1. Inquiry QuestionExamine and discuss the illustration on the right. Think

about the colors chosen by the artist, and what the subjects are doing in the picture, and discuss in an inquiry circle. How is the artist depicting gender stereotypes in this picture?

Review this list of some of the most common gender stereotypes associated with either men or women. These are stereotypes because they claim to apply to all men or women.

Have you experienced gender stereotypes in your own life? Do gender stereotypes follow users into virtual worlds? How can virtual worlds allow people to push the boundaries of gender stereotypes? In what ways can people use virtual worlds and avatars to break free from gender stereotypes?

In this Slam Dunk lesson you will use resources to explore these questions and to answer the inquiry question:

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What are gender stereotypes, and how can they shape our experiences online?

Gender Stereotypes Online

Illustration above by Paul Windle, New York Times

2. Information Sources

Review these key vocabulary terms before you begin researching:

gender: social ideas about what it means to be masculine or feminine

stereotype: a popular belief about a group of people, based on assumptions that are often extreme and inaccurate

avatar: an image or character that represents a person online

Think about the question “What are gender stereotypes, and how can they shape our experiences online?”

Use the resources below to learn more about gender stereotypes and how they may or may not carry into virtual worlds.

Gender Stereotypes: As explained by heathguidance.orgReal Stereotypes Exist in Virtual Worlds: from Penn State NewsVirtual Avatars and Player Stereotype Adoption: from Smithsonian MagazineCan Avatars Change the Way we Think and Act?:from Stanford University

StarsSilver: I can do on my ownGold: Challenge me

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Animal Crossing Avatars from Game Design as Cultural Practice

3. Student Activity

Now that you have learned more about gender stereotypes and virtual experiences, you are going to create avatars for a virtual world.

Your teacher will give you a Dress Up Your Avatar handout. Use this handout to keep track of the gender stereotypes you notice along the way.

Here are some Avatar creation programs you could use:

Doppelme Voki Bitstrips Secretbuilders (student account

required)

*When you are finished, save your Avatar using the snipping tool

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Image above created using Bitstrips and cut out using the snipping tool

4. Assessment Activity

In virtual worlds, you do not have to create an Avatar that is the same gender identity as you are or even the same species. You can create an Avatar that looks and acts any way you want it to.

Create a new Avatar that does not

necessarily conform to a gender stereotype. What new choices can you make when choosing your Avatar’s appearance?

You may use the same Avatar creation tools from Slide 3. When you are finished making your new Avatar, save it using the snipping tool.

Open a word document and paste your 1st Avatar and 2nd Avatar next to each other. Below the images write a reflection about your choice process in creating your new avatar. Consult your teacher for writing requirements and make sure to save your work.

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Images above created using Bitstrips and cut out using the snipping tool

5. Enrichment Activities

Use one of the comic creator programs from Slide 3 to create a comic strip about gender stereotypes and what they mean to you.

Here are some additional creation tools to assist:

Make Beliefs Comix Comic Creator Graphix Comic Builder

Vocabularygender: social ideas about what it means

to be masculine or femininestereotype: a popular belief about a

group of people, based on assumptions that are often extreme and inaccurate

avatar: an image or character that represents a person online

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Select the image above to view a Garfield comic by Garfield creator Jim Davis about male and female gender stereotypes.

6. Teacher Support MaterialsStandards Alignment

Common Core State Standards grade 6: RI.4, RI.7, RI.8, RI.10, W.4, W.10, SL.1a, SL.1b, SL.1c, SL.1d, SL.4, SL.6, L.6grade 7: RI.4, RI.8, RI.10, W.4, W.10, SL.1a, SL.1b, SL.1c, SL.2, SL.4, SL.6, L.6grade 8: RI.4, RI.8, RI.10, W.4, W.10, SL.1a, SL.1b, SL.1c, SL.1d, SL.4, SL.6, L.6AASL Standards for the 21st Century Learner 1.1.6 Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g. textual, visual, media, digital) in order to make inferences and gather meaning.2.1.3 Use strategies to draw conclusions from information and apply knowledge to curricular areas, real-world situations, and further investigations.3.1.4 Use technology and other information tools to organize and display knowledge and understanding in ways that others can view, use, and assess. 3.1.6 Use information and technology ethically and responsibly.ISTE NETS - National Educational Technology Standards for StudentsNETS•S: 1a-d, 2a-b, 2d, 3a-c, 4a-b, 4d, 5a-d, 6a-cP21 SkillsInformation Literacy: Access information efficiently (time) and effectively (sources); Use

information accurately and creatively for the issue or problem at hand.ICT Literacy: Use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate

information. Apply a fundamental understanding of the ethical/legal issues surrounding the access and use of information technologies

Time Frame: 1 hour for research1 hour to create research product (PSA)

Objective: Students will conduct brief, focused research in order to answer the question “What are gender stereotypes, and how can they shape our experiences online?”

Differentiation strategies for this lesson: Direct students to use tools and learning supports

included in our BCPS-licensed databases, such as audio read-aloud and labeled reading levels/Lexiles. See Digital Content Snapshots & Support resources on the ODL Resource Wiki as needed.

Silver Star = I can do on my own/Gold Star = Challenge me

Notes to the teacher:Collaborate with your school library media specialist to implement this lesson.Download and review the Gender Stereotypes Online Lesson Materials BEFORE teaching this lesson. Printable handouts and information are included in the materials.Lesson content and information taken from Common Sense Media.

Last updated: July 2015Created by Anna Conner, Library Media SpecialistBCPS Slam Dunk Research Model, Copyright 2015, Baltimore County Public Schools, MD, all rights reserved. This lesson may be used for educational, non-profit school use only.

All other uses, transmissions, and duplications are prohibited unless permission is granted expressly. This lesson is based on Dr. Jamie McKenzie’s Slam Dunk Digital Lesson model.

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