Content in this lesson features computer careers, girls and women in technology, search engines, wireless communication, and file transfers between computers. Activities include the Penny’s Search game, a follow-up discussion, and ideas for homework assignments.

This lesson should take one to two 50-minute class periods. If you add any of the extra activities or look into the additional resources, you'll need to schedule more time for the lesson.

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• To increase understanding of computer-related careers.
• To interest girls in computer-related careers.
• To help students gain knowledge about search engines, wireless communication, and file transfers.
• To help students realize the dangers viruses and hackers pose to computers, computer networks, and their information.
• To make learning about technology easy to understand and fun.

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Although parts of the lesson can be completed without high-speed Internet access, students will need to use fast connections to play Penny's Search online. If you do not want students to play the game online, it can be downloaded to individual computers. To download the game, visit Packetville and click Download Game. After the game has been downloaded, click index.html to play.

Note: It's best not to try to play the game online with an entire class, for this will usually slow down the game action significantly. Download the game to your class computers or let the students play the game individually or in small groups.

If possible, there should be a computer available to each student. If individual computers are not available, divide your class into teams.

You'll want to try the game before the lesson to become familiar with the content. The game will also give you a basic understanding of networking. It should take about 30 minutes to complete the game, which includes the introduction, rules, and information about the missions for students.

Decide if you want the students to complete the whole game or just one mission. It is suggested that students complete the entire game to become better acquainted with the material covered. If you want your students to complete one mission, divide the class into three groups and assign one mission (Chicago, French Polynesian, or Moscow) to students in each of the groups. You can complete the lesson in one 50-minute period if you opt for one mission. Remind your students that they should stop the game at the end of the assigned mission. In your after-game discussion of the content, each mission group can describe its mission to the others in the class.

If you aren't a computer teacher or a computer guru, you'll be pleased to discover that everything you need to know is part of the game content and Background information for Penny's Search is available for you. For more information, see the links at the end of this lesson.

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Note: These directions cover the entire game. If you instruct your students to complete only one mission in the game, you'll need to revise the directions accordingly.

1. To counteract the idea that computer careers are boring, are just for boys, and appeal only to nerds, introduce the three careers targeted in Penny's Search: independent hip-hop artist, field marine biologist, and veterinary research biologist. See if your students can guess how these careers rely on technology.
2. Explain that the lesson will introduce students to people in these careers. The students will help the professionals receive important information through the Internet. To do this, they'll play the role of data packets or tiny pieces of information that travel through the Internet.
3. If you have completed the Peter Packet lessons with your students, they should understand what packets are, but a quick review of the information may be helpful. If you haven't covered the Peter Packet lessons, briefly review what a packet is and what it does. See the Peter Packet Teacher Background Information if you need help.
4. Have the students find Chicago, French Polynesia, and Moscow on a wall map or on the Internet. The University of Texas Perry-Castaneda is a good resource for online maps.
5. Tell your students that their packet missions will be completed using a computer game. You can distribute the Penny's Search Game Cheat Sheet to assist them.
6. Explain that while playing the game, they can take snapshots of their missions. Point out the camera icon on the computer screen. Show them that by pressing the Spacebar they can take pictures and then view their pictures by selecting the camera icon on the world map screen. Explain that they might want to take some snapshots to better remember the places they visited.
7. Tell your students that after they complete their missions, you will ask them to answer the questions on the Mission Summary Sheet ( PDF - 31KB)
   • What problems did people face in the countries you visited?
   • What problems did you face in getting your packets to their destination?
   • How did you get past the problems you faced on the Internet?
   • If the people you met didn't have Internet access, how would their messages be delivered?
   • What was the most interesting career you encountered in the game?
   • Have you considered a career that would involve technology? If so, what is it and how would you use technology?
8. Send your students on their mission to play the game. If they are playing the game online, they'll need to go to the Hacker Buster section of Packetville. They should click on Games followed by Penny's Search.
9. When your students have finished the game, use some of these sample questions to encourage class discussions:
   • Why do you think we played Penny's Search?
   • What did you learn about how the Internet works?
   • What did you learn about technology-related careers?
   • Imagining careers of the future, do you think technology will grow in importance? Why or why not?
10. You may want to add a home assignment to reinforce the learning in this lesson. Here are some suggestions for possible assignments:
    • Try Penny's Search again from your home computer or one of the school's computers. See if you can improve how you deliver the data you are given through the Internet.
    • Imagine that you are 15 years older than you are today. How old will you be and what type of career will you have? How might computers play a role in your career?
    • Penny's Search is a great game, but it also tells you a lot about the Internet. Make a list of what you learned about satellite uploads, video streaming, MP3s, FTP, space weather, and PING in this game.
    • If your grandparents or other people you know who are older have e-mail addresses, send them messages asking them how they think technology is changing many careers. Bring their responses back to class with you.
11. Have students complete the Assessment.

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Introduce your students to the Hacker Busters site online. Show them how they can use the site in their free time at school and at home.

Have your students use an image from the Packetville cast of characters to create a poster or an advertisement promoting a career in technology.

Have your students work together in groups to investigate careers in IT and engineering. Be sure to check out the lesson on IT and Engineering Careers in this section of Packetville.

Introduce your students to some of the Web links below. Let them visit these sites to reinforce what they learned in Penny's Search.

Some sites you or your students may want to visit:

• Bureau of Labor Statistics Career Information
  Provides career information for students, based on their interests
• Cisco Networking Academy Program
  An e-learning program designed to teach students IT skills
• National Academy of Engineering: Engineer Girl
  Features fun facts, great engineering achievements, and profiles of female engineers
• How Streaming Media Works
  A nice animation showing how streaming media works.
• What is the Internet?
  A tutorial that explains how the Internet works.

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