Essential Skills Digital ICT Communication

2. Communication
Questions to think about before we start this unit:
Who do we communicate with online?
How do we communicate online?
Why do we communicate online?
Which methods do you personally use to communicate online?
What are the benefits of digital/virtual communication?
What are the drawbacks of digital/virtual communication?
What are the most popular methods of communication this year?
Are there any ‘rules’ for how we should communicate with others when
online?
Your task…
What makes a ‘good’ email?
Consider three ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ for sending an email.

3. Rate your confidence Not
confident
A little
confident
Fairly
Confident
Very
confident
Using video calling software such as facetime via
Messenger or Whatsapp
Using instant messaging platforms such as
Whatsapp, Messenger, or Snapchat
Sending pictures, videos and GIFs to friends and
family
Copy and pasting links from the internet and
sending them in messages/emails
Communicating with friends and family via email
Joining a Zoom call via a link and using all the
functions available
Starting a Zoom call and sending the link out,
and using all the functions
Using Teams to communicate with friends, family
or colleagues
Are there any other forms of
communication you use that
you could add to your list?
Communication

4. Email users create and send
messages from individual
computers using commercial
programs.
To send the message, the
user has to specify the email
address:
Communication
Email or e-mail is short for
electronic mail.
It’s a modern method of
transmitting data, text,
digital photos, audio or
video files from one
computer to another over
the internet.
EMAIL ADDRESS
CC- CARBON COPY
BCC – BLIND CARBON
COPY
WHAT IS THE EMAIL
ABOUT?
GREETING
MAIN MESSAGE
ENDING
ATTACHMENT
Scan the QR codes
and complete the
online activities!

5. TASK: Compose a suitable email for the following situations, being mindful of language and tone.
• You have seen an advertisement for a job on the NI Job Finder. The application form for the job is
not available on the website. Compose an email to request the application pack.
• You ordered a new phone from Amazon last month and it has not yet arrived although you have
been charged for it. Compose an email to request an update.
• Your bins have not been emptied in over three weeks and are starting to smell bad. Compose an
email to your local councillor explaining the situation and what you would like them to do about it.
Communication
FORMAL EMAIL
A formal email is used when sending an important
or professional message. For example,
corresponding about a job. There are certain
rules that should be followed. A formal email
should have:
• A suitable greeting
• A polite message
• Appropriate sign off
INFORMAL EMAIL
An informal email is used when sending
messages to any relatives, family or friends.
There are no particular rules when it comes to
informal writing. A person can use the language
of their choice. An informal email may use:
• Emoji's
• Text language
• Contractions

6. Task:
What’s good about this email?
Focus on the punctuation used in the email.
• What is used? How is it used?
• Is there a variety?
Now focus on the tone of the email.
• What vocabulary is used?
• Are there any abbreviations?
Read the email and complete the task
below, thinking about punctuation and
vocabulary.
Communication

7. Quiz questions:
1. What does BCC stand for and when do we use it?
2. What does CC stand for and when do we use it?
3. Why should we include a clear subject line when emailing?
4. What do the following symbols mean and when might we use them?
Research the following
terms and write definitions
for each.
Phishing
Malware
Spam
Communication
• Log into your email account and delete any unwanted mail
• Set up folders to store emails that you need to keep
• Check your junk mail folder and move any important emails into your inbox
• Delete remaining emails in your junk mail folder
• Unsubscribe from any mailing lists you no longer want to remain on
• Add your tutor to your contacts list

8. What about you?
How have you created your digital footprint? What have you done online?
What would you change about your behaviour online given what you know
now about digital footprints?
What is a digital footprint?
Whenever you use the internet, you leave behind a trail of information known
as your digital footprint. A digital footprint grows in many ways – for example,
posting on social media, subscribing to a newsletter, leaving an online review,
or shopping online.
Sometimes, it’s not always obvious that you are contributing to your digital
footprint. For example, websites can track your activity by installing cookies
on your device, and apps can collate your data without you knowing it. Once
you allow an organisation to access your information, they could sell or share
your data with third parties. Worse still, your personal information could be
compromised as part of a data breach.
Communication

9. Why do digital footprints matter?
•They are relatively permanent, and once the data is public – or even
semi-public, as may be the case with Facebook posts - the owner has
little control over how others will use it.
•A digital footprint can determine a person’s digital reputation, which
is now considered as important as their offline reputation.
•Employers can check their potential employees’ digital footprints,
particularly their social media, before making hiring decisions.
Colleges and universities can check their prospective students’
digital footprints before accepting them too.
•Words and photos which you post online can be misinterpreted or
altered, causing unintentional offence.
•Content intended for a private group can spread to a broader circle,
potentially damaging relationships and friendships.
•Cybercriminals can exploit your digital footprint – using it for
purposes such as phishing for account access or creating false
identities based on your data.
Key words
Determine
Reputation
Potential
Prospective
Misinterpreted
Unintentional
Cybercriminals
Exploit
Phishing
Cautious
Why should we think before we
post/share? Are there other
consequences to sharing and posting
irresponsibly?
What advice could we give others?
Communication

10. What other advice could we give
people wishing to type responsibly?
What is the ‘golden rule’ to apply when
online?
Communication