Student Web Activity Lesson Plans

Chapter 19: Mass Media and the Internet

Introduction
The Internet has had a profound impact on reporting the actions of government, in helping candidates conduct their campaigns, and on providing the information that gets the public's attention. The Internet has also changed the way that government provides information to the public. In this activity, students will learn about the government's blog.

Lesson Description
Students will explore the federal government's blog. They will answer four questions and then critique the blog site.

Instructional Objectives

Learners will identify the components of the government's blog.
Learners will navigate other government blogs.
Learners will speculate on improvements to the government's blog.

Student Web Activity Answers

The government is utilizing social media tools such as blogs, YouTube, Flickr, Facebook, and Twitter.
The topics were teen drivers, diet pills, government employment at the Census Bureau, an end-of-year look at 2008, and some links to YouTube videos about the holidays.
Answers will vary. Many students will probably note that they would respond to the teen driver blog.
This blog offers the public an alternative source to mainstream media for U.S. foreign policy information and the opportunity to discuss important foreign policy issues with senior State Department officials.
Critiques will vary. Students should provide reasons for any changes they would make to the site.