Ethics and Empathy

Success Criteria for Digital Citizenship Badge

  • Define Digital Ethics

  • Identify respectful online behaviour including respect for people’s privacy, feelings and property

  • Discuss considerations and consequences of posting a picture of someone else online

  • Define Empathy and identify empathy triggers

  • What is Intellectual Property (trademark, copyright, patents, design rights)?

  • Discuss Property Ethics

  • Outline points on how to respect people’s property

  • Reflect on unethical practices that students may have engaged in online


Lesson Plan, Presentation, Handout

Lesson Plan

Ethics and Empathy Lesson Plan

Student Handout

Student Handout: Think Before Posting

Slides for Lesson

Ethics and Empathy Lesson

Videos to Watch During Lesson

Digital Etiquette

Slide 2

Respect and Self Respect

Slide 6

Respect People's Property

Slide 10

Student Activities

Show the class an image of a group of people at a party (some are drinking, smoking, eating - no one is posing for the picture). Ask students:

  • Would you post this picture and tag your friends in it on Social media?

  • Would you be happy if it was you in the picture and your friend posted it? Why / Why not? (Slide 5)

Ask students which of the following activities (if any) they have done and which ones they consider to be unethical.

  • Downloaded or copied a copyrighted image?

  • Posted a picture of someone without their consent?

  • Gave false information for an account (e.g. lied about your age)

  • Uploaded copyrighted YouTube content?

  • Blocked advertisements?

  • Left a fake review for a product/service?

  • Used a website for a college assignment and did not reference it?

(Slide 13)


Show slide revealing that they are all unethical. Facilitate short discussion on anything they are surprised about e.g. blocking adverts. (Slide 14)


Refer students to handout on “Think Before Posting” for further reading outside class time.