Task 1 - The Mask or the Mirror?
Before we explain anything about pseudonymity or digital rebirth - meet three people who already live it. Then decide for yourself: mask, or mirror?
What happens in Task 1
An 8-minute Phase 1 - Anticipation activity. Three text blocks are revealed sequentially, followed by three pseudonymous persona cards (a gaming avatar, a content-creator alias, an activist handle), three discussion questions revealed one at a time, a single-word poll on why people use pseudonyms, and a private journal entry (max 150 chars). The Continue button unlocks only after the journal is submitted.
🎯 Learning objectives
How do individuals craft a pseudonymous digital persona to express their true internal self? To awaken curiosity about digital rebirth before any technical or socio-political content is introduced, and to establish a diagnostic baseline for the teacher on students' starting assumptions.
📋 Activity sequence
- Text reveal - three blocks appear with pauses; all remain visible once shown
- Persona carousel - three example personas, click-through, no time limit
- Discussion questions - three questions revealed one at a time on continue
- Word cloud poll - single free-text word (max 20 chars), locks after submit
- Journal entry - 150 chars; private; auto-saves to portfolio
- Voice-to-text input available for the word cloud entry
- Extended thinking time on discussion questions - next-question button withheld until student taps "I'm ready" (per-student setting)
- No time pressure on the journal field - remains open until submitted, no auto-advance
- Teacher verbally describes the transformation from physical constraints to virtual freedom (~2 min, contemplative tone)
- Pair discussion using a physical ballot-box poll (Post-it vote indicating motivations for pseudonymity)
- Individual reflection on a worksheet: "I think a digital rebirth is…"
- Whispered sharing with a partner under an impromptu code-name