Copyright in the Workplace

Lesson Content

• Lesson Plan Template:

  CTE Lesson Plan

• CTE Course Info and Benchmark Notes

  
  

  Course Information:

  Course Name: Fundamentals of Web and Software Development

  Program Name: Information Technology

  Course Number: 9009500

  Course Type: Orientation/Exploratory

  CIP Number: 149009500M

  CTE Benchmarks:

  04.05 Describe the ethics and copyright legalities of downloading music or videos from the Internet.

• Unit Outline

  
  

  This lesson is designed to be used with the case study, Internet Con. See CPALMS resource ID#207929.

• Career Connection

  
  

  Through role play, students will discuss ethics and copyright legalities of downloading music or videos from the Internet in the workplace and evaluate how employees can resolve work related differences.

• Learning Objectives

  
  

  Students will be able to:

  • Role-play as individuals discussing ethics and copyright legalities of downloading music or videos from the Internet in the workplace.
  • Describe the relationship of ethics and copyright in protecting the work of others.

• Prior Knowledge

  
  

  Students should be familiar with:

  • The concepts: copyright, Creative Commons, infringement and ethics
  • Role playing characters in a group setting.
  • Working together in a group setting.
  • Case Study, Internet Con, See CPALMS Resource 207929

• Guiding Questions

  
  
  • What is the purpose of valuing someone else’s work?
  • What types of work are protected from copyright?
  • What are the different Creative Commons licenses and what do they stand for?
  • How do we put ethics into practice?

• Procedure

  
  

  1. To introduce the lesson, form two groups which will create a word web on chart paper.

  • Ask students in one group to brainstorm words and ideas that associate with the word ethics
  • Ask students in the second group to brainstorm words and ideas that associate with the word copyright.
  • Transfer these words to a main word web using a slide or other available technology and discuss the importance of ethics and copyright.

  2. Generate student discussion about the importance of protecting the work of others. Discuss the different Creative Commons Licenses using the (teacher slides attachment) and link this to the importance of copyright in the individual student’s work.

  Discussion question examples:

  • Why is it important to protect the work of others from copyright infringement?
  • How do licenses affect the use of audio and video works?
  • What are the causes and effects of copyright infringement?

  3. Distribute the case study for students to participate in the role play situation/scenario.

  • Refer students to the situation/scenario in the case study, Internet Con CPALMS Resource ID #207929.
  • Begin the lesson’s purpose by explaining to the students they will use role-play as individuals in the case study to stress the importance of ethics and copyright infringement within the workplace.
  • Students will role play the conversation to resolve the issue between the characters from each one’s point of view.

  4. Students will role play the conversation to resolve the issue between the characters from each one’s point of view.

  • Divide students into groups of three and students will take the role of each person in the case study. If there are extra students, one students in the group could be the owner.

  5. Students will analyze how the group’s conversation and offer alternative solutions.

  • Distribute evaluating the Internet Con handout (see attachment) for students to complete.
  • Students will evaluate the work ethics of the three students (Dave, Kai or Izzy), and then answer the remaining questions.

  6. Engage students in a discussion about each individual's view on copyright.

  • How would you evaluate Izzy’s point of view regarding copyright?
  • What conclusions can you draw from Kai's point of view on copyright?
  • How would you solve Dave's dilemma?

  7. To bring the lesson to a close, students will have two reflection questions to follow up on the class discussion.

  • What do you predict would happen if they used the music and videos Izzy downloaded?
  • What further information would support your idea about protecting the work of others?
  • Based on the case study and Creative Commons licenses, what have you learned about copyright and copyright infringement? Give an example of how you can apply what you learned at school or work.

• Teacher Notes

  
  
  • For the lesson, students should be organized into teams of 3. This will allow multiple teams to role play the 3 characters.
  • Creative Commons refers to the ability to use other’s works with certain restrictions.
  • If the class journals, the teacher can have students record their responses to the closing reflection questions.

• Optional

  
  

  Formative Assessment:

  • During the discussion phase, the teacher can monitor how the students work together and communicate with each other.
  • During the role play phase, the teacher can monitor the student’s interaction with each other as they assume their particular role, and how the students conclude how their character should react and proceed.
  • Students can turn in the handout: Internet Con Case Study for teacher evaluation.