← ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

Online protocol

An agreed rule or way of behaving that everyone follows so sharing and working online stays safe and respectful, like rules for a class chat or a shared document.

Part of: ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6 — Digital Footprints — Module 42

Understanding Online protocol in ACARA Digital Technologies Years 5–6

What it does: This rule helps everyone in the shared document see who made each change, and it is agreed by the group. A protocol only works when the whole group knows it and follows it. Using kind and respectful words is a common chat protocol. Typing in capitals is not a safety rule, and it can seem like shouting. Protocols are not there to slow you down. They help everyone stay safe and treat each other well. Fix: follow the rules the whole class agreed on, so the chat stays safe and respectful.

Common mistakes: A FOR EACH loop must be closed with END FOR, not END IF. This loop shows every rule in the class chat protocol. The protocol says students join only after they have agreed. The test should be agreed = TRUE, otherwise people who have not agreed get in.

Class: _____________________  ·  Name: _____________________  ·  Date: _________

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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 one is an online protocol for a class chat?
Everyone types whatever they like, whenever they likeEveryone agrees to use kind words and stay on topic
Matches
Chat protocol: I make my own rules and ignore the class ones
↓
A protocol is agreed by everyone. One person ignoring the class rules and making their own breaks the protocol.
Applying
Meanings
Term
protocol
Meaning
An agreed rule or way of behaving that everyone follows so sharing and working online stays safe and respectful, like rules for a class chat or a shared document.
Practice
Protocol: Class Chat
Testing
Gaps
← "Be kind in the class chat"
Check Answer
Spots
3 DISPLAY rule
4END IF

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Quick Questions

1. Which one is an online protocol for a class chat?
A. Everyone agrees to use kind words and stay on topic ✓
B. Everyone types whatever they like, whenever they like
A protocol is an agreed rule that everyone follows. Kind words and staying on topic keep a class chat safe and respectful.
2. What is a protocol?
A. An agreed way of behaving that everyone follows ✓
B. A rule that only one person knows about
A protocol only works when the whole group knows it and follows it.
3. Which rule is a good protocol for a shared document?
A. Delete other people's work if you think you can do it better
B. Only edit your own section and use comments to suggest changes ✓
Shared document protocols protect everyone's work and keep the team working respectfully together.
4. Why must everyone agree to a protocol?
A. If only some people follow it, the group is not safe or fair ✓
B. Only the teacher needs to follow it
A protocol works best when everyone agrees and follows it, not just one person.
5. Someone posts an unkind message in the class chat. Which protocol did they break?
A. Always type in capital letters
B. Use kind and respectful words ✓
Using kind and respectful words is a common chat protocol. Typing in capitals is not a safety rule, and it can seem like shouting.

Match the Pairs

protocol → An agreed rule or way of behaving that everyone follows so sharing and working online stays safe and respectful
Class chat protocol: be kind, stay on topic → A set of agreed rules everyone follows when talking in the class chat
A protocol for a shared document says everyone must write their name on the changes they make → Doc protocol: add your name to every edit
A protocol only works when everyone agrees to follow it → Protocol: all students agree, then follow it
Chat protocol: I make my own rules and ignore the class ones → A protocol is agreed by everyone. One person ignoring the class rules and making their own breaks the protocol.
Doc protocol: only the teacher agrees, students just follow → A protocol needs everyone to agree, not only one person. Students should help decide the rules.

Key Term

protocol
An agreed rule or way of behaving that everyone follows so sharing and working online stays safe and respectful, like rules for a class chat or a shared document.

Fill in the Blanks

1. protocol ← "Be kind in the class chat"
Hint: Type the variable name for an agreed rule that everyone follows online.
2. IF message = "kind" THEN SEND message to class chat ENDIF
Hint: Type the keyword that starts the action when the chat rule is met.
3. agreed ← TRUE IF agreed = TRUE THEN EDIT document
Hint: Type the variable name that stores whether everyone said yes to the shared document rule.
4. votes ← 24 classSize ← 24 IF votes = classSize THEN SET protocol
Hint: Type the operator that checks the two numbers are equal, so everyone has agreed.
5. IF part = "not mine" THEN ASK owner ENDIF
Hint: Type the command word for checking with the owner before editing their part of a shared document.

Spot the Error

Question 1
A chatRules ← ["Be kind", "Ask first"]
B FOR EACH rule IN chatRules
C DISPLAY rule
D END IF
Line D — A FOR EACH loop must be closed with END FOR, not END IF. This loop shows every rule in the class chat protocol.
Question 2
A agreed ← TRUE
B IF agreed = FALSE THEN
C DISPLAY "Join the chat"
D END IF
Line B — The protocol says students join only after they have agreed. The test should be agreed = TRUE, otherwise people who have not agreed get in.
Question 3
A docRule ← "Ask before editing"
B DISPLAY "docRule"
C DISPLAY "Everyone follows it"
Line B — Quotes make docRule print as the plain word docRule. Without quotes, DISPLAY docRule shows the rule stored in the variable.
Question 4
A rules ← ["Be kind", "Ask first"]
B agreed ← FALSE
C INPUT vote FROM class
D IF vote = yes THEN
E agreed ← TRUE
Line D — The word yes is text, so it needs quotes: "yes". Without quotes the computer looks for a variable called yes, which does not exist.
Question 5
A user ← "Mia"
B text ← "Thanks for the help"
C DISPLAY user + ": " text
Line C — A + is missing between ": " and text. It should be DISPLAY user + ": " + text so the chat message joins together.

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