Asynchronous Academy

Staying Safe Online

Department
PHYS-ED

Investigating Risks with AI

Artificial Intelligence can be a powerful research assistant, but it is only as good as the questions you ask. Your first task is to use a chatbot to identify potential digital threats.

Task:

  • Start a conversation with an AI chatbot (like Gemini or ChatGPT).
  • Use the prompt: "What are the primary risks for young people when using computers and the internet?"
  • Follow up with specific questions about privacy settings, cyberbullying, and data security to deepen your understanding.

Fact-Checking & Verification

AI can sometimes "hallucinate" or provide outdated information. To be a responsible digital citizen, you must verify what you've learned before sharing it.

Task:

  • Take two or three specific risks identified by the AI and verify them using a reliable source (e.g., a government safety site like GetCybersafe.gc.ca, a major news outlet, or an educational organization).
  • Compare the AI's response with the reliable source. Did the AI miss anything? Did it exaggerate any risks?

Avoiding Harm Online (Video Project)

Now, you will take that verified information and turn it into an advocacy tool for your peers.

Task:

  • Create a short informational video aimed at students your age.
  • Your video should cover:
    1. The Risks: A clear explanation of 1–2 major online risks.
    2. The Solutions: Practical, verified steps peers can take to protect their privacy and well-being.
    3. The "Why": Why being proactive about digital safety matters for your future and reputation.

Self-Check for Understanding

  • Can I explain the difference between a "reliable source" and a generated AI response?
  • Do I know how to adjust the privacy settings on my most-used social media apps right now?
  • If I encountered a threat online today, do I know exactly who I would report it to?

Assessment

Pre-Submission

Before you submit, please complete the Pre-Submission Self-Assessment.

What to Turn In

  • 📤
    Pre-Submission Self-Assessment Google Doc
  • 📤

    1-2 min social media-style video advising peers about an online risk and providing realistic ways to manage it

Learning Goals

We are learning to:

  • 🎯

    Critically evaluate information about digital risks using AI and reliable secondary sources

  • 🎯

    Develop strategies to minimize personal risk and promote safety in online environments

Success Criteria

I can:

  • ✅

    Identify and explain the effects of online risks, such as cyberbullying and data privacy breaches, on personal well-being

    Expectations Covered: C1.2
  • ✅

    Assess the validity of safety information by comparing AI-generated content with reliable, verified sources

    Expectations Covered: C1.2
  • ✅

    Apply strategies to avoid harm online and demonstrate how to protect my digital reputation and security

    Expectations Covered: C1.2