Student Exercise:
a. Ask students to consider their knowledge of modern teachnology and ask them to write 5 uses that may pose and ethical issue. (note: this would be a good one to do in groups and use tech to display the combined responses)
b. Ask the students to discuss issues displayed that might have particular improtant in schools.
The following documents discusses a range of ethical challenges that can arise in the modern digital world.
Contempory Ethical Issues
Student Exercise: The following table list a range of potential ethical issues.
note to teachers: it is suggested teachers use these ideas to develop examples and encourge students to apply the methodology as th
A contemporary collection of ethical problems
| Ethical issue | Example for discussion |
| 1. AI-assisted homework | A student uses ChatGPT to prepare an assignment, substantially rewrites it, but does not disclose using AI |
| 2. Deepfake images | Students create a realistic fake video of a teacher making offensive remarks |
| 3. Student privacy | A school introduces software that monitors students’ online activity, including outside school hours |
| 4. AI bias | An AI tool recommends which students should enter an advanced mathematics class, but its recommendations appear unfair |
| 5. Cyberbullying | A student forwards an embarrassing photograph from a private group chat |
| 6. Misinformation | A student circulates an AI-generated news report without checking whether it is genuine |
| 7. Copyright and creativity | Students use AI to imitate an artist’s style for a competition |
| 8. Cybersecurity | A student discovers a weakness in the school’s computer network and tests it without permission |
| 9. Digital exclusion | A school requires an expensive device that some families cannot afford |
| 10. Environmental responsibility | A school replaces hundreds of functioning laptops to adopt new AI-enabled devices |
| 11. AI companionship | A student becomes emotionally dependent on an AI companion that offers questionable advice |
| 12. Staff use of AI | A teacher uploads identifiable student work and personal details to an external AI service to generate reports |
7.10 Supporting the activities with technology
The methodology does not depend on technology, but readily available tools may make the activities easier to organise.
Online forms can be used to present case studies, collect initial responses and record students’ reflections after discussion.
Responses can be compared to examine whether students have identified additional viewpoints, recognised competing ethical principles or developed stronger justifications.
