Tech Ethics Case Studies: Cameras, Autoplay and AI Helpers

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Technology and Computer Science · Computer Science
SP-CS-017 · Free to print and use in your classroom · substituteplans.com
Page 2
Tech Ethics Case Studies: Cameras, Autoplay
and AI Helpers
Technology and Computer Science · Computer Science · Grades 8-12 · 50 minutes
Time needed
50 minutes (one class period)
Prep
Copy the 2-page worksheet (one per student). No other prep is needed.
Technology
None.
Student
independence
Medium. Students read three short cases alone, then discuss with a partner before writing.
Copies to make
One 2-page worksheet per student
Materials
Pencils, Worksheet
Goal for today: Students will identify the people affected by a technology decision, weigh benefits and risks, and
support a position with at least two reasons.
Before the bell
☐ Copy the worksheet, one per student (2 pages).
☐ Tell yourself that there are no single right answers on the open questions. Students are graded on giving
reasons, not on matching a view.
☐ Keep the answer key on your desk; it gives sample answers and the answers to the multiple-choice and
true/false items.
☐ Be ready to remind students to keep discussions respectful and about ideas, not people.
Say this to start
Good morning! Today is about thinking, not computing. Technology can do amazing things, but every new tool also
raises questions: Who benefits? Who might be harmed? Who decides? You will read three short, made-up stories about
technology and decide what you think. There are no single right answers on the open questions. You will be graded on
your reasons. It is fine to disagree with a neighbor as long as you do it respectfully.

SubstitutePlans.com
Technology and Computer Science · Computer Science
SP-CS-017 · Free to print and use in your classroom · substituteplans.com
Page 3
Run of show
Minutes
What you do
What students do
0–5
Take attendance. Hand out the worksheet and ask
students to read the four vocabulary words at the top.
Read the vocabulary definitions.
5–10
Ask: “If a company can legally collect something about
you, should it?” Take two or three opinions without judging.
Explain that this is the kind of question the worksheet asks.
Share a quick opinion or listen.
10–16
Tell students to complete the vocabulary matching
(questions 1–4).
Match each ethics term to its meaning.
16–28
Tell students to read Case A and complete its table and
questions 5–7. Partners may talk first.
Read the case, fill in the table and write
answers.
28–40
Tell students to read Case B and complete its table and
questions 8–9.
Read the case, fill in the table and write
answers.
40–46
Tell students to read Case C and answer questions 10–12.
Read the case and answer the questions.
46–50
Collect all worksheets.
Hand in the worksheet.
If things go wrong
• If a discussion gets heated, remind students that the goal is to give reasons, and that thoughtful people
disagree about these cases. Ask them to restate a neighbor’s point before answering.
• If a student says there is no ethical issue, ask: “Who might see it differently, and why?”
• If students ask what the right answer is, tell them the open questions do not have just one. Their reasons are
what matter.
• If a student mentions a specific real company or app, say the cases are made-up and the same questions
apply to any technology.
Early finishers
• Write a short rule (one or two sentences) that a company could follow to protect user privacy.
• Explain why something can be legal and still raise ethical questions.
• Write one question you would want answered before any school or company collects information about you.
Support and challenge
• Support: Let students answer only the multiple-choice and true/false items and one open question per case,
using the sentence starters “One benefit is…” and “One risk is…”.
• Challenge: Ask students to write a short policy of three rules for one of the cases and say who would enforce
it.

SubstitutePlans.com
Technology and Computer Science · Computer Science
SP-CS-017 · Free to print and use in your classroom · substituteplans.com
Page 4
Notes for the teacher (you fill this in)
Jot a few lines before you leave. A full Daily Sub Report is in the free Sub Survival Kit at SubstitutePlans.com.
How far the class got / what to pick up next:
Students who were especially helpful:
Anything the teacher should know: