Lesson Notes By Weeks and Term v4 - JHS 1
INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA
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INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA
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Subject: Computing
Class: JHS 1
Term: 3rd Term
Week: 1
Grade code: B7.3.2.1.1
Strand code: 3
Sub-strand code: 2
Content standard code: B7.3.1.1
Indicator code: B7.3.2.1.1
Theme: COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
Subtheme: INTERNET AND SOCIAL MEDIA
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In today's world, especially here in Ghana, social media is a major part of our daily lives. We use apps like WhatsApp to chat with family, watch funny videos on TikTok, and see what our friends are doing on Facebook. But what exactly is social media? Are all these apps the same? This lesson will move us from being just *users* of social media to becoming *informed users*. We will learn to identify the different types of social media, understand their specific purposes, and know which tool is best for a particular task. This knowledge is important for communication, learning, and even for future business ideas.
This section breaks down the core ideas of the lesson. A. What is Social Media?
Social Media refers to websites and applications (apps) on the internet that are designed to allow people to share content (like text, photos, and videos) quickly, efficiently, and in real-time. They allow us to create online communities and networks. Simple Analogy: Think of social media like a very big, digital community durbar or marketplace. People gather to share news, tell stories, show off their new Kente cloth (photos), sell items, and chat with friends and family from near and far. Each app is like a different section of the market with its own rules and purpose. B. Major Types of Social Media
Not all social media platforms are the same. They are built for different purposes. Here are the main types we will study: Social Networking Sites Purpose: To connect and stay in touch with people you know in real life (friends, family, classmates, colleagues) and to meet new people with similar interests. You create a personal page called a "profile." Key Features: Creating a profile, adding friends, sharing status updates, photos, and videos, joining groups. Examples: Facebook: This is like a big digital album and noticeboard. You can share long stories, multiple photos from an event (like the Inter-Schools Sports Festival), join groups for your old school (e.g., "Mfantsipim Old Boys"), and follow pages of your favourite musicians or companies. LinkedIn: This is the "professional" or "business" social network. It is not for posting holiday pictures. People use it to post their CVs, connect with colleagues, find jobs, and share articles about their industry. It is like an online office. Microblogging Platforms Purpose: To share short, frequent updates, thoughts, news, and opinions. The key word is "micro," which means small. Key Features: Posts have a character limit (they must be short), use of hashtags (#) to categorise topics, focuses on real-time information. Examples: Twitter (now called X): The most popular microblogging site. It is used for breaking news, quick comments on a football match, or joining a national conversation (e.g., #OccupyJulorbiHouse). Because posts are short, information spreads very fast. Tumblr: This is a mix of a blog and Twitter. Users can post text, photos, and GIFs in a short-form blog format. It is less common in Ghana but fits this category. Media Sharing Platforms Purpose: The main focus is on sharing visual content: photos and videos. The text is usually just a caption to support the image or video. Key Features: Visual-first, use of filters and editing tools, stories that disappear after 24 hours. Examples: Instagram: Perfect for sharing high-quality photos and short videos. Many Ghanaian businesses use it to sell products like fashion, food (e.g., a Waakye seller showing off their delicious meal), and art. YouTube: The world's largest video-sharing platform. It's used for music videos (like from Stonebwoy or Sarkodie), educational tutorials (how to cook jollof rice), news reports, and long-form vlogs. TikTok: Used for creating and sharing short, often funny or creative videos with music and special effects. It is very popular among young Ghanaians. Snapchat: Focuses on sending photos and videos ("snaps") that disappear after they are viewed. It also has filters and stories. Messaging Apps (often with Social Features) Purpose: Primarily for private, one-on-one or group conversations in real-time. However, they have grown to include social features. Key Features: Instant messaging, voice and video calls, group chats, status updates. Examples: WhatsApp: This is the most popular messaging app in Ghana. It is used for everything from simple chats with family to coordinating work in office groups, receiving class notes in school groups, and sharing status updates. Telegram: Similar to WhatsApp but known for its larger group sizes and channels, which act like public notice boards.
Summary Table