy affects users
- Slide Deck: Professional presentation suitable for teaching peers
Evaluation Criteria
Projects will be assessed on: Accuracy (correctly represents the actual policy), Clarity (easy for middle schoolers to understand), Visual Appeal (engaging and well-designed), Completeness (addresses all key questions), and Usefulness (provides actionable information for users).
4-6 Class Periods
Teams of 3-4
Structured Debate
Overview: Students organize structured debates on controversial privacy issues related to AI. Teams research multiple perspectives, develop evidence-based arguments, and practice respectful dialogue about complex ethical issues.
Debate Topics
Topic 1: School Surveillance
"Should schools use AI surveillance cameras and monitoring software to improve safety?"
Pro Side: Safety improvements, crime prevention, accountability
Con Side: Privacy invasion, chilling effect on behavior, potential for misuse
Topic 2: Personalized Advertising
"Is personalized advertising helpful or manipulative?"
Pro Side: Relevance, discovering products you need, funding free services
Con Side: Manipulation, psychological targeting, privacy invasion
Topic 3: Parental Tracking
"Do parents have the right to track their teenagers' locations at all times?"
Pro Side: Safety, parental responsibility, emergency situations
Con Side: Trust development, privacy rights, preparation for independence
Topic 4: AI Decision Making
"Should AI be allowed to make important decisions about people based on their data?"
Pro Side: Efficiency, consistency, pattern recognition beyond human capability
Con Side: Bias, lack of context, reduction of human judgment
Debate Structure Template
Preparation Phase (2 class periods):
- Teams are assigned positions (Pro or Con)
- Research using credible sources: news articles, academic studies, expert opinions
- Develop 3-4 main arguments with supporting evidence
- Anticipate counterarguments and prepare rebuttals
- Practice presentation and timing
Debate Day Format (30-40 minutes per debate):
- Opening Statements (3 minutes each): Each side presents their main position
- Argument Presentation (5 minutes each): Teams present their evidence-based arguments
- Rebuttal Round (3 minutes each): Teams address opponent's arguments
- Cross-Examination (5 minutes): Teams ask each other questions
- Closing Statements (2 minutes each): Final summary of position
- Audience Q&A (5 minutes): Class asks questions to both sides
- Reflection (5 minutes): Class discussion about what they learned
Learning Objectives
This activity develops: Research skills (finding and evaluating sources), Critical thinking (analyzing multiple perspectives), Communication (presenting arguments clearly), Listening skills (understanding opposing views), and Respectful disagreement (debating ideas, not people).
Ongoing Project
Class Committee
Service Learning
Overview: Students form a Digital Rights Committee to advocate for privacy protections in their school and community. This long-term project develops civic engagement skills while applying privacy knowledge to create real-world change.
Project Ideas
Privacy Awareness Campaign for Younger Students
- Create age-appropriate presentations about online safety
- Design posters and infographics for elementary classrooms
- Develop simple privacy tips for younger children
- Visit lower-grade classes to present lessons
School Technology Policy Recommendations
- Review current school technology policies
- Research best practices from other schools
- Develop student-perspective recommendations
- Present proposals to school administration
Letter-Writing Campaign
- Write to technology companies requesting youth-friendly privacy controls
- Contact legislators about privacy protection laws
- Reach out to social media platforms about safety features
- Share results and responses with school community
Student Privacy Rights Handbook
- Compile privacy laws and rights relevant to students
- Create practical guides for different situations
- Include school-specific policies and procedures
- Distribute to all students in the school
Project Planning Roadmap
- Form Committee: Recruit 8-12 interested students, establish roles (coordinator, researchers, designers, presenters)
- Choose Focus: Select 1-2 projects to pursue based on student interest and feasibility
- Research Phase: Gather information, identify stakeholders, understand current situation
- Development Phase: Create materials, draft proposals, design campaigns
- Implementation: Execute the project (present, distribute, campaign)
- Evaluation: Assess impact, gather feedback, document results
- Sustainability: Establish how the project will continue (annual handbook updates, ongoing committee)
Real-World Impact
This project connects classroom learning to authentic civic engagement. Students see that young people can influence policy and create positive change. Document the project's progress with photos, videos, and written reflections to share successes and inspire future student advocates.