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Your Digital Game Plan

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lkirk

Tier 1
For Schools

Warm Up

Digital Pulse Check: Social Media Worries

Instructions:
Reflect on the following question. You can write your answer below or be prepared to share it anonymously if prompted.

Question:

What is your biggest social media challenge or worry when you think about your future as a college-bound athlete? (e.g., accidentally posting something inappropriate, being misunderstood, dealing with negative comments, privacy concerns, etc.)






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Lesson Plan

Your Digital Game Plan Lesson Plan

Students will understand the ethical implications of social media, develop responsible posting habits, and recognize the impact of their digital footprint on their athletic and academic futures.

To prevent future issues with social media, protect athletic scholarships, and foster positive online behavior crucial for maintaining a strong personal brand in their college and professional careers.

Audience

12th Grade Students (College-Bound Athletes)

Time

30 minutes

Approach

Interactive discussion, real-world scenarios, and guided reflection.

Materials

Your Digital Game Plan Slide Deck, Social Media Scenario Activity, Group Discussion Guide, and Digital Pulse Check

Prep

Prepare Materials

15 minutes

  • Review all generated materials including Your Digital Game Plan Lesson Plan, Your Digital Game Plan Slide Deck, Social Media Scenario Activity, Group Discussion Guide, and Digital Pulse Check.
  • Print copies of the Social Media Scenario Activity (one per small group).

Step 1

Warm-Up: Digital Pulse Check

5 minutes

Students complete the Digital Pulse Check activity. This can be done as a quick anonymous poll or a think-pair-share about their biggest social media challenge or worry regarding their future.

Step 2

Introduction: Beyond the Likes

5 minutes

Use the Your Digital Game Plan Slide Deck to introduce the concept of a digital footprint and its impact on college admissions and athletic scholarships, highlighting recent examples.

Step 3

Activity: Scenario Showdown

10 minutes

Divide students into small groups. Each group receives a scenario from the Social Media Scenario Activity and discusses the ethical dilemma, potential consequences, and responsible actions.

Step 4

Discussion: Group Playbook

7 minutes

Bring groups back together. Facilitate a discussion using the Group Discussion Guide for each group to share their scenario and proposed solutions. Emphasize common themes and best practices.

Step 5

Cool-Down: Personal Pledge

3 minutes

Students individually reflect on one change they can make to improve their digital footprint, writing it down or sharing with a partner.

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Slide Deck

Your Digital Game Plan

Mastering Social Media for Your Future as a College-Bound Athlete!

Welcome students, introduce the importance of today's topic for their unique path as college-bound athletes.

Warm-Up: Digital Pulse Check

What's your biggest social media worry about your future?

Introduce the Digital Pulse Check warm-up. Instruct students to reflect on their biggest social media challenge or worry regarding their future as college-bound athletes. This can be done as a quick anonymous poll (if tools are available) or a think-pair-share.

What's Your Digital Footprint?

Every post, like, share, and comment leaves a trace.
It's how coaches, admissions committees, and future employers see you.

Explain that a digital footprint is permanent and visible. Ask students to consider what their current footprint says about them. Emphasize that anything posted can be found later.

Beyond the Game: Real-World Impacts

Your social media can impact:

  • Athletic Scholarships
  • Team Reputation
  • Personal Brand
  • College Admissions
  • Future Career Opportunities

Share anonymized examples (if appropriate and available) of athletes who faced consequences due to social media. Discuss how seemingly small actions (like inappropriate messages or bullying) can have big repercussions on scholarships, team standing, and future opportunities.

The Ethical Playbook: THINK Before You Post

Before you post, ask yourself:

  • Is it True?
  • Is it Helpful?
  • Is it Inspiring?
  • Is it Necessary?
  • Is it Kind?

Introduce the THINK acronym as a simple checklist for ethical posting. Emphasize empathy and respect online. Relate it directly to preventing bullying and inappropriate messages.

Activity: Scenario Showdown

Time to put your ethical playbook to the test!

Work in small groups to analyze real-world social media dilemmas.

Explain the upcoming Social Media Scenario Activity. Briefly describe how groups will work through the scenarios to apply the 'THINK' framework and discuss responsible actions.

Discussion: Group Playbook

Share your scenarios, solutions, and key takeaways.

What did we learn about navigating social media responsibly?

Facilitate the discussion using the Group Discussion Guide. Encourage active listening, respectful debate, and the sharing of diverse perspectives on how to handle difficult social media situations, including those involving bullying or inappropriate content.

Your Personal Pledge

One small change for a big digital impact.

How will you master your social media game moving forward?

Prompt students for individual reflection (cool-down). Reiterate the importance of a proactive, positive online presence and how it contributes to their overall success as athletes and individuals.

Questions? Thank You!

Let's continue to build a positive digital presence!

