Lesson Plan

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Lesson Plan
Grade: Date: 17/01/2026
Subject: Computer Science
Lesson Topic: Show understanding of the need for and purpose of ethics as a computing professional
Learning Objective/s:
  • Describe why ethical behaviour is critical for computing professionals.
  • Explain the distinction between legal compliance and ethical responsibility.
  • Identify the main professional codes of conduct (BCS, IEEE, ACM) and their key principles.
  • Analyse ownership issues such as intellectual property, software licensing and data privacy.
  • Apply an ethical decision‑making model to a real‑world case study.
Materials Needed:
  • Projector and screen for slide deck.
  • Printed handouts of case studies and checklist.
  • Laptop(s) with internet access for research.
  • Whiteboard and markers.
  • Sticky notes for group brainstorming.
 Introduction:
Begin with a headline about a recent data‑privacy breach to capture interest. Ask students what they already know about professional ethics in tech, linking to prior lessons on legal requirements. State that by the end of the lesson they will be able to recognise ethical issues, compare codes of conduct and make justified decisions.
Lesson Structure:
  1. Do‑now (5'): Quick think‑pair‑share on a news story involving unethical computing.
  2. Mini‑lecture (15'): Why ethics matter; legal vs ethical considerations; overview of professional codes.
  3. Interactive comparison (10'): Small groups match code excerpts to real‑world scenarios.
  4. Case‑study analysis (15'): Groups work through the social‑media data‑mining case, identify stakeholders, legal/ethical issues, and propose actions.
  5. Ethical decision‑making model walk‑through (10'): Demonstrate the four‑step model using the open‑source security flaw example.
  6. Summary checklist & reflection (5'): Whole‑class recap using the provided checklist; students note one personal takeaway.
Conclusion:
Recap the key points: importance of ethics, differences from law, professional codes, and the decision‑making process. Collect an exit ticket where each pupil writes the most important ethical principle they will apply in future projects. Assign a short homework: write a 150‑word reflection on how they would handle an ethical dilemma in a personal coding project.