Grades 9-12 Curriculum

Module #1

Understanding Adolescence

Primary Understanding

Students will explore and evaluate information about adolescent psychology and brain development and how that affects the way adolescents use technology.

Module Description

Students will explore the neurobiological changes that take place during adolescence. The module focuses on how adolescents’ sensitivity to reward and social relationships make them uniquely vulnerable to the positive and negative effects of using technology

Module Vocabulary

Neuron - cells of the nervous system, including the brain
Synapse - the space between two neurons, where neurons use chemical and electrical signals to communicate with each other
Synaptic pruning - the process of removing synapses or brain connections
Myelin - a substance that wraps around part of the neuron to help neurons communicate more efficiently with each other
Myelination - the process of adding myelin to neurons
Striatum - a structure in the brain's center that supports learning and responding to rewards. The striatum is divided into the ventral striatum, which includes the nucleus accumbens, and the dorsal striatum.
Reward processing - how the brain learns from reward. The striatum is one part of the brain used for reward processing.
Prefrontal Cortex (PFC) - the front part of the brain that supports many functions, including planning, self-control, and social processing

Module Materials

Lesson slides
Internet-connected devices for students (alternative activities are suggested if such devices are not available for students in class)
Neuron Image (digital or physical copies)

Module Standards

Shape America National Health Standards

1.12.5, 2.12.1, 3.12.4, 4.12.1,4.12.7, 6.12.1

Key Topics

• Brain Development (Prefrontal cortex, limbic system)

• Neuroplasticity and synaptic pruning

• Dopamine and the reward system

• Decision-making and risk-taking

• Technology’s influence on adolescent behavior

Before beginning the module, please ask the students to review their screentime and record their total screen time from the previous week and the total pick-ups for the previous week. You will return to this information later in the lesson.

 Module #2

The Tech Effect

Primary understanding

Studetns will exlore the motivation behind technology platforms and understand that platforms are intentionally designed to capture and hold attention, maximizing the amount of time users spend on them.

Module description

Digital platforms are designed to capture attention for profit, often influencing adolescents through algorithms and feedback loops that trigger dopamine responses.

Learning Intention

Explain how social media algorithms are designed to capture and maintain attention.

Describe the role of dopamine and the brain’s reward system.

•Evaluate psychological decision making when using technology.

Essential Question

How does technology use algorithms to manipulate its users?

Module vocabulary

Attention Economy - an approach that treats human attention as a scarce and valuable commodity, essential fro businesses and individuals in a world saturated with information.

Algorithm - a process or set of rules to be followed in calculations or other problem solving operations.

Dopamine - a cneurotranmitter moade in the brain that plays a role as a “reward center”.

Dopamine Loop - a self reinforcing, positive feedback circuit in the brain where the anticipaition of a reward, drivien by dopamine release, motivates behavior that leads to more rewards.

Module Materials

Lesson slides

Module Standards

Shape America National Health Standards

1.12.5, 2.12.1, 3.12.4, 4.12.1,4.12.7, 6.12.1