Communication and collaboration online

Module 1. Let’s Talk Online! (45 min)

Objectives

• Understand synchronous vs. asynchronous communication
• Choose the right digital tool for different situations
• Practice basic netiquette (online communication etiquette)
• Gain confidence communicating with schools and institutions online

Session Plan

Detailed Activity Guide

🎯 Icebreaker: “The Last Message I Sent” (8 min)

🧑‍🏫 Trainer Note

Fast-paced and fun. Shows everyone already communicates online. Keep it to 30 seconds per person.

You can find a funny video about the miscommunication example as an icebreaker.

1. Everyone opens their phone and finds the last message they sent.
2. Going around, each person shares: WHO they sent it to, WHAT it was about, and WHICH app they used.
3. After everyone shares: “Did anyone use the same app? Same type of message?”
4. Conclude: “We all communicate online every day. Today we’ll learn to do it even better.”

🎯 Group Activity: “Which Tool Would You Use?” (12 min)

🧑‍🏫 Trainer Note

Read scenarios aloud. Teams of 3-4 discuss the best tool. No single correct answer - the goal is to think about WHY.

Scenarios:

1. Tell the teacher your child will be absent tomorrow.
2. Send a birthday photo to your parents in another country.
3. Complain about a wrong delivery from an online store.
4. Explain something complicated to a friend.
5. Organize a meeting with other parents for a school event.
6. You received a suspicious message from a stranger.

🎯 Hands-on: Writing a Good Message (12 min)

🧑‍🏫 Trainer Note

Walk around and help. Encourage pairs to give feedback.

Part A - Fix the Bad Message (5 min)

Show on screen:

"HEY!!! WHERE IS THE HOMEWORK??? MY KID DOESNT HAVE IT. YOU NEED TO SEND IT NOW!!!!"

Discuss what’s wrong (all caps, demanding, no greeting). Each participant rewrites it on their phone.

Part B - Write Your Own (7 min)

Write an email to your child’s school asking about the next parent-teacher meeting. Include a subject line.

Work individually, then share with a partner.

🎯 Role-play: The Misunderstanding (6 min)

🧑‍🏫 Trainer Note

Quick! Pick 1-2 scenarios. Groups prepare a 1-minute role-play showing the misunderstanding, then the better version.

• Scenario A: A parent sends “OK.” to the class group. Others think they’re angry.
• Scenario B: A parent shares a photo of all children at a school party publicly without permission.
• Scenario C: A parent sends a voice message at 11 PM asking about tomorrow’s schedule.

📋 Handout + Wrap-up (2 min)

Distribute Worksheet 1. Ask participants to fill in “My 3 personal rules” and “One thing I learned.”

Module 2. Social Media: Friend or Enemy? (45 min)

Objectives

• Understand what social networks are and how they differ from each other
• Discover how algorithms shape what they see online
• Experience the “filter bubble” firsthand
• Learn to actively manage their feed instead of passively consuming

Session Plan

Detailed Activity Guide

🎯 Icebreaker: “Guess the App” (8 min)

🧑‍🏫 Trainer Note

Fast quiz. Round 1: show app icons without names. Round 2: read descriptions. Make it competitive.

Round 1 - Show icons: Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp, YouTube, LinkedIn, Snapchat, X, Telegram, Discord, Signal, BeReal., Viber, Twich, Kick, Pinterest

Round 2 - Read descriptions:

• “A platform where videos disappear after 24 hours” (Snapchat/Instagram Stories)
• “A platform where you can watch cooking videos for 3 hours without realizing it” (TikTok/YouTube)
• “A platform your boss might check before hiring you” (LinkedIn)
• “The app that replaced your family phone tree” (WhatsApp)

🎯 The Algorithm Experiment (12 min)

🧑‍🏫 Trainer Note

Powerful eye-opener. Participants see that two people on the same app see completely different content.

