Unit 1 is done. Today you lock in what you know, build a class safety checklist you can actually use, and name one habit you will change.
A habit is one small thing you do differently from now on: what you would actually do on Work Experience Wi-Fi, when an Intreo email looks off, or when a message about your placement asks you to "confirm your login".
You will write that habit down as a short page for your portfolio, and writing about your own habits like this is good practice for the longer pieces of reflective writing you will be asked for later in the course.
In your head, finish this sentence: "The riskiest thing I still do online without thinking is…" Keep the answer private for now. You will decide later whether that habit is the one you change.
Optional share (one word only, if you want): when your teacher asks, you may say just the area (links, passwords, email, or communities)—not the full story.
Unit 1 asked you to use digital tools carefully, not just quickly. Here are the four ideas the whole unit came back to. Read the rows quickly; your teacher will ask a few questions on them as you go.
| Concept | Why it matters | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Digital terminology — shared words for how the internet works (browser, URL, HTTPS, cloud storage, cookie, cache) | The right words help when you write up coursework, hit a problem on Work Experience, or explain something to a teacher or employer | "The connection uses HTTPS" means traffic is encrypted—not that the login page is real—so still check the sender and type the official URL yourself |
| Email as a managed system — attachments, links, search, sort, folders or labels, archive vs delete | Work Experience, Intreo, and apprenticeship contacts expect you to find messages and send files | A Work Experience folder holds placement emails so you can find the supervisor fast |
| Online communities — Discord, groups, local pages, creator spaces with rules | Lurk first and read the rules; protect your reputation | Join a local trades Discord after reading the rules, not with a first post that gets you banned |
| Digital safety habits — data protection, malware, spam, cyberbullying responses, identity-theft risk, where to get help | One clear habit beats a vague "be careful" | Check the full sender address on a "confirm your school login" email before any link |
The page you write later needs these five parts:
As a class you will build a living safety checklist under three headings. A line only goes on the list when it names something you can actually do. Your teacher will capture the agreed wording so the class can reuse it later in the module.
| Issue | Solution |
|---|---|
| Our checklist lines sound like slogans ("stay safe", "think first") | Rewrite each line as a concrete action: who you check, what you open, who you tell, what you keep as evidence |
| I cannot think of a habit to change | Pick one line from the class checklist you do not do yet. That is your habit. One clear action is enough |
| I am not sure where to save the reflection | Open {{code:Project_Portfolio}}, go to {{code:09_specialism/sm4}}, create the document there, and name it {{code:sm4_unit1_reflection}} |
| I do not know who to name | Use routes already covered in Unit 1: your teacher, your school's guidance counsellor, a trusted adult at home, or Citizens Information. Name at least one |
Open and name (do this first):
Using the five-part layout, write your Unit 1 Reflection. Cover skills from across Unit 1 where you can: terminology, email, communities, safety, and any other unit work you completed. Name one concrete habit you will change, explain why, and name at least one Irish support route. Tie the habit to a project you are working on if you have one on the go, or to your email, your VLE, or the logins you use for coursework.
Mini template (copy these headings into your doc):
Filled mini-example (neutral—write your own, do not copy word for word):
Optional sentence starters: "I will check… before I…" / "This matters because…" / "If it goes wrong I will contact…"
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