Part of Lesson Plan: General Computer Safety Lesson

Activity Overview / Details

Whether or not a student has taken a class in a computer lab, they need to be informed on how to work safely in their classroom, the rules of the lab, ergonomics and working safely on the computer.  Items to be discussed include:

1.      Food/drink in the lab. Explain why it is important that they don’t have food and drinks by the equipment, why liquids should not be near electrical outlets, keyboards.  Tell students where these items should be placed, in their bags, a special place in the classroom, in the trash.

2.      Books/backpacks/personal items.  Explain to students why they need to put their belongings and where in the classroom these items should be placed.  Explain the safety hazards of backpacks being in pathways of where students are walking or how they might cause problems during fire alarms.  Go over what books and materials they will use in the class and where they should store other items they bring to the room, like sports equipments, balloons, projects from other classes.

3.      Have students get up from desks and have them locate the cords from computers to networks outlets and electrical outlets.  Discuss the hazards of the cords, what should be touched and not touched.  This will be modified to your specific classroom set up and how your equipment is installed in your room.

4.      Manners in the lab.  Discuss with students expected behavior in lab, no running or horseplay, if and when they are allowed to use other student’s computers, printer etiquette (where to get paper, what to do with papers left on printer, how many students allowed at printer at one time).

5.      Ergonomics.  Define for them the term ergonomics.  Have student volunteer come to the front of the class and sit in a chair at a table.  Have volunteer model correct behavior while you go over the basics of sitting properly at their computer.  Include the following:

a.       Sitting with back straight, shoulders relaxed, feet flat on floor

b.      Adjust chair height so eyes are level or slightly higher than the monitor

c.       Keep wrists straight while using keyboard and mouse

d.      Discuss the future health problems that could occur from not developing proper habits now, including back/neck strain, carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive stress syndrome

6.      Internet safety.  Discuss with students why it is important that they practice safety habits while they are online.  Include the following:

a.       How to tell if a website is safe for using personal information.

b.      Sharing personal information on the web.

c.       Posting pictures on the internet (and how they can never be taken back)

d.      How they don’t really know who is on the other side of a chat room or instant messaging