1. Pair up with someone you don’t know well.
2. Both open the same app (Instagram Explore, TikTok For You, or YouTube home).
3. Hold up your phones. Compare: is your feed the same or different?
4. Discuss in pairs: Why do you think they’re different?
5. Group share: “Who had a completely different feed from their partner?” (almost everyone)
6. Explain: “This is the algorithm. It learns what you like and shows you more. That’s why scrolling feels endless and you can end up in a ‘bubble.’”

🎯 Hands-on: Reset Your Feed (10 min)

🧑‍🏫 Trainer Note

Practical steps they can do RIGHT NOW. Walk through on projector, they follow on phones.

1. Open your main social media app.
2. Find a post you don’t like → tap the three dots (…) → select “Not Interested” or “Hide.”
3. Find an account you followed but whose content annoys you → Mute or Unfollow.
4. Actively like and comment on 2-3 posts you genuinely enjoy - this trains the algorithm.
5. Check: are there any accounts you follow that you don’t remember following? Unfollow them.

💬 Discussion: Passive Scrolling vs. Active Connection (6 min)

Ask: “What’s the difference between scrolling for 30 minutes and actually talking to someone online for 30 minutes?”

Key insight: Passive consumption (scrolling, watching) tends to make us feel worse. Active engagement (messaging, commenting, creating) tends to make us feel better.

Challenge: “This week, try replacing 15 minutes of scrolling with one meaningful message to someone you care about.”

📋 Handout + Wrap-up (2 min)

Distribute Worksheet 2. Participants fill in their app inventory and feed changes they made.

🎯 Interactive Game: “True or Fake?” (12 min)

https://ec.europa.eu/programmes/erasmus-plus/project-result-content/ee766887-db5d-4976-af9c-df990987fdbc/FAKE%20OFF!%20Examples%20News_EN.pdf

🧑‍🏫 Trainer Note

Show 6-8 claims on screen. Participants vote TRUE or FAKE (hand raise or colored sticky notes). Reveal and explain each. Adapt claims to your local context.

Module 3. Protect Yourself Online (45 min)

Objectives

• Complete a thorough privacy audit on their own phones
• Apply the fact-checking method to real social media posts
• Recognize the “highlight reel” effect and develop strategies against comparison
• Create a personal online safety action plan

Session Plan

Detailed Activity Guide

🎯 Icebreaker: “Two Truths and a Lie - Online Edition” (7 min)

🧑‍🏫 Trainer Note

Each person says three things about their digital life - two true, one false. Others guess the lie.

1. Each person thinks of 3 statements about their digital life: 2 true, 1 false.
2. Examples: “I have 500+ Facebook friends” / “I once fell for a WhatsApp scam” / “I check Instagram before brushing my teeth.”
3. Go around: share statements. Others vote on the lie.
4. Quick debrief: “Were you surprised by anyone’s truths?”

🎯 Hands-on: The Full Privacy Audit (13 min)

🧑‍🏫 Trainer Note

More thorough than a quick check. Walk through ALL steps on projector. Go slowly.

Phase 1 - Profile visibility (5 min)

1. Open your main social media app. Go to your profile.
2. Use “View As” / “View Public Profile” to see what strangers see.
3. Check: phone number, email, birthday, workplace, address visible?
4. Remove or hide anything you don’t want strangers to see.

Phase 2 - Connected apps (4 min)

1. Go to Settings → Apps and Websites (Facebook) or Security → Apps (Instagram).
2. Do you recognize all these apps?
3. Remove any you don’t recognize or no longer use.

Phase 3 - Location and tagging (4 min)

1. Check: Is location sharing enabled for social media apps? Turn it off unless necessary.
2. Which apps have access to your photos and messages? Turn it off unless necessary.
3. Enable “Review tags before they appear on your profile.”

🎯 Game: “Fake Post Detectives” (15 min)

🧑‍🏫 Trainer Note

Prepare 6-8 printed cards with fake/real posts. Teams sort into REAL/FAKE piles. They can use phones to fact-check.

