Technology Facilitation Standard VI
Snyder (2004) found a study where students eight to eighteen-year-olds have downloaded materials illegally. From the study conducted, three-quarters of the youth knew older people who downloaded illegally, and one third confessed they thought piracy was fine because " 'lots of people do it' " (Snyder, 2004). The author suggested a culture emerges when the majority of people think that everyone downloads illegally, so they should as well (Snyder, 2004). To combat this mentality, teachers facilitate in students understanding of copyright issues and the legalities of downloading materials.
To change this emerging culture around, teachers must help students understand downloading copyrighted material without permission is stealing, which is no better than shoplifing from a store. Stealing from a shelf in a store is the same thing as piracy (Snyder, 2004). The author of the article found a study were in a K-12 school only 18% of students were taught about downloading illegal materials (Snyder, 2004).
Students need to be taught about safe and legal issues in the digital world. In the everyday curriculum, teachers can mention cyber-ethics; an example of this is in language arts when creating original stories discuss copyrighting (Snyder, 2004). Snyder (2004) states first, students should gain knowledge of key terms that apply to copyright issues. Showing students how copyight issues apply to their world helps them to understand the legalities of digital piracy. Discussing these topics is teaching cyber-ethics. An example is when a students takes or uses another students creative work without permission. This is the same when people illegally download materials. Cyber-ethics can also be explained by stating how the artist, manufacturer, and retailer are paid when someone pays to use thier work, but when their work is taken illegally then these people do not get paid. Piracry can hurt everyone (Snyder, 2004).
Snyder, M. G. (2004). Cyber-ethics: pirates in the classroom. Science Activities, 41(3), 3-4.
*The Internet: Know Before You Go Into Cyberspace, is an activity provided by the U.S. Department of Justice that teaches students how to be good Internet citizens.
*Acceptable Use Policy of Nutley School District. Students sign the policy with the awarness of the social, ethical, legal, and human issues involved.
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