Electronic Communication – JSS1 Digital Technologies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Electronic communication is the sending and receiving of messages using electronic devices such as computers and smartphones over the internet.

Behavioural objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. Define electronic communication and name its main forms.
2. Identify the parts of an email message and the steps for sending one.
3. Name popular social media apps and state the rules for using them safely.
4. Give examples of online collaboration tools and state their uses.
5. State the benefits of electronic communication.

What is electronic communication?

Electronic communication (e-communication) is the process of passing messages between people using electronic devices and the internet.

• Old method: a person wrote a letter on paper, put it in an envelope and waited days or weeks for delivery.
• Snail mail: a joke name for the post, because it is slow.
• Today: messages reach the receiver almost instantly.
• Devices used: computers, laptops, tablets and smartphones.

What are the main ways of communicating electronically?

There are three main ways: email, social media and collaboration tools.

1. Email: used for formal messages.
2. Social media: used for chatting and sharing with friends.
3. Collaboration tools: used for working together on school projects.

What is email?

Email, short for electronic mail, is a digital letter sent from one email address to another over the internet.

• Email address: the unique name that identifies your mailbox, for example yourname@gmail.com.
• The @ sign: read as “at”. It separates the user name from the email service.
• Needed to send mail: a device, an internet connection and an email account.

What are the parts of an email message?

An email message has four main parts: To, Subject, Body and Attachment.

• To: where you type the email address of the person you are writing to.
• Subject: the title of the mail. It tells the reader what the message is about, such as My Homework Assignment.
• Body: the space where you type your actual message.
• Attachment: a photo, Word document or drawing sent with the email, like a photo put inside an envelope.

• Cc (carbon copy): sends a copy of the message to another person, and everyone can see it.
• Bcc (blind carbon copy): sends a copy to another person without the other receivers seeing it.

How do you send an email?

1. Sign in to your email account.
2. Click Compose (or New mail) to open a blank message.
3. Type the receiver’s email address in the To box.
4. Type a short title in the Subject box.
5. Type your message in the body.
6. Click the paperclip or attach button to add a file, if needed.
7. Read the message again, then click Send.

What are common email services?

• Gmail: provided by Google.
• Outlook: provided by Microsoft.
• Yahoo Mail: provided by Yahoo.

What is the difference between an email address and a home address?

An email address is the online location of a mailbox. A home address is the physical place where a person lives.

What is social media?

Social media refers to websites and apps that let people create and share content or take part in social networking.

What are popular social media apps?

• WhatsApp: mostly for private chatting and voice calls.
• Facebook and Instagram: for sharing photos and updates with a large group of people.
• YouTube: for sharing and watching videos.
• X (formerly Twitter): for sharing quick news and thoughts.

What are the golden rules for using social media?

1. Be kind: never use mean words or bully others online.
2. Be private: do not post your house address or your school name.
3. Be careful: once a photo is posted, it is very hard to take back, so think before you click Post.
4. Ask for help: tell a parent or teacher if someone sends you a message that makes you uncomfortable.
5. Keep passwords secret: never share your password with friends or strangers.

What are online collaboration tools?

Collaboration tools are apps that let many people work on the same task at the same time, even from different houses.

What are common collaboration tools?

• Google Docs and Sheets: several students can type in the same document at once and see each other’s cursors move.
• Zoom and Google Meet: video meetings where you see and hear your teacher and classmates.
• Google Drive: a shared folder where group members drop photos and files for a project.

Why is electronic communication helpful?

• Saves time: messages arrive almost at once.
• Saves travel: group members do not need to meet in person.
• Builds teamwork: students learn to share the work of one project.
• Gives quick help: you can reach your teacher fast.

How do the three forms of electronic communication compare?

Evaluation

1. Define electronic communication.
2. List the four main parts of an email message.
3. State the difference between an email address and a home address.
4. Mention one social media app and one collaboration tool, and say what each is used for.
5. State two golden rules for using social media safely.

Assignment

Practical: If you have an email account and your parent agrees, attach a picture of your favourite animal and send it to your teacher. If you have no email account, write a short email in your exercise book. Label the To, Subject and Body.