Digital Ethics – JSS1 Digital Technologies Lesson Note (Third Term)

Digital ethics is the set of rules about right and wrong behaviour when we use computers, phones and the internet.

Behavioural objectives

1. Define intellectual property, copyright and plagiarism.
2. State what the © symbol stands for.
3. Give credit correctly when using another person’s words.
4. List ways to use digital media responsibly.
5. Describe the rules a good digital citizen follows.

What is intellectual property?

Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind.

• Stories, poems and books: written work belongs to the person who wrote it.
• Inventions and new ideas: an original idea belongs to the person who thought of it.
• Songs and music: a song belongs to the artist who made it.
• Art, drawings and photos: a picture belongs to the person who drew or took it.

Why does it matter online?

• Easy copying: “Copy and Paste” makes it simple to take another person’s work.
• Ownership: every photo, video and song online was made by someone who owns it.
• Seeing is not owning: being able to see something on the internet does not make it yours.

Example

• You spend a weekend drawing a superhero.
• A classmate rubs out your name, writes theirs and shows it to the teacher.
• You would feel cheated because the drawing came from your mind.

What is copyright?

Copyright is a law that gives the creator of a work the right to decide who can copy it.

• The symbol: the sign © means copyright. You see it in books and at the bottom of websites.
• The rule: you cannot use, sell or share someone else’s work without permission.
• Works covered: songs, movies, books, photos and drawings.
• Example: copying a film from a friend and selling it without the owner’s permission breaks the rule.

What is plagiarism?

Plagiarism is using someone else’s words or ideas and pretending they are your own.

• Example: your teacher asks for an essay on “My Family”. You copy a story from the internet and put your name on it.
• In school: plagiarism is a form of cheating.
• Effect on you: it stops you from learning how to think for yourself.
• Effect on the owner: the real author gets no credit for the work.

What is the difference between copyright and plagiarism?

• Copyright: a law that protects the creator’s right to control copying of the work.
• Plagiarism: an act of dishonesty where you claim another person’s work as yours.

How can you avoid plagiarism?

You avoid plagiarism by giving credit to the person whose work you use.

1. Read the sentence you want to use and decide that it is useful.
2. Put the sentence inside “quotation marks”.
3. Write the name of the author or website where you found it.
4. Write the rest of your work in your own words.

What is responsible use of digital media?

Digital media is everything we consume online, such as videos, social media posts, news and games.

Using it responsibly means using it in a way that is safe, honest and kind.

• Do not spread lies (fake news): before you share a shocking story on WhatsApp or Facebook, ask “Is this true?”
• Harm from fake news: false information can cause panic or hurt people’s reputations.
• Think before you post: once something is online, it is very hard to take back.
• Screenshots: someone may save a copy even after you delete your post.
• Respect privacy: do not go through a friend’s phone or read their private chats.
• Open computers: a computer left open does not give you permission to look inside.

What should you never post?

• Angry messages: wait until you are calm.
• Private photos of friends: ask them first.
• Your secrets or location: strangers can use them to find you.

Who is a good digital citizen?

A digital citizen is a person who uses the internet regularly, and a good one behaves like a good neighbour in the street.

The Digital Citizen’s Code

• I will be honest: I will not cheat or steal other people’s work.
• I will be kind: I will not use my phone or computer to bully or make fun of others.
• I will be safe: I will protect my personal information and tell an adult if I see something scary online.
• I will be balanced: I will not spend all my time on the screen. I will make time for schoolwork, family and playing outside.

Evaluation

1. Explain in your own words why it is wrong to copy a whole paragraph from the internet for homework without saying where you got it.
2. What does the © symbol stand for?
3. If a friend sends you a video that makes fun of another classmate, what is the responsible thing to do?
4. List three things you should never post online.

Assignment

Write your own Digital Citizen’s Code with four rules, and give one example from school or home for each rule.