Learning Right from Wrong in the Digital Age: An Ethics Guide for Parents, Teachers, Librarians, and Others Who Care About Computer-Using Young People (Paperback) - Common

by Doug Johnson

In this day and age when educators often have to question the validity of student work, this book teaches "computer ethics" to children to help them learn right from wrong when it comes to technologies uses. "When students start using technology, particularly computers, they're operating in a virtual world where they find it harder to decide which behaviors are right or wrong," said author Doug Johnson. "Most of us would never shoplift, but software piracy is widespread. That's because many people don't see their online actions as having the same significance as actions in the real world. Plus, the perceived low risk and often game-like nature of the online world can encourage children to go beyond their normal ethical boundaries."

Learning Right from Wrong in the Digital Age contains numerous scenarios and discussion questions dealing with issues such as privacy, property and appropriate use. The final chapter, which focuses on teaching and promoting ethical behaviors, contains plagiarism-proofing assignments.

"This title includes ethical codes from the Computer Ethics Institution, Association for Computing Machinery and the Computer Learning Foundation," said Marlene Woo-Lun, president of Linworth Publishing, Inc. "We've ensured that users have all the tools they need to decide on principled action in the online world."

132 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 2003