Computer Science
Grade 7
20 min
Ethical Computing
Ethical Computing
What you'll learn
- Identify three examples of how technology can be used unethically and explain why each is considered unethical.
- Explain the importance of respecting intellectual property and avoiding plagiarism in schoolwork and online activities.
- Apply the principles of ethical computing to evaluate a scenario involving online safety and recommend appropriate actions to protect personal information.
- Describe what 'digital citizenship' means and give two specific examples of positive online behavior.
Tutorial Preview
1
Introduction & Learning Objectives
Learning Objectives
Define key terms like digital footprint, copyright, and cyberbullying.
Identify ethical dilemmas in common digital scenarios, such as online gaming and social media.
Apply a simple ethical framework (like the THINK model) to make responsible online decisions.
Explain the difference between plagiarism and proper citation when using online resources for school projects.
Analyze how their online actions contribute to their personal digital footprint.
Propose ethical solutions to a given digital problem involving privacy or online behavior.
Ever seen a friend share a mean meme or copy-paste homework from a website and wondered if it was okay? 🤔 Let's figure it out!
This lesson is all about Digital Ethics, which means learning how to make smart, kind, a...
2
Key Concepts & Vocabulary
TermDefinitionExample
Digital FootprintThe trail of data, posts, comments, and pictures you leave behind every time you go online. It can be permanent and seen by others.Your friend posts a photo of you at a party and tags you. This photo now becomes part of both of your digital footprints.
CyberbullyingUsing digital devices, apps, or websites to send or post hurtful, mean, or embarrassing content about someone else.Creating a group chat specifically to make fun of a classmate and sharing embarrassing (and maybe fake) stories about them.
CopyrightA legal right that protects the creative work of artists, writers, and musicians. It means you can't just copy, share, or use their work without permission.You download a popular song and use it as the background music for a video you post o...
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Core Syntax & Patterns
The THINK Framework
Before you post, ask: Is it T-True? H-Helpful? I-Inspiring? N-Necessary? K-Kind?
Use this as a checklist before you post a comment, share a photo, or send a message. It helps you pause and consider the impact of your words and actions.
The 'Front Page' Test
Would you be okay with your action, post, or comment being on the front page of the school newspaper or a major news website for everyone to see?
This is a mental check to see if you are truly comfortable with your digital action being public. If the answer is no, it's a sign you should probably not do it.
The Golden Rule of the Internet
Treat others online as you would want to be treated in real life.
This simple rule reminds us that there are real people with real feelings behi...
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Challenging
In an online game, Player A is using a cheat program to win. In response, Player B starts sending harassing and threatening messages to Player A in the public chat. Which statement best analyzes this ethical dilemma?
A.Player B is justified because Player A was cheating first.
B.Player A is the only one acting unethically because cheating is against the rules.
C.Only Player B is acting unethically because cyberbullying is worse than cheating.
D.Both players are acting unethically; Player A is breaking game rules, and Player B is cyberbullying.
Challenging
A new social media app's default setting shares your exact location in every post. You can turn it off, but the option is buried deep in the settings menu. What is the most ethical way for the app's designers to solve this privacy problem?
A.Keep the setting as is, because users should be responsible for reading everything.
B.Add a pop-up that warns users only after they've posted with their location ten times.
C.Change the default setting to have location sharing OFF, and make it an easy, clear option to turn it on.
D.Remove the location sharing feature entirely from the app.
Challenging
Your school proposes installing software on all school computers to monitor every website visited and every word typed to prevent cyberbullying. Which statement best evaluates this plan from a digital ethics perspective?
A.This is a perfect solution because it will stop all cyberbullying with no downsides.
B.This plan creates an ethical conflict between the goal of student safety and the right to student privacy.
C.This plan is unethical because it violates copyright law.
D.This plan is fine because students have no right to privacy at school.
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Frequently asked questions
What grade level is "Ethical Computing"?
Ethical Computing is a Grade 7 Computer Science lesson on ExcelOS.
What will I learn in Ethical Computing?
You'll be able to: Identify three examples of how technology can be used unethically and explain why each is considered unethical; Explain the importance of respecting intellectual property and avoiding plagiarism in schoolwork and online….
Is "Ethical Computing" free to practice?
Yes. You can read the tutorial preview for free, and signing up for a free ExcelOS account unlocks the full tutorial and all practice questions with instant feedback.
How many practice questions are included with Ethical Computing?
This lesson includes 25 practice questions across multiple difficulty levels, each with instant feedback and explanations.