Sample cards (adapt locally):

• Card 1: “[Local supermarket] is giving away €500 gift cards to everyone who shares this!” (FAKE)
• Card 2: News article about new EU digital safety regulation (TRUE)
• Card 3: “Doctors don’t want you to know: this ingredient cures headaches instantly!” (FAKE)
• Card 4: Dramatic weather photo with wrong location caption (FAKE)
• Card 5: Official school announcement about schedule change (TRUE)
• Card 6: “WhatsApp will charge €0.99/month unless you forward this” (FAKE)

After the game, teach the 3-second rule: 1) Who wrote this? 2) Can I verify it? 3) Am I sharing because of emotion?

💬 The Comparison Trap (12 min)

🧑‍🏫 Trainer Note

Start with short discussion, then sticky note exercise. Be sensitive.

Discussion (4 min):

Ask: “Have you ever seen something on social media that made you feel bad about yourself or your family?” Explain the “highlight reel” concept.

Sticky note exercise (8 min):

1. Give everyone a green and a red sticky note.
2. GREEN: one account/content that makes you feel GOOD.
3. RED: one account/content that makes you feel BAD.
4. Stick on flipchart in two columns. Read some aloud.
5. Key takeaway: “You control your feed. Unfollow the red. Follow more green.”

📋 Handout + Wrap-up (5 min)

Distribute Worksheet 3. Participants fill in audit results and feed detox plan.

Module 4: Your Online Identity (45 min)

Objectives

• Understand what their social media profile reveals about them
• Review and improve their own profile on the spot
• Recognize fake accounts and impersonation
• Understand Two-Factor Authentication and set it up

Session Plan

Detailed Activity Guide

🎯 Icebreaker: “Who Am I Online?” (8 min)

🧑‍🏫 Trainer Note

Fun, no tech needed. Participants draw their “online self” in stick figures/shapes/words.

1. Give everyone paper and colored pencils.
2. Ask: “If someone only knew you from social media, what would they think you’re like? Draw it!”
3. 4-5 minutes to draw.
4. Each person holds up their drawing, explains in 20 seconds.
5. Ask: “Is your online self the same as your real self? What’s different?”

🎯 Hands-on: Profile Review (12 min)

🧑‍🏫 Trainer Note

Display checklist on projector. Walk through together. Give time to make real changes.

Profile review checklist:

• ☐ What photo do you use? Does it reveal anything private?
• ☐ Read your bio. Information strangers shouldn’t see?
• ☐ Check posts from the last month. Comfortable if a stranger saw them?
• ☐ Check friends/followers. Anyone you don’t actually know?
• ☐ Is your profile Public or Private?

If anything needs changing - change it now!

🎯 Game: “Spot the Fake Account” (8 min)

🧑‍🏫 Trainer Note

Show 5-6 screenshots of profiles on the projector (a mix of real and fake/bot accounts). Participants vote: REAL or FAKE. Discuss the clues.

Clues to teach:

• Stock photo or no photo = suspicious
• Username with random numbers (e.g., jane_smith89457) = suspicious
• Very few posts but following thousands = suspicious
• Generic comments like “Great post!” on every post = likely a bot
• No personal information that can be verified = suspicious

Rule: “If you’re not sure, don’t accept. Verify through another channel.”

🎯 Hands-on: Two-Factor Authentication (10 min)

🧑‍🏫 Trainer Note

Live demo on projector. This is the single most effective security measure. Go slowly - many parents have never done this.

General steps (works for most platforms):

1. Open your social media app → Settings → Security / Privacy.
2. Find “Two-Factor Authentication” or “2-Step Verification.”
3. Choose a method: Text message (SMS) or Authenticator app.
4. Follow the setup prompts. The platform will send a code to verify.
5. SAVE your backup codes somewhere safe (screenshot or write down).
6. Test: log out and log back in - you should be asked for a code.

Explain: “Even if someone steals your password, they can’t get in without the code on YOUR phone.”

📋 Handout + Wrap-up (4 min)

Distribute Worksheet 4. Participants tick the changes they made and their 2FA status.