This inquiry explores what it was like for older generations of teenagers to grow up in North Dakota through researching their diaries. It asks the question, “what is your privacy worth?” The importance of understanding both the lives of teenagers and privacy in this inquiry is twofold: (1) students should be able to understand what life was like for earlier teenagers and young adults and (2) students will benefit from understanding how historical research relies on what may or may not be comfortable sharing. While progressing through the inquiry, students will analyze the changes occurring in our society about how we choose to share our lives or not, and how do we control what we’re comfortable with.
This inquiry is expected to take two class periods; however, teachers are encouraged to adapt the inquiry to meet the needs and interests of their students and the amount of time they have available.
- Mae Robert’s Diary
- Dorry Shaw’s Diary
- Students’ own personal and family stories and observations through diary entries or social media.
Understand: How do concepts of privacy change over time? How much control do you think people should have over their own information? Are you willing to trade personal information in order to use social media platforms?
Assess: Determine the intended and unintended consequences of posting content to social media sites. How is this different, or not, from traditional diaries, letters, and journals?.
Act: Create an infographic or poster that highlights the risks of sharing information online, identifies some information that people might want to share, and provides some standards and best practices to keep in mind when sharing.