Hackers Discussion Prompts and Pause Points
Before the Movie:
Have you known anyone whose computer has been hacked? What happened? (Tap prior knowledge)
What do you think you can do to prevent being hacked? (Tap prior knowledge; Identify problem/solution)
During the Movie (Pause Points):
Stop at the following times in the movie and ask questions or prompt a discussion to keep students focused and to assess their understanding before moving on:
Timecode 0:50: Why do you think the word “hacker” is associated with criminals if its original meaning is about being an expert coder? (Make inferences)
Timecode 4:55: How do phreakers differ from hackers? (Compare and contrast)
Timecode 8:39: How do vigilantes punish people, and do these punishments violate the hacker ethics? (Draw conclusions)
After the Movie:
Look at the four related movies at the bottom of the page. Explain how each is connected to the Hackers topic. (Make connections)
How did hackers help build the world we live in? (Recall information/reflect)
Is it time for hackers to get a new set of ethics? Why or why not? (Reflect)
BrainPOP recommends reading the movie description that appears on the Hackers Topic Page to your class or have students read independently. Then have them watch the movie once through without pausing. Then, watch it again as class, this time using the discussion prompts.
*BrainPOP’s Discussion Questions and Prompts align to CCSS Speaking and Listening Standards.