Day 8 - Legal and Ethical Concerns - Part 1

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Day 8: Legal and Ethical Concerns - Part 1

Learning Objectives

IOC-1.H: Explain how the use of computing can raise legal and ethical concerns.

Essential Questions

What legal and ethical frameworks apply to computing?
How do we evaluate legal and ethical issues in computing?
What legal issues commonly arise from computing innovations?

Materials Needed

Presentation slides on legal and ethical frameworks
Case study handouts of legal issues in computing
Ethical decision-making models handout
Ethical analysis worksheet
Exit ticket templates

Vocabulary

Ethics
Legal framework
Intellectual property
Privacy law
Terms of service
Liability
Compliance
Jurisdiction
Ethical dilemma
Ethical framework

Procedure (50 minutes)

Opening (8 minutes)

Review and Connection (3 minutes)
- Review digital divide solutions from previous lesson
- Connect to today's focus on legal and ethical concerns in computing
Warm-up Activity (5 minutes)
- Present a simple computing scenario with legal/ethical implications
- Ask students: "What legal or ethical concerns might arise in this situation?"
- Create a class list of potential concerns
- Introduce the importance of considering legal and ethical dimensions of computing

Main Activities (32 minutes)

Lecture: Introduction to Legal and Ethical Frameworks (12 minutes)
- Distinguish between legal and ethical considerations:
  - Legal: Based on laws and regulations
  - Ethical: Based on moral principles and values
- Introduce key legal frameworks relevant to computing:
  - Intellectual property law (copyright, patents, trademarks)
  - Privacy and data protection laws
  - Computer crime legislation
  - Contract law (terms of service, user agreements)
  - Consumer protection regulations
- Explain ethical frameworks for decision-making:
  - Utilitarian approach (greatest good for greatest number)
  - Rights-based approach (respecting individual rights)
  - Justice approach (fairness and equity)
  - Virtue ethics (character and integrity)
  - Common good approach (benefit to community)
- Discuss how legal and ethical frameworks vary across:
  - Different countries and jurisdictions
  - Different cultural contexts
  - Different time periods as norms evolve
- Explain the relationship between law and ethics:
  - Not all legal actions are ethical
  - Not all ethical principles are encoded in law
  - Laws often evolve from ethical consensus
Case Studies: Legal Issues in Computing (10 minutes)
- Present 3-4 case studies of legal issues in computing:
  - Copyright infringement case
  - Data privacy violation
  - Terms of service dispute
  - Computer access/hacking case
- For each case, analyze:
  - What happened?
  - What laws or regulations applied?
  - How was the case resolved?
  - What precedent did it set?
  - What broader implications resulted?
- Connect cases to relevant legal principles
- Discuss how these cases have shaped computing practices
Discussion: Ethical Decision-Making Models (10 minutes)
- Introduce a structured ethical decision-making model:
  - Identify the facts and stakeholders
  - Identify the ethical issues at stake
  - Consider different perspectives
  - Identify possible actions
  - Evaluate options using ethical frameworks
  - Make and justify a decision
- Apply the model to a computing scenario as a class
- Discuss how different ethical frameworks might lead to different conclusions
- Emphasize the importance of systematic ethical analysis

Closing (10 minutes)

Activity: Analyzing Specific Legal Cases (5 minutes)
- Divide students into pairs
- Assign each pair a brief description of a legal case related to computing
- Pairs analyze the case using guided questions:
  - What legal issues are involved?
  - Who are the key stakeholders?
  - What laws or regulations apply?
  - What would be a fair resolution?
  - What broader implications might result?
- Share selected analyses with the class
Exit Ticket: Ethical Analysis Worksheet (5 minutes)
- Students complete an ethical analysis worksheet for a computing scenario
- Worksheet includes:
  - Identification of ethical issues
  - Stakeholder perspectives
  - Application of ethical frameworks
  - Recommended course of action with justification
- Collect worksheets before students leave

Assessment

Formative: Quality of participation in case study analysis and discussions
Exit Ticket: Thoroughness and reasoning in ethical analysis worksheet

Differentiation

For Advanced Students

Ask them to research and apply specific laws or court decisions
Have them compare legal approaches across different countries
Challenge them to identify conflicts between different legal or ethical frameworks

For Struggling Students

Provide simpler case studies with clearer issues
Offer a more structured ethical analysis template
Focus on more familiar ethical concepts

Homework/Extension

Research a significant legal case related to computing and prepare a brief summary
Analyze the terms of service for a commonly used application
Interview a computing professional about ethical challenges they've faced

Teacher Notes

Maintain neutrality when discussing controversial legal or ethical issues
Emphasize critical thinking rather than specific conclusions
Make connections to students' everyday technology use and decisions
Consider inviting a legal professional as a guest speaker
Remind students that understanding legal and ethical dimensions is essential for responsible computing