Date: October 6, 1998 

Grade Level(s): 10, 11, 12, Higher education

Subject(s):

• Health/Human Sexuality

Goals: The instructional goal is taken from the National Health Education Standards (Joint Commission on Health Education Standards, 1995). The fourth standard is "students will analyze the influence of culture, media, technology, and other factors on health."

Objectives: There are two student learning objectives:
1. Each student will obtain informational resources on two or more different sexual health topics using the Internet/WWW
2. Each student will discuss the criteria used to select appropriate sexual health information.

Materials:

• chalkboard and chalk
• PCs with access to WWW/Internet in the classroom, students' homes, or a library
• Internet Health Information Worksheet

Internet Health Information Worksheet.

1. What specific sexual health topics did you choose for the Internet search?

2. Where did you begin your search? (name of search engine)

3. What key words did you use to conduct the search for information?

4. List the web sites or home pages that you visited (include URLs and full names).

5. Describe the criteria you actually used to select accurate health information. (How did you determine whether a web site contained suspicious information?)

6. Describe three ADVANTAGES of using the WWW/Internet over traditional sources of information.

7. Describe three DISADVANTAGES of using the WWW/Internet over traditional sources of information.

8. What are the most important things you have learned about accessing consumer health information from the Internet?

9. Attach samples of printed pages describing health information you obtained from the Internet.

• Write answers to each question about your use of the WWW/Internet.
• Bring the completed worksheet to class.
• Be prepared to discuss your answers to these questions during class.

1. Prior to conducting this lesson, review your school's policies and procedures related to use of the Internet and sexuality education. It is important to follow guidelines for discussion of sensitive personal health topics in secondary classrooms.
2. Contact parents by letter or phone to discuss the purpose and objectives of this lesson prior to assigning students the task of searching the Internet.
3. Consider co-teaching this lesson with the school system nurse or other health professional.
4. Begin the lesson by asking students to brainstorm which people, publications, and places provide accurate sexual health information. Students may list their parents, teachers, health professionals, trade or scientific publications, community health agencies and organizations, and electronic sources.
5. Together with students, list criteria that can be applied to distinguish valid from inaccurate sexual health information. Your list might include legitimacy of the source, connection to commercial health products, recency of the information, content of the message, consistency with similar messages obtained from other sources on the same subject, professional references (or links) provided, and others as suggested by class members.
6. Distribute the Internet Health Information Worksheet and review the nine items aloud. Students will obtain sexual health information from the WWW/Internet on at least 2-3 age-appropriate health topics of interest. Sexually explicit materials are prohibited. Sample topics include puberty and human development, breast cancer prevention, abstinence education, testicular cancer, fetal alcohol syndrome, and HIV/AIDS.
7. Discuss the use of key words, links, and URLs. Practice as a group accessing a single site, E.G., Centers for Disease Control and Prevention home page.
8. Supervise students as they work either independently, or in small groups during class. If a homework assignment for secondary school students, request parental involvement. Students will share examples of the informational resources obtained from the WWW/Internet.
9. Encourage students to discuss their answers to the Internet Health Information Worksheet questions with peers. During class discussion, highlight the accuracy and inaccuracy of specific sexual health information located by students.
10. Advise students to seek the advice of parents and guardians and trusted health professionals on sexual health matters, particularly when they have personal questions.

Assessment: Successful completion of the Internet Health Information Worksheet, samples of printed resource information obtained from the WWW/Internet, and participation in class discussion and sharing session.

References: