This content is located in CAPS under Internet Technologies: Internet and the WWW for Grade 11.

Cookies may seem like an abstract topic for students, but they are a practical, real-world part of internet usage that impacts almost every web interaction. Teaching Grade 11 learners about cookies offers an opportunity to demystify this concept and connect it to their everyday browsing habits, data privacy, and online experiences.

Making Cookies Tangible in the Classroom

Cookies can be explained as small text files stored on a user’s device by websites to remember information about their visit. To make this concept relatable, draw a parallel with a memory book that stores key details about a visitor to make future interactions more personalised.

Bring Cookies to Life with Visual Aids

• Analogy Activity: Use physical sticky notes to simulate cookies. Write details like “username,” “preferences,” and “cart items” on notes and attach them to a learner’s shirt as they “browse” different desks (representing websites). Show how these notes help “websites” remember them when they return.
• Digital Example: Visit a commonly used site (like a school website or news portal) and open the browser’s cookie storage settings to display what data is saved.

Exploring How Cookies Work

Break down the functionality of cookies:

• Session Cookies: Temporary cookies that disappear after closing the browser. Compare these to short-term memory.
• Persistent Cookies: These remain until manually deleted or they expire. Relate this to saving favourite contacts in a phone.
• Third-Party Cookies: Stored by domains other than the website being visited, typically used for targeted ads. Discuss the ethical implications and privacy concerns.

In-Class Activities

1. Cookie Classification Game: Prepare cookie “cards” with examples (e.g., “language preference,” “login session,” “ad preferences”). Ask students to group them into session, persistent, or third-party categories.
2. Browser Exploration: Teach students to access cookie settings in a browser. Encourage them to delete specific cookies and revisit websites to observe the impact.

Privacy and Security

Cookies play a role in tracking and data privacy. Discuss:

• Pop-Up Consent: Why websites request cookie permissions and what happens when users deny or allow them.
• Tracking Concerns: Explain how third-party cookies enable targeted advertising, sometimes raising privacy issues.

Ethical Debate

Host a debate or discussion on:

• Should websites limit third-party cookie usage?
• Is tracking beneficial for customising online experiences or does it invade privacy?

Relating to the CAPS Curriculum

• Introduce “Incognito” or “Private Browsing” modes to illustrate how they manage cookies differently.
• Discuss the role of encryption and Secure Socket Layers (SSL) in keeping cookies secure during data transfer.

Simplifying Complex Terms

Use real-world analogies and interactive methods to clarify technical terms:

• Cache vs Cookies: Cache stores website resources (like images) to load faster, while cookies store user data. Explain this as the difference between remembering the route to a friend’s house (cache) and remembering what snacks they like (cookies).

Encourage learners to reflect on their online behaviour and explore browser tools that manage cookies, empowering them to take charge of their data.