Examine 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.gender stereotypes 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: Next Illustration above by Paul Windle, New York TimesNew York Times

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.org Gender Stereotypes Real Stereotypes Exist in Virtual Worlds: from Penn State News Real Stereotypes Exist in Virtual Worlds Virtual Avatars and Player Stereotype Adoption: from Smithsonian Magazine Virtual Avatars and Player Stereotype Adoption Can Avatars Change the Way we Think and Act?:from Stanford University Can Avatars Change the Way we Think and Act? Stars Silver: I can do on my own Gold: Challenge me Next Animal CrossingAnimal Crossing Avatars from Game Design as Cultural Practice

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) Secretbuilders *When you are finished, save your Avatar using the snipping tool Next Image above created using Bitstrips and cut out using the snipping toolBitstrips snipping tool

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.snipping tool Open a word document and paste your 1 st Avatar and 2 nd 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 Next Images above created using Bitstrips and cut out using the snipping toolBitstrips snipping tool

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

Standards 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.6 grade 7: RI.4, RI.8, RI.10, W.4, W.10, SL.1a, SL.1b, SL.1c, SL.2, SL.4, SL.6, L.6 grade 8: RI.4, RI.8, RI.10, W.4, W.10, SL.1a, SL.1b, SL.1c, SL.1d, SL.4, SL.6, L.6 AASL Standards for the 21 st Century Learner AASL Standards for the 21 st Century Learner Read, view, and listen for information presented in any format (e.g. textual, visual, media, digital) in order to make inferences and gather meaning Use strategies to draw conclusions from information and apply knowledge to curricular areas, real- world situations, and further investigations Use technology and other information tools to organize and display knowledge and understanding in ways that others can view, use, and assess Use information and technology ethically and responsibly. ISTE NETS - National Educational Technology Standards for Students NETSS: 1a-d, 2a-b, 2d, 3a-c, 4a-b, 4d, 5a-d, 6a-c P21 Skills Information 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 research 1 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.Digital Content Snapshots & Support resources on the ODL Resource Wiki 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.Gender Stereotypes Online Lesson Materials Lesson content and information taken from Common Sense Media.Common Sense Media. Last updated: July 2015Created by Anna Conner, Library Media Specialist BCPS 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.Anna Conner, Library Media SpecialistBaltimore County Public SchoolsDr. Jamie McKenzie’s Slam Dunk Digital Lesson