Module 5 — Issues in Computing

Module 5 · week of 09/21/2026 · Tech+: Professionalism and Security basics — ethics, privacy, intellectual property, and responsible technology use. · Download .docx

Objectives

Evaluate ethical principles in emerging technologies as they apply to academic and professional life.

Key terms

Digital divide: The gap between people with reliable access to computers and the internet and those without.
Privacy: Your right to control what information about you is collected and shared.
Intellectual property: Creations of the mind — writing, music, art, inventions, code — that the law protects.
Copyright: Legal protection for original creative works; automatic when the work is created.
Patent: Legal protection for an invention, granting the inventor exclusive rights for a period of time.
Trademark: Legal protection for a brand name, logo, or slogan.
Fair use: Limited use of copyrighted material without permission for teaching, commentary, or criticism.
Software license: The agreement that says how software may be used, copied, or shared.
Piracy: Copying, sharing, or using software or media without permission or a license.
Creative Commons: Licenses that let creators share work with specific permissions (credit required, non-commercial, etc.).
E-waste: Discarded electronic devices, which contain toxic materials and need proper recycling.
Ergonomics: Designing workspaces and habits so technology does not injure the body.
Ethics: Principles of right and wrong that guide how people use technology.
Algorithmic bias: When an AI or program produces unfair results because of biased data or design.

The concept

Issues in computing are the problems technology creates for people and society: the digital divide, privacy, security, intellectual property, e-waste, health (ergonomics), and ethics.

The digital divide is the gap between people who have reliable access to computers and the internet and those who do not — it affects school, jobs, and health care.

Privacy: companies and apps collect data about you (location, searches, purchases). Know what you share, read permissions, and use privacy settings.

Intellectual property (IP): creations of the mind. Copyright protects original works (writing, music, images, code) automatically; patents protect inventions; trademarks protect names and logos.

Fair use allows limited use of copyrighted material for teaching, commentary, or criticism — small amounts, non-commercial, with credit. It is not a free pass to copy.

Software piracy — copying or using software without a license — is theft. Licenses (commercial, subscription, open source, Creative Commons) say what you may do.

E-waste: old phones and computers contain lead, mercury, and other toxins. Recycle through certified programs; do not throw electronics in the trash.

Ergonomics: how you sit and set up your screen, keyboard, and lighting affects your body. Take breaks, sit up, keep the screen at eye level.

Ethics: doing the right thing even when no one is watching — report a security flaw, do not exploit it; do not share someone's private information; do not use technology to harass.

Artificial intelligence raises new issues: bias in data, fake images and text, job changes. The rule stays the same — be honest about what you used and who made it.

Module 5 items: Issues Discussion Assignment (20), Issues Article Assignment (30), and Module 5 Quiz (20). Exam 1 (Chapters 1–5) follows the week of Sept 28.

Worked examples

Example 1: A student uses a photo from Google Images on the Issues Article Assignment slide without credit. Copyright issue? — Yes — the photo is copyrighted by its creator. Fix: use a Creative Commons or public-domain image and credit it, or use a small excerpt for commentary with credit (fair use). Never present it as your own.

Example 2: Half the class has home Wi-Fi; the rest use phones with limited data. What issue is this, and what does it change about a school assigning online homework? — The digital divide. It changes what is fair: schools need hotspots, offline options, or time on school devices so access does not decide grades.

Example 3: You find a way to see other students' grades in an app. What is the ethical action? — Report the flaw to the teacher or IT immediately; do not look, use, or share it. Exploiting it is unethical and may be illegal.

Common mistakes

"If it is on Google Images, it is free to use." Copyright protects original works automatically. Use Creative Commons or public-domain images and give credit.
"Fair use means I can copy anything for school." Fair use is limited: small amounts, non-commercial, with credit, for teaching, commentary, or criticism. It is not a free pass to copy.
"Copyright, patents, and trademarks are the same thing." Copyright protects original works (writing, music, images, code); patents protect inventions; trademarks protect names and logos.

Self-check

Try each one before you look. A miss here costs nothing and tells you exactly what to reread.

1. The gap between people who have reliable access to computers and the internet and those who do not is called the:

2. Discarded computers, phones, and monitors are known as:

3. Which practice reduces strain when working at a computer for long periods?

4. Copyright protects which of the following?

5. Which of the following is an example of intellectual property?

Canvas is the official record. This companion enhances the PGCC curriculum; it does not replace it. Last name and class year only. Students with a 504 plan or IEP: your accommodations apply.

↑ Back to top