← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

Mapping your own digital footprint

A list or drawing of the sites, apps and devices you use and the data each one keeps about you.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Digital Footprints — Module 13

Understanding Mapping your own digital footprint in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

What it does: Listing apps and sites is the first step. You cannot map your footprint until you know where you leave data. Each entry on the map pairs an app or site with the data it keeps about you. Active data is information you share on purpose. Passive data is collected without you typing or posting it.

Common mistakes: A tablet is a device, not an app. A footprint map lists devices, apps and sites separately, so this line should be 'Device: tablet'. Posting a photo is something you choose to do, so it is active data. The line should be 'Type: active'.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

Free printable worksheet with full answer key — or add this module to a class and your students practise it interactively.

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This module's key terms are also in a printable crossword (Modules 174–225) and word search (Modules 137–225).

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Learning
Duo
Which best describes a footprint map?
A list or drawing of the apps, sites and devices you use and the data each one keepsA map that shows where your house is on the street
Matches
Footprint map: Chat app, Video site (I left out my school portal and tablet)
↓
The map is incomplete. It leaves out a site and a device that also keep data about you.
Applying
Meanings
Term
footprint map
Meaning
A list or drawing of the sites, apps and devices you use and the data each one keeps about you.
Practice
Footprint map: my day online
Testing
Gaps
: GameZone, data: high score, active
Check Answer
Spots
1MAP: School day
2App: tablet

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Quick Questions

1. Which best describes a footprint map?
A. A list or drawing of the apps, sites and devices you use and the data each one keeps ✓
B. A map that shows where your house is on the street
A footprint map shows where your data goes: which apps, sites and devices hold information about you.
2. Which item belongs on your footprint map?
A. A paper map of your school playground
B. A game app you play, plus the username and scores it saves ✓
A footprint map lists the apps, sites and devices you use and the data each one keeps.
3. You list a video site you watch. What else should you write next to it?
A. The data it keeps, like your watch history and account name ✓
B. How many hours are left in the school day
Each entry on the map pairs an app or site with the data it keeps about you.
4. You post a photo on purpose. How do you mark it on your map?
A. Passive data, because you chose to share it
B. Active data, because you chose to share it ✓
Active data is information you share on purpose. Passive data is collected without you typing or posting it.
5. A website saves which pages you visited without you doing anything. How do you mark it?
A. Passive data, because it was collected in the background ✓
B. Active data, because you posted it on purpose
Passive data is collected in the background, like browsing history or location.

Match the Pairs

footprint map → A list or drawing of the sites, apps and devices you use and the data each one keeps about you
Game app | passive: play time | active: username → One entry on a footprint map, with passive and active data marked
Step 1 of a footprint map is to list the apps and sites you use → Apps: School portal, Maths game, Video site, Chat app
A day in my online life: write each app you use and when you use it → 7am: Weather app | 4pm: Maths game | 7pm: Video site
Footprint map: Chat app, Video site (I left out my school portal and tablet) → The map is incomplete. It leaves out a site and a device that also keep data about you.
Video site | active: watch history | passive: my comment → Active and passive are swapped. A comment you write is active, and watch history collected for you is passive.

Key Term

footprint map
A list or drawing of the sites, apps and devices you use and the data each one keeps about you.

Fill in the Blanks

1. app: GameZone, data: high score, active
Hint: Type the label for a program you use on a phone or tablet.
2. site: Vidzy, data: watch history, passive
Hint: Type the word for data collected automatically while you just watch, without you choosing to share it.
3. app: ChatBox, data: your posts, active
Hint: Type the word for data you choose to share on purpose.
4. time: 8am, app: Maps, data: location
Hint: Type the kind of data a maps app keeps about where you are.
5. footprint map: apps, sites, devices
Hint: Type the word for the things like phones, tablets and laptops that a footprint map also lists.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A MAP: School day
B App: tablet
C App: Maths Quest
D Data: scores, name
Line B — A tablet is a device, not an app. A footprint map lists devices, apps and sites separately, so this line should be 'Device: tablet'.
Question 2
A Site: Photo Share
B Data: photos I post
C Type: passive
Line C — Posting a photo is something you choose to do, so it is active data. The line should be 'Type: active'.
Question 3
A App: Maps
B Data: location history
C Type: active
Line C — The app records where you go in the background without you typing or posting anything. That is passive data, so the line should be 'Type: passive'.
Question 4
A App: Music Mix
B Data: nothing is kept
C Type: passive
Line B — Every app on your map keeps some data about you. This app keeps what you play and your name, so the line should list them.
Question 5
A 7am: Weather app - passive
B 8am: Post a photo - passive
C 4pm: Watch videos - passive
Line B — Choosing to post a photo is active data. Passive data is collected without you doing anything on purpose. The line should end with 'active'.

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