Open the floor for any final questions. Thank students for their engagement and emphasize that this is an ongoing learning process.

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Activity

Social Media Scenario Activity: Your Digital Game Plan in Action

Instructions:

  1. Work with your group to read and discuss each scenario.
  2. Use the guiding questions below to help you analyze the situation and determine the most responsible course of action.
  3. Be prepared to share your group's discussion and conclusions with the class.

Scenario 1: The Teammate's Troubling Post

Your star teammate, who is also highly recruited, posts a story on social media that includes an inappropriate message making fun of an opposing team's player. The message uses offensive language and is quickly gaining traction. You notice several of your mutual friends have liked the post, and you know many college coaches follow your team's players.

Guiding Questions:

  • What is the ethical dilemma in this scenario?


  • What are the potential short-term consequences for your teammate, your team, and your own reputation if you are associated with it (e.g., through likes, comments, or inaction)?





  • What are the potential long-term consequences for athletic scholarships or college admissions for those involved?





  • How does the "THINK" acronym (True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind) apply to your teammate's post?





  • What is the most responsible action you could take in this situation? (Consider options like ignoring it, privately speaking to your teammate, reporting it, or speaking up publicly.)










  • What preventative measures could have been taken by your teammate?



Scenario 2: The Old Controversial Comment

A rival high school's fan account digs up an old comment you made on a friend's post from freshman year. The comment, made during a less mature phase, could be interpreted as bullying or insensitive towards another student. It's now being widely shared and criticized online. You just found out that the Athletic Director of your top-choice university, where you've received an offer, has recently followed your social media profile.

Guiding Questions:

  • What is the ethical dilemma here, considering your past actions and current aspirations?


  • What are the immediate and long-term consequences this resurfaced comment could have on your college offers and athletic future?





  • How does this scenario highlight the permanence of a digital footprint?


  • How would you apply the "THINK" acronym to posts you make today to prevent similar issues?





  • What steps should you take now to address the situation responsibly and mitigate potential damage?










  • What message do you want to convey about your character to the university's Athletic Director and other scouts?



Scenario 3: Caught in the Crossfire

You're added to a private group chat with several teammates. Over the past few days, the chat has become a place where some teammates are exchanging private, explicit photos they found of other students without consent and making derogatory, bullying comments about those individuals. You haven't participated in the inappropriate conversation, but your name is clearly visible as a member of the chat. You're worried about being associated with the content but also fear being ostracized by your team if you speak up or leave.

Guiding Questions:

  • What is the ethical dilemma of being a bystander in this situation?


  • What are the potential legal, academic, and athletic consequences for the teammates sharing explicit content and engaging in bullying?





  • What are the risks to your own digital footprint and reputation by remaining in the chat, even if you don't participate?





  • How does the "THINK" acronym apply to the content being shared and your own response to it?





  • What is the most responsible and courageous action you could take, considering both your safety and ethical obligations?










  • What resources (e.g., coaches, school counselors, trusted adults) could you seek out for support and guidance in this situation?



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Discussion

Group Discussion Guide: Building Your Digital Playbook

Teacher Instructions:

  • After students have completed the Social Media Scenario Activity in small groups, bring the class back together for a whole-group discussion.
  • Encourage all students to participate, listening respectfully to different perspectives.
  • Use the following questions to facilitate a deeper understanding of responsible social media use and its impact on their post-high school goals.

Discussion Questions:

  1. Scenario Sharing (1-2 minutes per group):

    • Could one person from each group briefly share the scenario you discussed and the most responsible action your group identified?


  2. Identifying Common Challenges:

    • What common themes, ethical dilemmas, or challenges did your groups identify across the different scenarios?





    • Were there any surprises in how difficult it was to decide on the "right" action?


  3. Applying the "THINK" Acronym:

    • How can the "THINK" acronym (True, Helpful, Inspiring, Necessary, Kind) be a practical, daily tool for all your social media interactions?





    • Can you give a personal example of when you could have used "THINK" before posting or commenting?





  4. Beyond Personal Choice: Community Responsibility:

    • Beyond your personal choices, what responsibility do you have as an athlete, a teammate, and a member of your school community regarding social media usage?





    • How can your actions, or inactions, on social media affect your team, school, or even future institution?





  5. Proactive Strategies:

    • What are some proactive strategies you can implement today to maintain a positive digital footprint and avoid issues like inappropriate messages or bullying?





    • Are there settings, habits, or review processes you can put in place?


  6. Seeking Support:

    • What kind of support or resources would be helpful for students who face social media dilemmas, whether they are a target of bullying, witness it, or accidentally post something inappropriate?





    • Who are trusted adults or resources at school or in your community you could turn to?


  7. Personal Reflection & Goal Setting:

    • What is one key takeaway or a personal goal you have regarding your social media use after today's discussion? How will you make sure your digital game plan aligns with your real-life aspirations?










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lenny